The Osceola times., 1879-02-15
Claws Reply TO Calhoun.


Proceeding TO the senate, my ssten-
tion was at once arrested by voice that
.eemed like the music OF the spheres. 1t
came from tie lips OF tall, W lie med
man with a wide mouth, A .shiug eye,
and g: a:countenance that revealed every
Thought within. His voice was one O
extraordinary compass, melody and pow
~. There was not one word of rant, not
one tone OF voci'eration in the very eli
max Of his passion. He s2oke deliber.
stely, and his outpouring Of denuncia-
tion was as slow and steady as the tread
Of Nemesis. He gesticulated all over.
As he spoke he stepped backward and
forward with effect, and the nodding OF
his head-hung on q long neck-Lis
arms, hands, feet, and even his spectacles
and blue handkerchief aided him in de.
bate. 1t was Henry Clay, engaged in q
hand>to.hand struggle with another
giant of the senate, John G. Calhoun.
Clay had just taunted him with . ru.
NOR that he had left the opposition ranks
and struck hands with the administra.
tion. He (Mr. Clsy) "would like to
know what compromise had been made
between the honorable senator from
South Carolina and the Kinderhook fox"
(meaning President Van BUREN,.
Calhoun replied: I" No man ought To
be more tender on the subject of com.
promise than the honorable senator from
Kentucky" Then, alluding 10 the
compromises effected by Clay in the null
LITIGATION crisis of 1880, he added: The
senator from Kensucky was fat on his
back. | repeat it, sir, the senator wa,
fat on his back, and couldn't move.
wrote home to my friends in South
Carolina halt dozen letters, saying that
the senator from Kentcky was fat on
his back and couldn't move. l was his
master on that occasion l repeat it,
sir, 1 was his MASTER on that occasion
He went to my school. He learned Of
me-"
The two antagonists sat at the extreme
ends OF the semi-circular rows of seats
Calhoun sitting in the front row, on the
presidents right Clay in the rear row,
on his left. The honorable senator
from South Carolina" said Clay, "says
that | was fat on my back, and that he
wrote home to his friends in South
Carolina stating that l was fat on my
back and couldn't move Admirable
evidence this In a court OF law! First
make an assertion, then quote your own
letters to prove it But the honorable
senator says that he was my master on
that occasion - As he said this the
speaker advanced down the aisle,
directly in front of Calhoun, and, point.
ing to him with his quivering fingers,
said, in tones in which were concen-
trated the utmost scurn and defiance
He my master! He ny master" he
continued in louder tones, with his
finger still pointed, and retreatine
backward, while his manner indicated
the intensest adherence "He my
master he third time cried, raising
his voice to still higher key, while
retreating backward 10 the very lobby
then, suddenly changing his voice from
a trumpet peal to almost whisper
which WAS yet distinctly audible in
fvery nook and corner of the sena
chamber, he added: "Sir, / would moi
own him Tor nv slave" A hush o
breathless silence; then followed 9
tempest of applause, which for a while
CHECKED all lurther debate, and came
near causing an expulsion OF the sptc
tators from the gallery.