Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-30

ne stood, and to whom he appealed rs judges while
invoking witnesses. lie had high occasion, and
he felt it; high tribunal to plead before. and he
rejoiced in it; high accuser, and he defied him.
high stake to contend fop, his own reputation and
n,anfully earnestly, and powerfully did he defend
it. He had high example both in oratory, and
the anaogies of the OCCASION before him and well
had he looked into that example. l happened to
know that in this time he refreshed his reading Of
the Grafton on the Crown; and, as the delivery Of
his speech showed, not without profit. Besides its
general cast which was good imitation, there were
passages Of vigor and terseness-of power and
simplicity-w.,ich would recall the recollection of
that masterpiece of the oratory of the world There
were points Of analogy in the cases well as in the
speeches. each being that of eminent states
accusing another and before a national tribunal,
and upon the events of public life. More happy
than the Athenian orator, the American statesman
had no foul imputations to repel. Different from
Eschines and Demosthenes, both himself and MIR.
Clay stood above the imputation of corrupt action
or motive. If they had faults-and what public
man is without them ?-they the faults Of lofty
natures-not of sordid souls; and they looked to
the honors of their country-not its plunder-for
their fair reward.
When Mr. Calhoun finished, Mr. Clay instantly
arose. and reoned-his rejoinder almost entirely d.
rectcd to the personal part of the discussion, which
from its beginning, had been the absorbing part.
Much stung by Mr.. Calhoun's reply, who used the
sword as we'll as the buckler, and with keen edge
upon it, he was more animated and sarcastic in the
rejonder than in the first attack Mr.. Calhoun also
rejoned instantly. A succession of brief and rapid
rejonders took place between them (chicly omitted
in this work), which seemed running to ninity,
when Mr.. Calhoun, satisfied with what he had DONE
pleasantly put end to it by saying, he saw the
senator from Kentucky was determined to have the
last word and he would yield it to him. Mr. Clay,
in the same spirit, disclamed that desire, and said
no more. And thus the exciting debate terminated
with more courtesy than that with which it had been
conducted.
In all contests of this kind there is feeling of
violated decorun, which makes each party solicous
to appear the defensive, and for that purpose to
throw the blame of commencing the opposite
side. Even the that palpably throws the first
stone is yet anxious to show that it was defensive
throw; or at least provoked by previous wrong Mr.
Clay had this feeling upon him. and knew that the
of making out defensive fell upon him :;
and he lost no time in endeavorng to establish it.
He placed his defence in the forepart of the attack
At the very outset of the personal part of his speech
he attended to this essential preliminary and found
the justification, he beieved, in expressions
Of Mr. Calhoun in his sub-treasury speech; and in
a couple of passages in letter he had-written a
public OCCASION after his return from the extra ses-
sion-comnonly called the Edgcfeld letter.
In the Speech he believed he found rcproach
upon the patriotism of himself and friends in not fol-
lowing his (Mr. Calhouns) "ead" in support of the
administration financial and currency measures
and in the letter, impeachment of the integrity
and patriotism OF himself and friends if they got into
power; and also an avowa that his change of sides
was for selfish considerations. The first reproach,
that Of lack of patriotism in not following Mr.. Cal
houns lead he found it hard locate in any definite
part of the Speech and had to rest it upon general
expressions.
The others, those founded upon passages in the
letter, were definitely quoted, and were in these
terms: 81 could not g. buck and sustain those in such
opposition in achose wisdom, irmness and patriotism
l hal no reason to confde."-"N acas clear uith
our joint forces (ohigs and nullifers) could IT.
terly oeerthroac and demolsh them but 1t not
less clear that the uictory could enure not to but
erctusirety to tile benefit Of our allies and their
cause These passages were much commented up
on, especially in the rejoinders; and the whole let
ter produced by Mr.. Calhoun, and the meaning
claimed for them fully stated by him.
In the speeches for and against the crown
Demosthenes answering what has not been found in
the speech of 1Eschincs: the same anomaly took
place in this earnest debate, as reported between
MIR. Clay and Mr.. Calhoun. The latter answers
much which is not found in the published speech to
which he is replying. 1t gave rise to some remark
between the speakers during the rejoinders. Mr..
Calhoun said he was replying to the speech as spo-
ken. Mr. Clay said it was printed under his super
yision-as much to say he sanctioned the omis-
sions. The fact is that. with commendable feel
ing he had softened some parts and omitted Others
for that which is severe enough in speaking. be-
comes more so in writing; and its omission or SOFT
enng is tacit retraction and honorable to the cool
reflection which condemns what passion, or heat
had prompted. But Mr. Calhoun did not accept the
favor; and, neither party desiring quarter, the one
answered what had been dropt, and the other re-
produced it, with interest In his rejoinders, Mr.
Clay supplied all that had been omtted-and made
additions to it.
This contest between two eminent men, on the
atre so elevated, in which the stake to each so
great and in which each did his BEST conscious that
the eye of the age and of posterity upon him,
was an event in ITSELF and in their lives. 1t aboun-
ded with exemplifcations of all the different sorts
of oratory of which each was master; on one side
defamation, ,mpassioned e!oqueace, vehement in
vective, haunting sarcasm the othcr-close reas.
onng chaste narrative, clear statement keen retort.
Two accessories of such contests descriptions Of
friendshipsD were missing, and well-the pathetic
and the virulcnt. There was crying, or black
guarding in it-nothng like the weeping scene be-
tween Fox and Burke, when the heart over6owed
with tenderness at the recollection of former love,
now gone forever; nor like the virulcnt one when
the gall, Overlooked with bitterness, warned an
cent friend never TO return spy to the camp
which he had left as deserter. "a
There were in the speeches of each some remark
able passages such only actors in the scenes could
furnish and which history will claim. Thus; Mr..
Clay gave some inside views of the concoction of
the famous Compromise act 1888 which, SO far as
they 20, correspond with the history of the
same connection, given in of the chapters on
that subject in the first volume Of this work. Mr..
Clays speech is also remarkable for the declaration
that the protective SYSTEM which he so long advocat
ed, was never intended to be permanent: that its
only design was to give temporary encouragement
to infant manufactures and that it had fulfilled its
mission.
Mr.. Calhouns speech was also remarkable for ad.
hitting the power and the expedicncy of incidental
protection, as it called and this ground he
justified his support Of the traf of 1sl6--so much
l.