The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-02-20

Deiir~ed In the Senate on The tth and egh of
Febrsnyy. 1850.
Mr. CLAY faid he never rose 10 adj
dress the Sepsle with more intense feel
ing than on the present occasion. lie
had witnessed many seasons Of great Pc
I'll and danger in The history of the coan-
Try. hu, he never befoIe rose 10 address
the Senate when there vas sneh extreme
s..iirilufr. fear and anxiety lrl. by ihe
country in The issue Of the feai events
how Hanspiring. lie did not think ~
would be ont of p are 10 do that IN the Se-
nate which he had never ceased to do IN
his chamber r-ihal Is. 10 ms"se The Su-
premr Arbiter. who holds in has haad the
destinirs of nations. 10 calm The passions
of meh and The violence of party; 70 allnw
/ reason 20 resume her empire aud tn be-
s,o~ on him Ills smiles Of approval. and
the strength aud ability "a peri rin the task
before hun. lie had Witnessed other pc
ri..ds when the events of The day caused
The greatest anxiety throughout ilie conn
Try; aud in all these. as we'll as The pres
rnl. he had no doubt. acre he 10 trace the
rause of the danger. peril and alarm tn lie
trne sourre. ne wauId find il party spiri.
/ Parties. Ia nrier TO gain triumph faf
| themselves over their opponents. seized
npnn every subject that presented itself 10
make capital Of, and TO increase their own
numbers. Two Senators had told Them
iha. both Of The two political parties Of The
country. az the north. aciuaied by such
fpirit. had endearored and we're endeasor-
Ing 10 onido each other to obtain the votes
cf small third party called Abcli'ionisis.
in order 10 sweli their respective numbers.
| Nor was This confined to the people al
large. lathe Legislative halls OF The ronn-
ry The sarr party spirit oyerrnles all olii-
er cousi,, atoms. The House Of Repre-
4 senlatises had spent one whole week in
fruitless attempt TO elec, doorkeeper.
And wha, was the question which pre-
! sented The election of a doorkesperl II
was no, The fitness or the qualifications ol
the men; hu, The question was. whether
i the d.orkeeper to be chosen belonged TO
4 this or that party, or whether bis views
/ M ! sentiments OF po.ilicel questions were
/ of one or 0f annlher school. lie did mol
sllulle 10 this subject hy way Of reproach-
ling any f,r what had been done. but by
way of illustrating to what Lengths and
extremes this party spiri, is carrier anu
he hoped lhal something would % done
10 check il in lis onward progress.
Wb., .ieisslrudes we pass through. ~
this shor, career of life! Eight years ago
he ,ook leave of the Senate as he thonght
f,reyer. And, lf his own inclinaiions, his
Iown desires, hopes, and an,icipalions to
be allo sed TO enjoy the few remaining
wears Of life in the quie, scenes oi retired
life had been consulted, ,ha, would have
been his las. appearance IN The Senate.
lBu, the Legislature Of his Sta'e. unsolicli'
led by him, hal tlloughi proper. 10 confer
upon him again the honor OF being their
Irsnre sentative here, and he did no, feel al
liberty IL refuse il. lie came. however,
M, the Senate to serve no party. nor with
any personal or private ends. now or mere
|hiter. 10 accom- p.ish. And. if there was
il the Senate, or out Of The Scna,e, any
Imam engag d in The race after high honors
|or position, lei that man res, assured that
lie would never be josiled by him Mr.
lCA in that race. When his term OF ser
lrice in the Senate was ended, his mission
Hin This life, so Ear as relates 10 public al
Hairs, would be closed, and closed Tor.
lever.
|, was impossible for any candid obser.
her of passing events not 10 see that The
|,piri, of party, and the promotion and e'a-
Iralion of particular individuals TO high
Iplaces and distinctions, we're now the ab-
lsorbing principles Of men. Al this time,
Iwhen The White House j. in danger 81
being wrapt in the flames of destruction
lind ruin, men were engaged in talking
fhoui who shall be lis next occupant.
Mhsn an alarming crevassc has taken
Lace. and lhe waters OF destruction are
,st pouring upon US. we are talking about
vho shall rule over the country about TO
. inundated. The whole subject that
Fee.ed 10 attract the attention oil men was
party. fsrtv, passion. passion, and lniem-
Peranee o. spirit. Was this the way 10
lave The coun@Y from The impending dam
ger! Within tins Capitol and in tile
ka;es there were twenty furnaces all burn
ag an sending forth the heat Of passion
bnd party spirit. few months ago there
Nas peace in The country. and every thing
was a.ie, and tranquil. Now there was
langer and peril and even menaces against
he Union. lie implored Senators 10
box al these things; to sucll the fires oi
,a,sian now raging, and 10 listen to the
nce of reason. lie did not suppose
What he could say would produce such an
iIeet, but he hegsed them 10 is,en 10 The
oice Of their own reason, judgment. and
oad sense. as To what can be done for The
pod Of the country.
10 II object lie had directed allhis ef-
Ia prts; with such view he had in man
e cut himself'nf' from all social enjoy
snts since hi. arrival in this city. and