Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-12-21
cLAY.s REPLY TO CALHOUN.
A Great scene in the United states
Senate.
AIathew's orators and Oratory.

Mathews Orators and oratory.
Proceeding to the Senate my at
tention was at once arrested by a
voice that seemed like the music OF
the spheres. 1t came from the lips
of n tall. wellformed man with a
wide mouth, flashing eye and a
countenance that revealed every
thought within. His voice was
one Of extraordinary compass, mel
odv and power. There WAS not one
word of rant not one tone of vocl-
feration in the very climax OF his
passion. He spoke deliberately,
and his OutpOuring of denunciatlon
was as slow and steady as the tread
of Nemesis. He gesticulateda all over.
As he spoke he stepped backward
and forward with effect and the
nodding of his head, hung on low
neck-his arms, hands, fingers, feet,
and even his spectacles and blue
handkerchief aided him in debate.
| IT was Henry Clay, engaged in
hand-to-hand struggle with another
giant of the Senate, John c. Cal
| houn.
Clay had Just tainted him with a
runor that he had left the opposition
ranks, and struck hands with the
administration. he (Mr. Clay,
"would like to k4ow what COM
promises had been made between
| the honorable Senator from Carolina
and the Undertook fox" (meaning
President Van Buren,.
| Calhoun replied "No man ought
to be more tender on the subject OF
compromises than the honorable
| Senator from Kentucky" Then al
luding to the compromises effected
by CLAY in the nullifiatiOn crisis OF
1880. he added: g The Senator from
Kentucky was fiat on his back, and
couldn't move. / wrote home tC
my friends in South Carolina halt
dozen letters, saying that the Sena
tor from kentucky was flat on hl'
back and couldn't move. l was ms
master on that occasion. l repeat
it. sir, | was his master on that Oc
casion. He went to my school. HI
learned of me-"
|. The two antagonists sat at the eX
, IRENE ends of the semicircular row
of seats-Calhoun sitting in the from
! row, on the Presidents's right, Cha,
in the rear row, on his left. eth
. honorable Senator from South Caro-
lina," said Clay, ''says that wa
f fiat on my back, and that he wrOt
home to his friends in South Caro-
J lima stating that l was fiat on M.
back and couldn't move! Admira
, BILE evidence this in court OF law
l First make an assertion, then quot
I lr.ff IN
the honorable Senator says that h
2 was my master on that occasion J!
AS he said this the speaker advances
down the aisle, directly in front G
Calhoun, and pointing to him wit
his quivering fingers, said, in tone
i'm which were concentrated the vi
D most scOrn and defiance. "He M.
: nv master! He my MASTER" h
continued in louder tones, with hi
, finger still pointed, and retreatin
t backward, while his air and man
ner indicated the intensest abhOl
renee. "He my master !" Z" II
, nv masterp' he third time crieC
, raising his voice to a still highe
, kew, While retreating backward t
j the very lobby; then, suddenI
e changing his voice from a trumpe
peal to almost whisper, which yt
was distinctly audible in every moo
and corner of the Senate chambel
he added, Sir, l would not own hiI
for my slave" A hush of breath
Y less silence; then followed a tempes
v of applause which for a Will
e checked all further debate, and cam
r near causing an expulsion of tn
: spectators from the gallery.