The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-01-10
CLAY'S REPLY TO CALHOUN.
A Great Scene In the senate.

w.
Proceeding to the Senate, my atten-
ton was at once arrested by voice
that seemed like the music of the
spheres. 1t came from the lips of a
tall, Seil-formcd man with a wide
mouth, flashing eye, and counte-
nance that revealed every thought with
in. His voice was one of extraordinary
compass, melody and power. There
was not one word of rant, not one tone of
vOciferation in the very climax of his
passion. He spoke deliberately, and
his outpouring of denunciation 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 long neck-hi arms, hands,
fingers, feet and even his spectacles and
blue handkerchief aided him in debate.
1t was Henry Clay, engaged in hand
to-hand struggle with another giant of
the Senate, John C. Calhoun.
Clay had Just tainted him with a
rumor that he had left the opposition
ranks, and struck hands with the adj
ministration. He (Mr. Clay would
like to know what compromises had
been made between the honorable Sen
ator from South Carolina and the Kin
derhook fox" (meanino 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, abiding to the
compromises effected by Clay in the
notification crisis of 1880, he added:
THE Senator from Kentucky was fiat
on his back. repeat it, sir, the Sena-
tor was flat on his back, and couldn't
move. l wrote home to my friends in
South Carolina half dozen letters. saw
ing that the Senator from Kentucky
was fiat on his back and couldn't move.
L was his master on that occasion. I
repeat it, sir, was his master on that
occasion. He went to my school. He
learned of me-"
The two antagonists sat at the ex-
IRENE ends of the semi-circular rows of
seats = Calhoun sitting in the front
row, on the Presidents right, CLAW in
the rear row, on his left "The honor
able 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 I was
Hat on my back and couldn't novel
Admirable evidence this in 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
ne said this the speaker advanced down
he aisle, directly in front of Calhoun.
md, pointing to him with his auiverinc
myers, said, in tones in which were
concentrated the utmost scorn and de-
lance, He my masterl He my mas
err" he continued in louder tones.
With his finger still pointed, and re-
reating backward, while his manner in
Heated the intensest adherence. He
ny master!" he third time cried. rails
ng his voice to a still higher KEY, while
ettreating backward to the very lobby:
hen, suddenly changing his voice from
trumpet peal to almost whisper.
Inch yet was distinctly audible in
very nook and corner of the Senate
hamber, he added Sir, 1 would not,
wn him for my slave" A hush of
reathless silence; then followed a.
'mpest of applause, which for
while checked all further debate. and
ame near causing an expulsion of the
from the gallery.