The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1850-08-03
VOL. LIMO. 696.
MR. CLAY on the CALIFORNIA BILL.

MR. CLAY on the CALIFORNIA BILL.
Mr. Clay made his last speech on the Califor-
MIA bill on Tuesday 22d July. He was fully
aroused 70 the importance Of the subject. and
put forth eli bis energies. We give the conclu-
ding sentences to show his earnest and affecting
appeal in behalf Of the measure:
Sir, wa have had hard words-bitter
words, bitter thoughts. unpiea SAINT feelings
towards each other in the progress Of this
great measure. Let US forget them Let
Us sacrifice these feelings. Let US 80 to
the altar Of our country and swear. as the
oath WAS taken Uf old, that We will stand
by her; we will support her; that we will
uphold her constitution, that we will pre-.
serve her Union, and that we pass this
great, comprehensive. and healing system
of measures. which will hush all the Earring
elements, and bring peace and tranquility
to our homes. Let me. Mr. President, in
conclusion. say that the most disastrous
consequence would occur. in thy opinion.
were We to go home, doing nothing to sat-
i~fy and tranquilize the country upon these
great questions. What will tie the joLg-
uient OF mankind, what the judgment of
that portion Of mankind who are looking
upon the progress Of this scheme Of self
government as being that which holds the
highest hopes and expectations Of amelior-
ating the condition Of fmankind-what will
| their judgment be? Will not all the mon
archs Of the Old World pronounce our
glorious republic disgraceful failure!
What will be the judgment of our con.,i-
tuents when we return to them, and they
ask US. How have you left your country?
Is all quiet-aN happy? Are all the seeds
of distract ton or division crushed and dis
sipated? And, sir. when you come into
the bosom of your family-when you come
to converse with the partner of your for
tunes. OF your happiness, and Of your sor-
rows--and when, in the midst OF the COM
mon offspring Of both Of you, she ask. you,
"ls there any danger Of civil WARP Is
there any danger Of the torch being applied
to any portion of the country? Have you
| settled the questions which YOU have been
| SO long discussing and deIberatiDs upon at
Washington: Is all peace and all quiet:'
What response. Mr. President, can you
| make to that wife Of your choice and those
children with whom you have been blessed
by God ? Will you go home and leave
all in disorder and confusion-all un.
settled--all open The contentious aud
agitations Of the past will be increased and
augmented by the agifations resulting
from our neglect, to decide them Sir, we
shall stand condemned by all human juds.
ment below, and Of those above it Is not
for me to speak. We shall stand con-
demned in our own conscenccs, by our
own country. The measure may be de.
feated. have been aware that its pas
sage for many days was not absolutely
certain. From the FIRST to the last,
hoped and believed it would pass be.
cause from the first to the last believed it
was founded on the principles OF just and
righteous concession--of mutual COnci!ia.
ton. believe that 1t deals uniustly BY
no part Of the republic, that it saves l1cir
honor, and, as far as it is dependent upon
Congress-, saves the interests of all quar-.
ters Of the country. But. Sir, have
known that the decision Of its fate de-
pended upon fouro or five votes in the
Senate Of the United States, and upon
whose ultimate judgment we could not
count upon the one side or the other with
absolute certainty. Its fate is now COM
mitted to the hands Of the Senate, and to
those five or six votes to which / have
referred. Itmay be defeated. Itis possi-
| bic that, for the chastisement Of our sins
or transgressions. the rod Of Providence
may be still applied to US, may bd Still
! suspended over Us. But, If defeated, it
will be a triumph of ultrais,n and imprac-
ticability--a triumph Of a most extraor-
dinary conjunction of e1tremes-a victory
won by aboitionism--a victory achieved
by free.s"ilism-the victory of discord and
agitation over peace and tranquility and
| pray to Almighty God that it may not,
in consequence of the inauspicious result,
lead to the most unhappy and disastrous
consequences to our beloved country.