New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-13

Mr. Clay soon left the exclusive practice Of his
profession, to engage In the more extended duties
Of political life. Elected to the Legislature Of
1 Kentucky in 1903, he may be considered to have
then enlisted himself in the service of his country
In 1906 he was elected to the Senate of the United
States for an une xpired term and was again elected
to that BODY IN 1862 to fill another vacancy. His
national career seems thus strangely to have COM
menced at point OF distinction where the glory Of
the most successful of public men usually cul-
i inmates. 1ss
Returned to g the House Of Representatives in
Congress, at the expiration of his Senatorial term
| in 1911, he first entered that body His fame had
preceded him. In the graphic language of Mr..
Randolph his first step was from the door of the
i House to the Speakers chair.
4 Through successive Congresses he confined to
fill this distinguished and conspicuous position for
4 about thirteen years. His irnpartiafy and fair
ness-the dignity and courtesy Of bis demeanor--
tne JUSTICE readiness and correctness which mark
ed his decisions of questions of order, won for him
the respect and applause of even political oppo-
nents. To have flied this exalted station for so
long period was Of itself distinction such as has
occurred IN the history Of no other public man in
But Mr.. Clay did not content himself simply with
the duty Of presiding the deliberations of the
House. He participated largely in its business.
speakership, he left tie chair to take mart II its
/ discussion. His labors thus were most arduous
and incessant; and it is believed that during this
time he exercised an influence over the House
1 such as no statesman ever welded before or
since.
From this theater Of his glory lie was called to
i act as one of the commissioners OP the United
States in negotiating treaty in 1914 and 1915,
and subsequently to accept the post of Secretary
i of State during the administration of Mr., Adams
In 1881 he was elected to the Senate of the United
States, and continued member Of that body until
lsi2, when ne resigned his seat and retired TO pri
vate ne. IN ls4s he was, however, called from
his retirement to occupy again, and for the fifth
i time, seat in the Senate; and he continued
member Of that august body up to the time Of his
i death in June, 1852.
1t is not my object, nor would II be becoming in
me on an occasion like this, to enter upon the dis
cussion Of those measures ofpubiic policy which he
advocated during his long life. g am not here to
i rake oil the warm ashes from the embers of con-
roverses which have spent their fury, and are dy-
ing away, OF to fan the fires of those which still
burn" But it Is proper to bring before your minds
some of his leading measures and views which,
sometimes shaping the course Of our national pol
icy and sometimes opposing it. illustrate his char
4 aeter as a statesman.
Mr.. Clay has been called the Father of the pol
icy of internal improvements by the General Gov
ernment." AS far back as 1907 his opinions on
this important subject were foreshadowed in the
Senate, in his speech on the Potomac Bridge bill
1t is true that tis policy had been previously re-
commended BY MI. Jefferson. Mr. Madison also re-
CURED to the subject with appreciation. But when,
under the advocacy Of Mr.. Clay in 1916, it was pro-
" posed to set aside for internal improvements a
fund, to be paid into the National Treasury by the
Bank Of the United States, then rechartered, Pres
ident Madison vetoed the bill upon the ground OF
its uneonstitutionality President Monroe, his sue
cessor, in his first annual message in anticipation
of renewed legislation on the subject, took occa
sion to pronounce his clear opinion that Congress
did not possess the power under the Constitution
Against the authority of these distinguished
statesmen, Mr. Clay stood forth the leading advo
J cate of the power. 4 resolution introduced into
the House declaring that Congress possessed the
power to construct military roads, post-roads and
canals, called forth from him speech of mastery
! ability and eloquence. The argument of Mr
Madison had been, that the Constitution should be
J amended so as to confer this power upon Con
gress. But Mr.. Clay pressed the resolution, con
J sidering that if the House decided against thu
power, it was gone-gone foreyer-uness restored
} by constitutional amendment, which he showed
it was impracticable to seek or expect. Mainly
through his exertions the resolution passed thu
: House by handsome majority, and the power o
Congress over the subject was for the first tim.
