The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-07-17

-'llSS lldllllstu llocS- VI NOlttulolt COuillN,
New York; had been dead nineteen'years
when he took possession of the White
House, accompanied by his four sons,
and presided over the official receptions
and dinner parties with his well-known
tact and politeness. In the November
following his Inauguration, his eldest son
and private secretary, Colonel Abraham
Van Buren, (who was a graduate of the
military academy at West Point, and
who had served on the staff of General
WORTHY, was married to Miss Angelica
Singleton, a wealthy South Carolina
lady. who had been educated at Phila-
delphia, and who had passed the proceed
ing winter at Washington. in the family
of her relative, Senator Preston. On the
New York S day succeeding the wedding,
Mrs. Van Buren,, assisted by the wives
of the cabinet officers, received with her
father-in-law, the President. Her rare ac-
complishments, superior education, beau
ty of face and figure, grace of manner,
and viyacity in conversation insured So
cial success. The White House was re-
furnished in the most expensive manner,
and code of etiquette was established
which rivalcd that of German princi-
pality.
President Van Buren, found himself
saddled at the commencement of his adj
ministration with national financial en-
barrassments, bequeathed as legacy by
his g Industrious predecessor, as he des-
ignated General jackson in one of his
messages. The destruction of the United
States Bank had forced the transfer of
of national funds, which it had held on
deposit, to the State banks. They had
loaned these funds on securities, often
of doubtful value or worthless, and when
the day of reckoning came general bank
ruptcy ensued. Manufacturers were COM
PEELED to discharge their workmen: pro-
visions were scarce and dear in the At
lantc States, because funds could not be
obtained for the removal Eastward of
the Western crops: and there was much
actual distress in the large cities on the
sea coast. To quiet the popular clamor,
the President convened Congress in an
extra session, and III his message to that
body, on its assembling. he proposed the
establishment of an independent treas
ury, with sub-treasurics in different cities,
for the safe keeping of the public money,
entirely separate from the banks.
The Wings opposed this Independent
treasury scheme, but, to the surprise of
those with whom he had of late been po-
litically affiliated, it received the cordial
support of Mr.. Calhoun. When Con-
gress began to discuss this measure, he
became its champion in the Senate and
soon Cooked horns with Mr.. Clay, who
led its opponents. The debate was con-
tinued session after session, and i'll time
Messrs. Clay and Calhoun passed from
their discussion of national finances into
an acrimonious, reciprocal review of the
acts, votes and motions OF each other
during the preceding thirty years.
John Quincy Adams wrote in his diary
that "these oratorical encounters be-
tween Clay and Calhoun, are Lillputian
mimicry of the orations against Ctesi-
phon and the crown, or the debate of the
second Philippe" Others, equally COM
petent to judge. and not preiudiced by
jealousy, pronounced this personal debate
the greatest Oratorical contest that ever
took place in the Senate of the United
States, not excepting the Webster and
Hayne controversy, although that re-
ceived greater publicity through judi
cious advertising. Mr.. Benton was of
this opinion, and described the debate in
his memoirs as Astounding with exempli-
iications of all the different sorts of ora
tory OF which each of the Senatorial
gladiators was master. "On one side
Clay, defamation, imprisoned el"-
quence, vehement invcctivc. haunting
sarcasm; on the other Calhoun, close
reasoning. claste narrative, clear state
mcnt. keen retort. There was no cryin.
or black guarding i'll it: nothing like the
weeping scene between Fox and Burke,
when the heart overlooked with bitter.
ness at the recollection of former love.
now cone forever: nor like the viruleni
one. when the gall, oyerilowing with bit
ternesS. warned an ancient friend never
to return us Il spy to the camp which he
had left us a desertcr.
In concluding this memorable debate
Mr.. Calhoun denounced Mr.. Clay for til,
part he had taken in the tariff compro
mise of 1888, and DECLARED that in that
contest the nullitiers were triumphant
they had the Kentucky Senator on his
back. that he Mr.. Calhoun wa,
his master then. Mr.. Clay was EVIDENT,
somewhat taken 10y surprise at this dee
laration, and he replied Indignantly, Civ
ING Il history of the tariff compromiS,
alluded to, and clearly demonstrating
that he had been actuated by patriot,
motives in that controversy as Il pacitica
tor bets~ GSn the North and the SOUTH
Finally. Mr.. Clay. drawing himself N, t,
his full height, fixed his eyes upon Mr.
Calhoun. and exclaimed in ringing tone
and with a contemptouS gesture, III,
: my master. he my master. | would no
uwE him for my slave!'
The financial condition Of the oQUntr,
grew worse and worse. There was Il to
t tai Stagnation of business throughout til,
/ Union. and from every section came It'd
ings of embarrassment. bankruptcy, an,
, ruin. There were no available means 70
Y ,i.u p.rphaSr of Western produce and it
transportation to the Atlantic markets
t So it remained in the hands of the farm
f erS, who could not dispose of it excep
t at great sacrifice. In Ohio. for exam
pie, pork was sold at three dollars hun
5 bred pounds. and wheat al fifty cents pc
+ bushel. while the price of agriculture
S labor was but thirty-seven and a hal