Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-04-15
New Fir

1 long Protected the rights and repOse OF the
South against the fierce and uEprncipled as
4 sdults Of Abolition hostility CAn / thus men
tion Mr.. Clay; can / portray bis action and
the motives which directed i at this critical
and interesting period in the eOuntTy's history,
whilst discussion is in progress elsewhere OF a
highly excited and masmmitory character
upon some Of the questions deAatea 80 warmly
IN 1850, without seeming, to some extent a.
least, to bring the spirit Of partisan strife into
this pleasant fsstst assemblsge, and without
awskeHiBg suspicion IN certain qlaTters that it
is my desire to make this occasiuh Instrumental
in the furiberanee Of mere party ends fear
nots and, therefore, had been lcOnsulted By
those who were Instrumental in getting up this
celebration, ! should most nnaOubtedly have
recommended that this particular birthday Of
the great kentucky statesman should have been
allowed to pass BY without any formal attemp.
to signsiizs It with deserved hOnors?
Especially would il have been ny wish to
have been permitted to be silent on tbs occasion
since see no possibility Of giving Atsrancs to
such thoughts and sentiments as consider to
belong naturally ssd appropriately to the csle-
bration Of the birthday Of Mr.. ClaT, without
giving umbrsge to those whose good opinion
and friendship should be pleased to possess
Bat what can do? You make me your presiding
ofheer; you call upon me 10 address youi; you
even suggest formally the topics upon which
you wish me to descantj now, if / do not give
yoa the play of Hamlet, with the character Of
hamlet left out by special request, you will,
hope make due allowance Tor any seeming
aoeuations Ia which NAV bscome involved,
and not too preeipitstsly charge to desiga what,
after all, may be more jus ~ attributable to the
force Of circumstances. Throw myself upon
your liberality, gentlemen, and will proceed. |
bad not the honor Of knowing Mr. Clay person.
ally, or but verY slightly, at any rate, until be
fe-entered the United States Senate in the win
Ter OF lS4s'50. Having all ny life been en-
listed in opposition to his well known political
views, and having been rathers jealous psrtisln
/ eDteTtsined very decided political prejudice
towards him. Ny feelings toward him were
these Of distrust, opposition and rePngnsnce.
No one respected bis intellect more highly than
did. No one admired mere bis fervid and
commanding eiOquence his heroic fearless
ness; bis capacity for commanding men his
elevated patriotism his noble defense Of his
couHtry's rights and Interests against foreign
hostility bis wholesome aud wise jealousy Of
foreign influence his generous advocacy Of
the rights OF the oppressed Of other climes.
struggling FOL civil and religions freedom tbs
grace and sffsbility Of his manners, and his
freedom from everything like low and vulgar
demagOgueism. aH.U
II rejoice in recOllecting that / was never
h0nesf politicians bat confess that did re-
gard him, until I approached him more nearly
and knew bin better, as a man addicted more
or less 70 political management as deficient In
frsnkuess and simplicity Of character; as pos
sessed OF an OTerwesning ambition, and thor
ouEhly devoted to party Let ne make full
confession Mr.. Clay's views 10 regard to the
domestic institutions Of the South were not
such in all respects as approved ! feared, as
- A. = -
was not quite as sOlIcitous for the preservation
Of the South sgsinst Abolition encroachnent
as be might have been that be was not sHfi-
eiently watchful Of the movements Of those in
the free States Of the North who were attempt
ing to undermine our Domestic repose and pros
perity; and 10 fine, that be was, 10 some ex
tent a seeker OF g0liticsl support in the free
States Of the Union ss a Presidential aspirant,
at the sxpense Of the rights and honor Of the
slavebOlding States Of the SoHth. Sach were
the views which ! entertained Of Mr.. Clay
when be reached Washington City in the month
Of December, 1879. Lei Us reeur tOr mo-
msnt to the state Of things then existing. The
wilmot ProEiso had been pressed upon the
public mind Of the country, and bad been the
subject Of uEkind and acrimonious discussion
in Congress for several years. The sb0lition
Of slavery in the District OF ColHnbia bad been
fezrfully menscsd. The fugitive slave law
then existing had been shamefully diSrsgardsd
and set at naught in various States Of the
North and East California bad been suddsn-
ly organized into a State, bad adopted consti-
tuition prohibiting slavery, and vas knocking
al the door Of the UBion foT admission Toe
southsrn States were intensely excited, ahd
had called a convention at Nashville to take
measures fog their 0wn safety. Mr.. Clay, on
reaching Washington, lost 10 time ~ making
bis position known. II doe season be offered
a series Of resolutions declsrstive Of his views
upon the pending qusstioas, and presenting the
outlines of Plan Of Settlement. a-
In these resolutions were embodied two o2in-
ions. Get for d 20 be sure, IN form purely Gb-
sfract, but which most southern men bad
uaited IN condemning. I sllude to his express
ing bis opinion in these resolutions, that Con-
gr.ss had constitutional power to legislate for
the abolition Of slavery 10 the District Of Co
iunbis, and for its exclusion from the Terrific
ries Of the Union. Though be distinctly OBJ
ieeted to all legislation OF this kind either Ia
/ The District Of Columbia OF 10 the Territories
vet the assertion Of the constitutional power
/ Of Congress thus TO legisiaie, gave great um
j brsge al the time to Southern men in Congress
and awakened feelings sTnong them and s-eanf