} emphatically declared.
| e Doubts among statesmen may still exist as b
the correctness of Mr.. Ciays views upon this sub
iect Yet important works of public improvement
| have been since undertaken and completed by tht
t Government, and to him more than to any othe
statesman of his era, is the country indebted fo
: the permanent benefits they have conferred. Tht
traveller upon our noblest national highway, til,
great Cumberland Road, sees in the striking monu
ment which has been erected to his genius ant
4 which bears his name inscribed upon its shaft,
just tribute of gratitude to the enlightened patriot
I ism of the Father of Internal improvements. No
2 will / be considered as trenching on forbidden
ground when / cite as coralary from the prin
cples of constitutional Interpretation he advocated
! the recent recommendation to Congress by Presi
dent buchanan that tho General Government
should lend its patronage and aid to the construc
1 tion of q great national railway to the shores o
: the Pacific.
: In April 1910, Mr.. Clay delivered his first speed
I in Congress in favor of the policy of protectn!
q and encouraging domestic manufactures. Of thi
s policy, famiarly known as the American system
i he continued throughout his entire life, the stead
fast and devoted friend. Mr.. Benton referred to hin
asits " founder. 1t aimed to effect the entire inde
pendence of our country of all foreign nations as
respects our essential wants. The system propose
s that !" whilst imposts should be mainly, and unde
= notifications might safely, be relied on as fit an
convenient source of public revenue, the duties O
l. foreign fabrics should be SO adjusted and arrange
! as to afford gradual but adequate protection t
y American industry; thus lessenng our dependenc
It on foreign nations, by securing certain and ult
J mately cheaper and better supply oil our ow
n wants from our own abundant resources
9 In the advocacy of this comprehensive and trul
IS national policy Mr.. Clay, at different periods, Ell
/ countered the strenuous opposition Of the creates
d intellects Of the country. AT one epocn MI. et
ster, whose views upon the snbjeet subsequent
y underwent a change, opposed it with all the ma.
terly power of his gigantic mind; whilst the Who'll
o energies of the disciplined logic Of Mr. Calhoun
J. his later days, sought to break 1t down. In tn
discussion of no subject during his life has Mr. Cla
n displayed more splendid or more varied powers {
A oratory--more vigor and profundity of argumeI
is "a greater extent of information and more at
e mirabe patriotism.
y Sustained by the watchfulness OF its sreatfoHndel
Q the principle of protection involved in the system
i modified according to the Increasing strength
y our manufactures and the demands of the Natoni
e Treasury withstooa the assaults OF its opponents
o and is still to certain extent, the policy of th
o country It's benefcent influences have bee
shown in the development Of our national ente
r prise, in the encouragement OF the neehanc art
IS in opening and multiplying diversified avenues
IS labor, in swelling the tide OF Industrial lmmigr,
L ton to our shores, in securing ut nome the va
IT profits resulting from conversion OF ray materia
o into manufactured articles, and in the creation
new ties of interest binding more closely togetht
e the different portions of the Union.
|. In 1882, propositions being introduced into II
Senate in regard to fixing the price and the tran
l. fer of the public lands, il moved to refer the
d to the Committee on Manufactures, OF which M
n Clay was member. In spite OF the incongruity
N the subject with those legtimately falling with
,f the province of that committee, and notw thstan
lie ing earnest the entreates of Mr.. Clay and his +
a. monstrances against course 50 extraordinary, Il
Y motion prevailed.
a, .The design was,n said he, ITO place in n
1t hands many edged instrument, which could III
Le touch without being wounded" 10 was suppose
that, in view of the approaching Presldential eie
ID tion and actuated by motives OF personal advane
Is ment, he would be tempted 10 advocate the d
IS mands of the new States to the public domain,
hopes of their favor and would so incur tho di
y pleasure Of the old or, that by course of slen
4,