The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-19
SPEECH OF JOHN III. CLAYTON,
EX-sECRETARY OF STATE,
TO THE
w T G. s OF DEF w ARE.

On Saturday evening last the wings of Delaware
gave grand complimentary dinner TO Hon. John
M. Clayton, tor the purpose of welcoming him
back TO his native State, and OF expressing their
appreciation OF his conduct The chief OF the cabi-
mt of General Taylor After toast offered by
MIR Dupont, Mr.. Clayton made the following
.H SPEECH.
use language bat tame and the, my Fellow
citizen wneD say that cannot hnd words dde-
anate 10 express The feelings which ov"Tpower Inc
al this mement. ! come before you As d mere phi
vale ndivovaL without oL,ce' without staton,
without power. No man within the sound CT my
VOICE or elsewherr, can expect, by rendering no
mage 70, cOnierrng praise upon me, tn receive
an, thing, 80 far as know, now or hereafter |
am like one who has returned from long
voyage 10 a distant country. have seen mach
much Of which ] wish to speak 10 my old
companions andirieHds. But bring with me no.
thing but d grateful heart aud an homes purposs
My Fellow CtZens MY chief object IN accepts
my your kHd invitation 10 meet You this day.
was 10 enGer my than KS Tor the confidence aud sup
port which, through a long public life, whenever
have beer In pubic station, candid for pub-
Inc Utee, has been constantly extended 10 me by
the y, Ope at my native State | announced, be-
lore The election IN Delaware, that WAS 40 caa-
oloaie Tor any office. postponed this meeting all
alter that elt cuon had tSktn place, 10 enable
rthtis fully 10 understand my purpose ami position
hsve filled so many OF the most important hces
N the Edt of The people Of Delaware, that feel
bfnLd Ia msBe some pa lie acknowledgement TO
those ho have stood by me amidst all inc storms
o. perry violence which have swept over The cOun-
ny during the lat quarter Of century. lam well
aNhTr that no SERVERS cf niue cGult ave can
erIleu, or repay. the debt of erdiitI ie | owe
thrm; ytt may be- permitted, bur | cannot do II
without emotion, now tn say, upon TITS sca-ion of
me- my them, after long separation with what
snc' pie H.Ure take my old friends and ieOw cI
zrrs by hr hand and acs Wedge tne heartfelt Oh
legations by which | am, and ever shall be- bound
Ia thrm. We have passed through another cleo.
noBeenpg Campaign, aud ior he first time IN quar-
ter, century, The vhgso OF Delaware lost the
power OF the State, which has been transferred, by
Ifain ct accidt ns, 20 our political opJol-nis. For
the period just named, the parry To Which We have
been attached has held the legislative ppser of
the State, without single day of atrrm,s sion
within my recoile ctlOn. That power has gone
TO The party entertaining directly opposite OJnOns
But II has not gone To them, aud they dn not hold
n, by the tenure by which We held n. We nrli rt
by The viii Of majority Of the citizens Of D-la-
ware. They do moi now hold II, nor, III my judg-
Henl, viii they ever hold H. by the wal IT d ml-
jOTity of the citizens ST Delaware. The Governor
they have elected is the representative Governor
OF minority in the State The Representative
70 Congress, whom they have sent To leg slate for
us, is minority representative, aud does not,
AID, IN my judgment, never will, represent,
The wing IeFTr sentaiiNes have proudly dpne, the
will Of majority of he freemen Of the State.
The wings alone can elect men That represent
majority Of The people of Delaware. No other
parry eAists here that is able To 90 that thing but
the whg party Look at the recent canvass.
