Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-11-25
Local. NEWS.
CLAYTON,

The reAdin3 Oh tue seconu Poitiou U
bbef Justice Oomegys memoir of the lat
aim n. Clayton toos place Monday nigh
the Historical Soc.ety's House. Rsv
l;nrdper Littell presided al the III, ct
no. and George II. Bates, Eiq was mad,
eeretary to take minute Of tue proceed
hos. lac huciety ~ss well Represented
ia lurubtra ard number of III
,,ends. AlDDpg the gentlemen prestnt
ERE DR.. L P. Bush, Anthony Higgins
"a John X McFee, E,q, Col ii. q
,ot,omb, Low U. Bro, L q, and Frsncis
lncent.
TINS reading commenced at 7.45 O'Clock,
nd opened where tue first paper hao
oncluded, al Nj. Clayton d entrance intc
he United States Senate. This event In
!. he occurred ut the time when some OF
he greatest controversies tDat we're even
onebt ont in thu Senate chamber In the
history Of our country wire IN progress.
WAS when such giants OF history ~
ebjter, Clay, Ouihouo and nAype were
pAdiug The opposing iJroes NJt thre {
bouths after MIR. Clayton entered the
4pAte the great debate involving the
uestlvn IF Dulhhcatiou sprang uul OF d
esolutioB of inquiry aB 10 public landI,
Introduced by Fooie Of Aassacuusetts
[bls debate, led on opposite
ddes by Webster aud Htyne,
+ las come down III history Az ths ''Battl.
IN the Giants, and Is recorded AZ ons oi
hue greatest encounters thai ever took
blace on the floor OF the iSsDhte Clayton
VAS then Senator ui three mouths'
standing, but the positiyeness aud nc .ivity
IN his nature prompted hun to JON
heartily i'll this mighty fight, and in the
Rebate he showed 30 much promise that
~ rose at once in the esteem Of his politi-
cal enemies at home; for, the Judge
Ia olared, it IL characteristic of Bella
{wareans to take pride in the achievements
zof distinguished fellow citizsu, though
d. be political opposite.
Having thus initiated himself, MI.
xC!alton immediately followed up the
8aciive course he had decided upon. He
9dlrecttd his attention to matters of reform,
4he first place attracting his attention
being the Post Office Department He
in December. 1881, resolution
$ailIng for an investigation of the depart
stuent and the appointment Of comuiltee
Dor the purpose. In spite of partisan
obstacles thrown in the way, the com.
tGtter thus appointed discovered
Irregularities and frauds which, being
Exposed, were remediud and the depart
knent purified. Through MIR. Clayton's
tforts the department WAS brought more
3pmpleleiy nader the control of Congress
bid sIrcter surveillanes Brpt gu the
u tcullOn of the duties of the Postmaster
entiGl,
H ln the rtcesses Of Congress from 1892
d 1886, Mr.. Clay ton, haylag Deuome re
prded ~ one OF Inc first met of his tune,
bund plenty of opportunity to discuss
|1ublic questions before the country out
de Of Congress, which he improved and
u the period named hroke and wrote IN
dvocicy OF the currency then in USE and
DC preservation uf tue couuuy's financl4l
bstem. Toe Judge quoted from MIR.
&l4ytons speech, Ia VIII oh ne opposed the
ttO OF the bill re charteriug the United
gstts Banks and prOphesled the financial
FASH ANU depression that would foiluW
bat veto. This speech WAS widely q 1ott d
Il lhe time and aided greatly to the fauIe
II its maker as r-,ighltd statesman
a ilr Ulay TOMS views Of the tariff were
leu taken up, aud II was developed that
was always d champion OF protection,
bd lOjk Il prominent aud vigorous pnrt ID
debates on the subject OF the tArlh. Iu
H. troubles with South Usruliua, When
&lhOun's opposition To the tariff Avs led
IN IL declare the doctrine Of uuliGcatloo
n escape their operation, and thereby
Elug down upon hlmself tie wrath of the
Executive (Jacksun), Clayton did not lot
n party untsgonism to the President
ehDd III the way, but openly stood for the
lbser OF the President TO execute the laws
The way ne had Announced his inten-
h.
