Ottumwa weekly courier., 1878-12-18
CLAY TO CALHOUN.
A Memorable Scene in the Uni
ted States Senate.
From Matthews orators and ora,orv

FROM Mattnews orators and Oratory.
Proceeding to the senate my atten-
tion was at once arrested by avoice that
seemed like the music of the sphere.
Ii came from the lips of tall, we'll
formed man with wide mouth, q
flashing eye, and q countenance that
revealed every thought within. His
voice was one of extraordinary COM
pass, melody and power. There was
not one word of rant, not one word
Of vociferation in the very climax of
his passion. He spoke deliberately
and his outpouring of denunciation
was as slow and steady of the tread
of Nemesis. He gesticulated all over
AS &c spoke he stepped back ward
aud forward with effect; and the
nodding OF his head hung on long
neck-his arms, hands, fingers, feet
and even his spectaclcs and blue
handkerchief, aided him in debate.
It was Henry Clay, engaged in q
hand to hand struggle with another
giant of the senate, John G. Calhoun
Clay had just tsunted him with a
rumor that he had left the opposition
ranks, and struck hands with the ad-
minis.ration. He (Mr. Claw, "would
like to know what compromises had
been made between the honorable
senator from South Carolina, and
the kinderhook fox" (meaning Pres
ident Van BUREN,.
Calhoun replied: "No man ought
10 be more tender on the subject of
compromises than the honora Die SEN
ator from Kentucky" Then alluding
to the compromises effected by Clay
in the nul,Ification crisis of 1880, he
added: 1.-THE senator from Kentucky
was fat on his back and couldn't
move, wrote home to my friends
in South Carolina half q dozen letters,
saying that the senator from Ken
lucky was fiat on his back and could
not move. was his master ON that
occasion. He went to my school. He
learned of me-"
The two antagonists sat at the ex-
treme ends of the semi-circular rows
seats-Calhoun sitting in the front
row on the presidents right, Clay in
the rear row on his left, "The hon
orable senator from South Carolina
said Clay, "says that was fiat on my
back and that he wrote home to his
friends in South Carolina stating tha,
was fiat on my back and couldn't
move! Admirable evidence this in
a court of law! First make an ssser.
tion, then quote your own letters to
prove 1t But the honorable senator
from South Carolina says he was my
master on that occasionl' AS he
said this the speaker advanced down
the aisle, directly in front Of Calhoun
and pointing TO him with quiverine
fingers, said, in tones in which were
concentrated tho utmost scorn and
defiance, "He my master!' "He my
master!' he continued in louder
tones, with his finger still pointed
and retreating back ward, while his
air and manner indicated the intens
est adherence. "He my master =
he third time cried, raising hi,
voice to a stiil higher pitch, while re
treating backward to the very lobby
then, suddenly changing his voic,
from trumpet peal to almost whis
per. which yet was distinctly audibl.
in every nook and corner of the sen
ate chamber, he added, "Sir, 1 wonlt
not own him for my slave" A husi
of breathless silence; then followed
a tempest of applause which for I
while checked all further debate, ant
came near causing the expulsion o
the spectators from the gallery.