HUNDREDS upon hundreds of Oar friends. calling
Themselves temperance men, have chosen TO
for twenty yesrs That is a subject for them to
reflect upon; not u subjsct upon which choose
10 speak 10 night And only advert Ia tae fact
that we nave heen stricken down, as il were, in
the house Of our friends for the purpose of saying
that the wing party has not been conquered by
ITS old political enemies, but is as strong, IL not
stronger, than II has been Tor the past ten years;
and lh1t If those who entertain toe same senti-
menis hist We entertain upon the great national
questions which divide sthe two great parties of
The county, hTd yoted according TO their own !
principles bnd Their orn Professions, we should |
have been IN a majoIIty as triumphant as the |
wings OF Delaware ever were from their origin. |
Fellow cIuztns, l did not come here 10 discuss |
matters at local interest. l have deviated thus /
la from my purpose, imp He'd ny the strong feel
iLgs at the moment j have Witnessed much
OF The party strife 10 sesIre unnecessarily TO mix
anv of The mgrtdlenis OF hat bitter cup with the
en- 6rtaInmebt OF this day. Yet feel that u Is my
duty, aud know That il is expected OF me, III Al l
should Fay few words IN relation 10 some of the
sti events which have sg,tatsd the country dur
ing Tie last two Year,, and still continue 10 excite
II The advent OF General Taylor to power, consti-
tu,ed new era in the history at the republic.
He into ,fhce by the suifgaces of the people;
yet he pTesenit q the hrst instance Of President,
so elected, with prdcticil majority in both
branches of the national legislature, opposed not
osly 70 him, but to the principles which secured
his election The orgsnzalon OF both houses Of
Congress was against HIM, before he had any op-
pOrtunIiy TO develope the measures of policy upon
whioh be intended TO administer the government.
Not single committee was LETT IN either branch
winch was not appointed upon party principles,
in opposition 10 those who elevated him TO office.
lie was, therefore, instantly surrounded by un-
paralleled EMBELLISHMENTS and difficulties, pre-
feniing new and uf med occasion 10 test the
strength and success ct our republican systeR n.
Alter twenty years Of Virtual Acknowledgement
and pros cnpton, the great body OF the friends
who had sustained him looked To the return of
state OF things which should present them, at
leatt, upon an ,qusl foouog with their political
opponents and, while among a hundred appli-
CAMS for Office, only could obtain IL, the imji
iitDce OF Huch a. were disappointed was too often
sure 10 he succeeded by resentment that their
-clsirnl were not preferred. such did not require
the prCmpiiugs Of others TO induce IN m 10 swell
the ranks OF the opposition, Doth IN and out OF
Congress. Superaddvd To these difficulties was
the peculiar state of affairs arising out ut the Tc-
cent abueNetiun of tke vast territories ceded by
she treaty Of MrAico-dthcnl1es which threaten
ed the pesce ut the country, and appalled, the
stouest hearts curing the continuance ut that ad.
mlnisfrg tOn which had wagrd me war, ana IN
cured the enormous expesss at the acquisition
During the session Of Congress which preceded
the Presidential tlectinn oi ISIS the cXsrions OF
the then existing administration were directed IN
vain % he removal OF the difficulties TO which
have referred. That admnstratiDn hid eilt ctually
reused the demon Of discord. bat proved utterly 4
imPoient to slsy IL. Yet, m my jligmeai, miuy .
of the Recommendations 1T President Polk 10 his /
last annual nat ssage To Congress, were .nnently .
wise, Patriotic and iust, especially those which .
suggested the admission 81 the new territories as I
States, l. Il TO form their own domestic institutions
" ithout control, and without soy CoUg .
restriction in regard TO the subject of slavery.
Before ! proceed further with the history of
IN So events, permit me To recall 10 your
recOlle cton he course which | myself pur-
sued, while representing you IN the public .
councils, IN reference % his subject. l1ring
the session Of lSE and ISIS. violent debate f.
sprung up in the senate Ut the United States,
which was conducted With uausual acr uony, in .
regpfd 10 the rights Of the cnsns Of the southern
States 70 carry their slaves iuio The new terrific
Ies % thu Part Of the North !! was affirmed
that the territories were "free soft" by the Mcxi- .
can laws, which, u was maintained, shl continued
Co ~ o., aud would remain IL force until abroga-
ted ny the power "a Congress or the erection VI
Slale eoyeHmepis within the territories. On
the pai; e the South. II was coniended that thu
right to enjoy slave property within these limits
was a necessary consequence OF the acquisition
obtained by the common blood and treasure.
These clashing opinions were waged with Goa
fummate ability on both sides, and especially Ia