The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-02-20
CIay'S Reply to Calhoun.


Proceeding TO the senate, my atten-
tion was at once arrested by 8 voice that
seemed like the music Ct the spheres. It
came from the lips OF a tall, well-termed
man with a wide mouth, a q tshiug eve,
and a counteuance that revealed every
thought within His voice was one OF
extraordinary compass, melody and pow
sT. There was not one word of rant, not
one tone of moderation in the very eli
max Of his passion. He spoke deliber>
ately, and MS outpOuriug of denuncia,
tion was as slow and steady as the tread
of Nemesis He gesticulaIed all over.
As ne spoke he stepped backward and
forward with effect, and the noddiug OF
his head-hung on a long neck-kis
arms, hands, feet, and even his spectacles
and blue handkerchief aided him in de-
bate. It was Henry Clay, engaged in a
hand>to-hand struggle with another
giant of the senate, John @. Calhoun.
Clay had just taunted him with a Tu.
NOR that he had left the OpposiUien ranks
and struck hands with the administra-
ton. He (Mr. Clay) would ike to
know what compromise had been made
bstween the honorable senator from
South Carolina and the Kinderhook fox
(meaniug President Van BUREN,.
Calhoun replied " No man ought to
be more tender on the subject OF COM
promise than the honorable senator from
Kentucky" Then, alludiDg 10 the
| compromises effected by Clay in the nul-
| Iifcatiou crisis OF 1880, he added: " The
senator from KensuCky was fat on his
/ hack. I repeat it, sir, the senator VS.
| Eat on his back, and cOuldn move. l
wrote home to NY friends in South
| Carolina half dcBAn letters, saying that
| the senator from Kentcky was fat on
| his back and couldn't move. l was his
master on that occasion. | repeat IL,
| sir, I was his master on that occasion
| He went 10 my school. He learned Oi
ne."
The two antagonists sat at the extreme
ends of the semi-ciTculsr 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 fiat on my back, and that he
wrote home to his friends in South
| Carolina stating that | was Hat on my
back and couldn't move! Admirable
evidence this in court OF law First
make an assertion, then quote your OWL
letters to prove it But the honorable
| ,
that occasion - As he said this the
speaker advanced down the aisle
directly in front of Calhoun, and, point,
ing 10 him with his quivering fingers
said, IN tones in which were concen'
trated the utmost sc0rn and defiance
He my master He my master !" be
continued in louder tones, with hil
finger still pointed, and retTeating
| backward, while his manner indicated
the intensest abhOrTence. I" He my
master " he a third time cried, raising
his voice TO a still higher key, while
retreating backward 10 the very lobby
then, suddenly changing his voice from
a trumpet peal to almost a whisper
which was yet distinctly audible il
svery nook and corner Of the senst
chamber, he added: & Sir, would no
own him for my slave" A hush O
br eathleSs silence; then followed
tempest of applause, which for a Will
checked al further debate, and cam
near causing an expulsion of the spec
l atnTs frnro tho n ifprv