In the debate on the Judiciary IN 1902,
y whch Oayard defended the judiciary So
eey, Clayt held, in opposition to the
8crlne IT extreme states rights, tina,
Nrry cl!lZ ii OF any state in the Union is
= much citi2sh of the Government of
- Ullt, d States AZ the Frenrhmau is "a
T. Zen Of the Government of France or
~ EugIishman of that of England. He
9mmted ths idea, advocated by Tyler
n Virginia. that n Senator was not
lenaIor for the United States, but
Ohll ipi OWh llttlGulht G1lhlF.
yihe tariff question for long time Wa,
n chief bone Of contention between the
4 III 1craie and Wing pirti4s. A bill for
n Ol'ecu0u of duties ON imports having
BdrGms = law Though the eiloit4 of Olay-
~ aud his friends, aud the South UarJ
~, Inpieasan,ness having occurred,
8nry Clay introduced compromise meu.
Ilfe which proviucd that the tariff quts-
IN be referred to committee of seven
a adjustment. Clayton consulted with
Ny rs to what part of the existing tariff
4puld be surrendered for the preservation
\ the Union. Both Senators f,om this
Bite took part in these preliminary
&hberations, but 10 one whose
3me had betu proposed for the
Presidency wRs admitted, this excluding
Ytbster aud Clay from ths fiual cousult.-
Bns, The committee finally appointed
Il Hugh l.. White, presiding officer Of the
y9nate, was composed Of the most liiustII-
n names OF the tune, among them being
4al Of Clayton. President 4ckson de-
8hded ike erlsure Of Clsyton'a mans
lpm the committee on thu GROUND that he
p 100 radical IN hi, views un the qnrN-
r.
~ az the Treasury. Jackson called
lhue 10 the exc utive mansion and held
fr.ldnlght consultation with him, but the
$,er would NOT withdraw this name, tell
q the President that the defeat of tn
N mprom.sa act would precipit,.te evil
hr ihe fact of the above concentrations
brought out In a slo-, qneut invest
non Into the abuse Of Official power by
fremln'ttee OF when Henry A. Wiae was
hartman.
IN the consideration Of The cOmpromiss
Clhy and Clayton were the oniy ope-
~ Favored any amendment to the
"a i""l propositions Of the bill Calhoun,
Was Uur OF ine committee 1T which
~ Nhs chGirmaU, unuuutctd that he
&peSti AZ unCunsu utl0tnl the amend
81 tmbnnymg the prlhclpls ni a.srs4tuH
du les nr Imports AZ thu hCnle instead
N .l'" foreign valuation. Cdlhnun PM
,nH Il this Uhil ton Nased that the bill
N I'd Ou the tibIr, thrrtt Ia Size . forever,
~ be "ilS witnGreN his motion ut the re-
Z rsr II several nppO1 euIh Of the bill who
Md tine for It ticGtiUn Next morning
n attelupt was made to allow Calhoun
n h-vr ms uSn way AZ tn his uwh vote.
Mr Clayton would NOS allow any one
y e,cape Vl,Luut recording his name on
"a ] urHal as tnvnrable 10 ths fuuda-
pt.i pri'uipir OF hut-.1 valuation The
tnger NJ which the country then stood,
" especially l1lnaun's own State, caused
M to r q Ut very deeply. Clayton even
n 1T ~ Ter is TO threaten that hH parry
uid take part Si,h tie Executive and
3l.prn him 10 .he v0ry last d3iiar in the
asury in tn" execution OF his 20 HerA
,hc Southern senators did NO! VOC for
d principle. So 1t oeaur,,d thai ~ be
butGeTu Eeustofs record a 'h"ii votr4 ~
3y0r of home vainst'on atd i1r MI The
pier amendments proposed by Gi4. u.
Pa Clayton WAS u stro"g ptott cticnlst is
80gu M ,,niy hY hi. record bt,t lyy th6t