Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-09

putting the country into and attitude de-
manded by the crisis and corresponding with the national
1t precisely At this point Of time that Mr.. Clay,
having resigned his seat in the Senate appeared the
floor Of the House Of Representatives, and chosen,
almost by acclamaton Speaker Of that body From that
moment he exercised an influence In great degree per-
sonal which materially affected if it did not control the
judgment Of the House Among the very first acts which
devoved upon him by virtue of his Office the appoint
Of the committees raised upon the Presidents
sage. Upon the select committee of nine members to
which referred much Of the message relates
to foreign relations he appointed large proportion
from among the fast friends of the Administration nearly
all Of them being members and younger than him
SELF though he not then than thirty five years
of age 1t is impossible ut this day to call to mind the
names of which this committee was composed, PORTER,
Calhoun and Grundy being the first named among them
without coming to the conclusion that the committee was
constituted with view the event predetermined in the
mind of the Speaker. There be question that
when quitting the Senate Mr. CLAY entered the Repre-
sentative body he had become satisfied that by the con-
tnued encroachments Of Great Britain national
rights the choice of the country narrowed down to
submission Between these there could be no he
STATION in such mind that of Mr.. Clay which to
choose In this emergency he acted for his country as
he would in like case have acted fer himself Desir
ing and cultivatng the good viii of ALL he never shrank
from any personal responsibility covered before any
danger More than year before his accession to the
House Of Representatives he had in debate in the Sem
ae taken occasion say that he most sincerely desired
peace and amity with Engand that he preferred
adjustment Of all differences with her to one with any
other nation but if she persisted in denial of justice
TO he trusted and hoped that all hearts would unite in
bold and vigorous vndicaton Of rights 1t was in
brave spirit animated to increased fervency by inter-
vening aggressions from the quarter that Mr. CLAY
entersdinto the House of Representatives FL l t6
Early in the second month of the session. ayaling him
self of the right then freely used by the Speaker to
gage in discussions while the House in Committee of
the Whole he dashed into the debates upon the measures
of military and naval preparation recommended by the
President and reported upon ayoraby by the committee
He ayowed without reserve, that the object of this pre-
paration acar, and par Nth Great Britain.
In these debates he showed his familiarity with all the
weapons ofpopular oratory In tempest of eoquence
in which he welded alternately argument persuasion
remonsrance rdicule and reproach, he swept before
him all opposition to the high resolve to which he
horted Congress To the argument flor exampe against
preparing for with England founded upon the idea
of her being engaged in her conflict with France in
fighting the battles of the world he replied that such
purpose would be best achieved by scrupuous obser
vance Of the rights of Others and by respecting that
public law which she professed to yndicate. Then"
said he, 'sshe would command the sympathies of the
world. But what required to do by those who
would engage our feelings and wishes in her behalf?
To bear the actual cuffs Of her arrogance that may
cape chimercal French subugaticn We are called
upon to submit to debasement dshonor and disgrace
to bow the neck to royal insolence course of pre-
para0n for manly resistance to Gallo invasion What
nation, what Individual was ever taught the schools
of gaomnous Submission these patriotic lessons Of free
dom and independence" And to the argument that this
Government was unfit for any but against in
vasionso sgnally since dsproyed by actual eyens-he
exclaimed, with Characteristic vehemence, stWhat is it
mot equivalent to INVASION if the mouth of our harbors
land outlets are blocked up, and denied egress
from our own waters Or when the burglar is
door, shall bravely sally forth and repel his feonous
entrance, meany skuk within the cells of the castle?
What shall it be said that our amor patrie
is located at these desks that pllanimousy cling
here rather than boldly vindicate the most
inestmable rights of our country :" a.U
Whilst debate other occasions nearly
same time, he showed how well he could reason upon
question which demanded argument rather than de-
clamason To his able support of the proposition of
Mr. CHEvEs to add to then small but gallant navy
ten frigates may be ascribed the success though by
a lean majority, of that proposition. Replying to
the objection urged with zeal by certain members that
navies dangerous to liberty he argued that the
source of this alarm Mesasssoes. ssGentlemen
fear, said he, that if provide marine, it will
produce collision with foreign nations, plunge us into
war; and ultimately overturn the constitution of the
country. Sir, if you wish to avoid foreign collision
you had better abandon the ocean, surrender all your
commerce, give up all your prosperity 1t is the thing
protected, not the instrument of protection, that in
wolves you in Commerce engenders collision col
lson war, and war, the argument supposes leads to
despotsm. Would the counsels of that statesman be
deemed wise, who would recommend that the nation
should be unarmed; that the art of war; the martial
spirit and martial exercises should be prohibited who
should declare in word, that the great body Of the
people should be taught that national happiness was to
be found in perpetual peace alone?"
WINE MT CLAf, IN the capitol, was, with his trumpet
tongue rousing Congress to prepare for war; Mr. Mon
ROE the Secretary of State gave his powerful coopera
on and lent the Nestorke sanction of his age and ex
perience to the bold of his young and more
ardent compatrio 1t chiefly through their fearless
influence that Congress was gradually warmed up to
war spirit and to the adoption of preparatory
sures But actual declaration of war had yet been
proposed There was strong opposition in Congress,
and the President Mr. MADISON hestated to recommend
it, only because he doubted whether Congress was yet
sufficiently determined and resolved to maintain such
declaration and to maintain il al the extremtes war
The influence and counsel of Mr. CLAY again prevailed
He waited upon the President the head of deputaton
OF Members Of Congress, and assured him Of the read
of majority Of Congress to vote the war If recon-
mended by him. Upon this the President Immediately
recommended it by his message Congress Of the first
Monday Of June 1872 bill declaring war with Great
Britain soon followed in Congress- and after discussion
in secret session for few days. became law. Then
began the
When the doors of the House Of Representatives were
opened the debates which had taken place in secret SEES
sion spoken Of and repeated and il appeared ms
must have been expected by that Mr. Clay had been the
great defender and champion of the declaration of war
Mr. CLAY continued in the House Of Represen YES
for time after the commencement of the war and
having assisted in doing all that could be done for it in
the way Of legislation was Withdrawn from his position
in Congress to share in the deliberations Of the great Com
ference Of American and British Commissioners held at
Client His part in that Convention was such AS might
have been expected from his course in Congress- high
toned and high-spirited despairing Of nothing
need add, but for FORM that acting in this spirit
Mr. Clay and his patriotic and able associates
beyond all the hopes at that time entertained at home in
making treaty, which, in putting stop to the war if
it did not accomplish every thing conended for saved and
secured at all points the honor Of the United States.
Thus began and ended the of 1912. On our part
it just and necessary and in its results eminently