Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-02-07
called the Edgefeld let

session-commonly called the Edgefeld let
ter.
In the speech, he believed he found re-
proach upon the patriotism of himself and
friends in not following his (Mr. Calhoun's)
''leod' in support of the administration f.
nancial and currency measures; and in the
letter, an impeachment of the integrity and
patriotism of himself and friendr if they got
into power; and also an avOwal that his
change of sides was for selfish considera-
tions. The first reproach, that Of lack Of
patriotism in not following Mr.. Calhoun's s
lead, he found it hard to locate in any def
mite 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: II could not back and
sustain those IN aehose aoisdom, .frmness and
patriotism Ihad no reason to confde." ''H
s'sisseS clear, acith our joint forces (JVhigs and
nullifers) ace could utterly oreyhrou and de-
molish them; but 1t tras not less clear that
the ricto,y aeou1d en,re, not to us, hit crclu-
si;rey to the benefit of our oUies and their
cause" These passages were much COM
mented upon, especially in the rejoinders !;
and the whole letter produced by Mr.. Cal
houn, and the meaning claimed for them
fully stated by.him.
In the speeches for and against the crown
we see Demosthenes answering what was
not to be found in the speech of Eschines
the same anomaly took place in the earnest
debate and as reported between Mr.. 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 spoken. Mr..
Clay said it was printed under his supervi-
sion-as much as to say he sanctioned the
omissions. The fact is that, with commerl-
dable feeling, he had softened some parts
and omitted others; for that which is severe
enough in speaking, becomes more SO in
writing; and its omission Or softening is a
tacit rctraction, 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 de-
string quarter, the one answered what had
been dropt, and the other reproduced it,
with interest. In his rejoinder, Mr.. Clay
srr had been eraitted.-xrd
made additions to it.
This contest between two eminent men,
on theatre so elevated, in which the stake
to each was so great, and in which each did
his best, conscious that the eye Of the age
and posterity was upon him, was an event
in itself, and in their lives. 1t abounded
with Publications. of all the different sorts
of oratory Of which each was master; on one
side-dcclamation impassioned eloqucnce,
vehement invectiye, taunting sarcasm; on
the othcr-close reasoning, chaste narrative,
clear. statement. Loen retort. Two accesso-
rios Of such contests (jisruptions OF friend
ships were missing and wcll-the pathet-
ic and virulent. There was no crying OF
blackguardinc in it-nothin@ like the weep
ing scene between Fox and Burke, when
the heart oycrfowed with tenderness at the
recollection Of former love, now gone forev-
er; nor like the yirulcnt one when the gall,
Ioverhowing with bitterness. warned an an
Icient friend never to return as a spy to the
camp which he had left deserter.
There were in the speeches of each some
remarkable passages, such only as actors in
the scenes could furnish and which history
will claim. Thus: Mr.. Clay gave some in
side views of the concoction of the famous
Compromise act of 1888; which, so far as
they 90, correspond with the secret history
of the same connection, as given in one o'
the chapters on that subject in the first vol
ume OF this work. Mr.. Clay's speech is al
so remarkable fer the declaration that the
protective system, which he so long advoca
ted was never intended to be permanent
that its only desi on was to give temporary
cncourae cement to infant manufacturers anc
that it had fulfilled its mission.
Mr.. Calhoun's speech was also remarkable
for admitting the power and the expediency
of incidental protection, as it was called
and on this ground he justified his supper
of the tariff of 1S16-so much objected a
gainst him. He also gave his history of th'
compromise of 1882 attributing it to the eff
ficacy of notification and of the military at
titude of South Carolina which brought up
on him the relentless sarcasm of his supper
of national bank in 1916 He was chair
man of the committee which reported thu
charter for that bank, and gave it the sup
port which carried it through; with which
he was reproached after he became opposed
to the bank. He explained the circumstan
ces under which he gave that support-sucf
as [ have often heard him state in conver
sation; and which always appeared to bt
sufficient to exempt him from reproach:
At the same time, (and what is but little
known, } he had the merit of opposing, ano
probably of defeating, far more dangerou:
bank-one Of fifty millions equivalent tt
one hundred and twenty millions now) ane
founded almost wholly upon United States
stocks-imposingly recommended to Con
gress by the then Secretary of the Treasury
| Mr. Alexander ] Dallas The analytlca