Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-21

nal also INDUCES in this connexion in some
references to the youthfulness of the editors Of
the Sentinel. We could put forth retort as
to the matter Of age, but we viii not do it I'M
less the provocation shall be renewed, and we
really and honestly hope that it viii not be.
But as to the matter of misrepresenting the
National Latelligencer. That journal refers us
to its issue of the 9th Of this month. Now it
SO happens that we had the statement of that
identical and particular paper in our mind
when we made the statement which has been
complained Of From the day of its publica-
ton until the day of this present writing, we
have not seen it; but, as we have been charged
with misrepresentation and unfairness, we pre-
sent the paragraph, which we plead in justif.
cation. 1t is paragraph from the National
h'teitigencer, bearing date the 9th day Of Feb
ratary, IN the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and .Jittyjoar, and is IN the
'oords and figures .tolloWing, to pit.
"Nor in this connexion can we forbear re-
curing to the closing scenes of the Missouri
controversy, more than thirty years ago. Who
that witnessed them can ever forget them
Whatever the reader may have happened to
think of the political character of Mr.. Clay, the
chief actor in that scene, no one of any creed
10 politics can but remember with respect and
even admiration, the fearless independence,
the total disregard of party or of selfinterest,
with which he threw himself into the breach
on that occasion, and by his energy and inhu-
ence restored quiet to distracted country.
Nor should we omit due honor to those fellow
members of Mr.. Clay in the same House of
Representatives, who, resisting the current of
public feeling in States which they represented,
assisted him to breast the storm and steer the
ship of State into calm waters. The colleagues
of those gentlemen, who took different course
and persevered to the end in resisting the com
promise, we have never doubted acted under
sense ofduty which they could not conscientious
" disobey So mnch greater the merit of those
from the same part of the country who dared
to differ from them"
These are the words, the exact words, of the
National htelligencer. Our readers can read
them for themselves, and compare them with
what we have said heretofore. If be wrong
to do right, if it be false to tell the truth, then
we plead guilty and bow our head for punish
ment.
But this is not all. Young as we are, we vet
took the liberty to allude to speech delivered
by Mr.. Clay in 1850. We did not state the day
on which the speech was delivered. We made
no quotation from the speech itself, yet our
friends of the National bstelligencer have IN
dertaken to identify the speech to which we
alluded, and have published an extract from
the speech they have selected to disprove our
assertion that Mr.. Clay washed his hands ofthe
Missouri compromise of l820-that portion of
it, we mean, which is now prominent subject
ofpublic discussion. Now, the speechfr from which
the National htelhgencer quotes is the very one
we had in our mind when we wrote our article;
and we will make quotation from it which
will prove that what we have said in this parti-
cular is the real and exact truth. Mr.. Clay
said:
"Mr. President, before / enter into partic
ular examination, however, of that Missouri
compromise, beg to be allowed to correct a
great error, not merely in the Senate, but
throughout the whole country, in respect to my
agency in regard to the Missouri compromise
or rather the line of $50 30<, established by the
agency Of Congress. | do not know whether
anything has excited more surprise in my mind,
as to the rapidity with which important histori-
cal transactions are obliterated and pass out of
memory, than has the knowledge of the fact
that was everywhere considered the author Of
the line of 36o 30/, which was established upon
=, oJ, -
the Union.
|" 1t would take up too much time to 90 over the
whole of that important era in the public af
fairs Of this country. shall not attempt it.,
although | have ample materials before me,
derived from careful and particular examine
ton of the journals Of both Houses. will not
occupy your time by going into any detailed
account of the whole transaction; but / will
content myself with stating that, so far from my
having presented as proposition the line of
36o 3V, upon the occasion of considering
whether Missouri ought to be admitted into the
Union or not, 1T DID NOT ORIGINATE IN THE
HOUSE OF WHICH | WAS A MEMBER"
After using these words, Mr.. Clay went on
to give history of the transactions touching
the arrangement with which he was con-
nected, fully and entirely substantiating alp we
have said. But the space at our disposal does
not permit us to pursue this subject further at
present We intended to say few words to
our friends of the National Intelligenccr about
deprecating agitation whilst they are stirring
up strife, but must defer those things to an
other day.
A GLANCE AT THE PRESENT CONDI-
TON OF THE WORLD.
AS individuals should not confne their OBJ
servations to themselves and those gathered
around their hearthstones, but bestow share
Of their attention upon the affairs of their neigh
bors, so should it be with nations. Individuals
are bound together by social ties and common
lau-s and In Stitutians Natio,s DIN,