Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-03-08
MIR. CLAY's SPEECH.

laNe up our entire paper Tor two weeks
We cannot, however, refrain from givin!
that part of it which sums up and reca
pitulates his whole arguments in thei
favor. 1t is truly master piece of eIo.
quence and truth, and Is just the produc.
ton we should look for from the Grea
Statesman and Sage of Ashland. Upor
the motion of Mr.. Mangum to adjourn
Mr.. Clay said: & 6. aa#@ "
No, Sir, no; will conclude. think
can gel on better to-day than shall be
able to do if the subject be postponed.
Sir, this Union is threatened with sub.
version. | want, Mr. President, to take
a rapid glance at the course of public
measures in this Union, presently.
want. however, before ! do that, to ask
the Senate 10 look back upon the career
which this country has run since the
adoption of this Constitution down to the
present day. Was there ever a nation
upon which the sun of heaven has shown
that has exhibited so much of prosperity
AT the commencement of this Govern
meni our population amounted to about
four millions; it has now reached upward
OF twenty millions. Our territory was
limited chiefly and principally TO the
border upon the Atlantic ocean and that
which includes the southern shores of
the interior lakes of our country. Our
country now extends from the northern
provinces of Great Britain, to the Rio
Grande and Cult of Mexico, on one side.
and from The Atlantic ocean to the Pacif-
ic on the other side-the largest extent of
territory under any government that ex-
lists on the face of the earth, with only
two solitary exceptions. Our tonnage,
from being nothing has risen in magni-
tude and amount SO as to rival that of
the nation who has been proudly charac-
terlzed 1.-the mistress of the ocean, -
we have gone through many wars-wars
too, with the very nation from whom we
broke off in 1875, as weak and feeble
colonies, and asserted our independence
as member of the family of nations.-
And, s:r wc came ou, "a that struggle,
"Y,1"a' as II was--armed as she was al
all points, in consequence of just having
come out of her long struggles with other
European nations, and unarmed as we
were at all points, in consequence of the
habits and nature Of our country and its
lnstin':ons-we came, say, out of that
war without any loss of honor whatever
We emerged from it gloriously. ..
In every Indian war-and we have
been engaged in many of them-onr ar
mics have ,riumphcd; and without speak
ing al all as to the causes of the recent
war with Mexico, whether it was right
or wrong, and abs:aining from any ex-
preston of opinion as to the Justice or
propriety Of the war, wien once con-
menced all mus: admit that, with respect
to the gallan,ry of our armies, the glory
of our trumphs, there is no page or pa
ges of history- which record more brilliant
success. With respect To one command.
er of an important portion Of our army.
i need say nothing here; no praise is ne
cessary in behalf Of one who has been
elevated by The voice of his country to
the highest station she could place him
in, mainly on account of his glorious mil
i,ary career. And of another. less for
tunate in many respects than some other
military commanders, take the oppor-
tunity of saying that, for skill. for science,
for strategy. for ability and daring fight
ing. for chivalry Of individuals and of
masses, that portion of the American ar
my which was conducted by the gallant
Scott as the chief commander, stands
unrivalled either by the deeds of Cortez
himself, or by those OF any other com
mander in ancient or modern times.
Sir, our prosperity is unbounded; nay,
Mr.. President, sometimes fear that it is
in the wan,onness of that prosperity that
many of the threatening ills Of the mo-
ment have arisen. Wild erratic schemes
have sprung up throughout the whole
country, some of which have even found
their way into legislative halls, and there
is resllessness existing among us which
| fear will require the chaslisement OF
Heaven to bring us back TO sense Of the
immeasurable benefits and blessings
which have been bestowed upon us by
Providence. AT this moment-with the
exception of here and there particular
department in the manufacturing business
of the country-all is prosperity aud
peace, and the nation is rich and power
full. Our country has grown to mag
ni,ude, to a power and grea,nesst such as
10 command the respect if it does moi
awe the apprehensicns Of the powers OF
the earth with whom we come in con-
tact.
Sir, do | depict with colors too lively
the prosperity which has resulted to US
from the operation of this Union! Have
exaggerated in any particular her pow
er, her prosperity, or her grcatness!--
And now, sir, let me go little into detail
with respect 10 sway in the councils o
the nation, whether from the North OF
the South, during the sixty years unpar-
allied prosperity that we have enjoyed
During the first twelve years of the ad
ministra,ion Of the government North
ern counsels rather prevailed; aud out o
them sprang the Bank of the Unite,
States, the assumption Of the State debts
i 4 Al -