The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-05-22
CLAY'S REPLY TO. CALHOUN
! A Great Scene IN I the Senate

| A GTeat scene III 1ne Senate.
From Matthews, Orators and Oratory."
Proceeding to the Senate, my attention
was at once arrested bya voice that SEEM
ed like the music Of the spheres. 1t c9mc
| from the lips of Il tall, well-formcd man
with a wide mouth, a flashing eye, aud a
| countenance that revealed every thought
within. His voice was one of extraordi-
nary compass, melody and power. There
was not one word of rant, not one tone of
vocitcration in the very climax of his pas
sion. He spoke deliberately, and his
outpouring Of denunciation was as SLOW
and steady as the tread Of Nemesis. He
gesticulated 'allISoytr.s As bespoke he
stepped backwarttand forward with effect
and the nodding Of his head hung on "a
long neck-his arms, hands, fingers, feet
and even his spcctacles and bluc handker-
chief aided him i'll debate 1t was Henry
Clay, engaged i'll a hand-to-hand struggle
with another giant Of the Senate, John
c. Calhoun.
Clay had Just taunted him with a rul-
NOR that he had left the opposition
ranks, and struck hands with the admin
istration. He, Mr.. Clay, ''would like to
know what compromises had been made
between the honorable Senator from
South Carolina and the Kinderhook fox
meaning Van Buren.
Calhoun replied: p No man ought to
be more tender on the ubject~of com
promise than the honorable Senator from
Kentucky" Then alluding to the COM
promise effected by Clay in the nulitica.
ton crisis Of 1880, he added: 'Thc Scna-
tor from Kentucky was flat on his back. |
repeat it, sir, the Senator was flat on his
back and couldn't move. | wrote home
to my friends in South Carolina half
dozen letters; saving that the Senatorfrom
Kentucky was flat :on his back and
couldn tsmUve. II 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. 'sThe honorable Senator from
South Carolna,' said Clay, "says that I
was flat on my back and couldn't move!
Admirable evidence this in court OF
law. First make an assertion, then quote
your own letters to prove it. But the hon
orable Senator says that he was my,mas-
ter on that occasionw As he said this the
speaker advanced down the aisle, directly
IN front of Calhoun, and pointing to him
with his quivering fingers, said, in tones
in which We're concentrated s, the Utmost
scorn and defiance, "Hc my master! He
my master!' he continued in louder
tones, with his finger still. pointed, and
retreating backward, while his manner
indicated the intensest adherence. ale
my mastcr!' he third time crietl rails
ing his voice to Il still higher key, while
retreating backward ofthe gyery lobby;
then suddenly changing hissvoiee froma
trumpet peal to almost a whisper, which
yet was distinctly audible in every nook
and corner of the Senate chamber, he add
ed: "Sir, I would not own him for my
slave" A hush of breathlcss silence;
then followed AZ tenn pest gefg applause
which for while CHECKED all further de-
bate, and came. near causing anseN pulsion
aofthe spectators from the gallery I s