Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-11-23
THE GKEhr r1aYToS.
Hen. Joseph r. Oemegys Resumes
the Thread OF HIS MemOir-ln
the senate ChambeF.

the senate ChambeF.
Before q very intelligent sudisncs
last night In the room Of the Historical
Society, Chief Justice Comegys read
the second installmsnt of his papers
upon the life of John M. Clayton. The
first paper upon The subject was read
before the society last spring. Rev. 7.
Gardiner Little acted as chairman, and
in the audience, in addition to mum.
Der of ladies, were the following we'll.
known gentlemen
DR.. L. P. Bush, Francis Vincent, /.
&c. Grubb, Esq, John P; Bslville,
Calsar A. Rodney, Anthony Higgins,
R.q., s. A. Maoallister, ESQ, William
8. AcCsullsy, Esq, Rev. J. NJ, Viii.
liams, Col. Il. 8. NcComb, W. c. Spru.
auce, E!q., John r. McFee, Esq, DR..
z. Johnson. Levi c. Bird, Capt J. s.
Valentine, George II. Bates, Esq.,
and others.
The installment OF the biography
read lest rikbt deslt exclusively with
Clayton's course In the United States
Senate. In resuming the thread Of the
memoir the honorable biographer COM
menced with Clayton's entrance into
the Senate, which was also and at once
his entrance into National prominence
About the time that Clayton took his
seat the great debate Just then was
upon resolution introduced by Foote,
Of Massachusetts,, to inquire about the
lpublic lands.
The question Of notification was
thoroughly ventilated in this debate
and the opposing factions were led by
Hayne OF South Carolina and Daniel
Webster. Though only with an sxpe-
rience in the Senate routine Of three
months Clayton took q leading part
In this debate. By the power which
he showed in the discussion be recon-
ciled many Of his political fees, "for"
digrssssd the Chief Justice, "it is q
Characteristic of Delawareans that they
recognize distinguished fellow citizen
no matter what may h> his political
views" He made speech upon the
subject which at that time only acoom.
plishei the object Of putting it in a
true light. 1t was wonderful effort
consid sring that when delivered Clay
ton was months less than "a years
old.
In December 1881 Clayton introduc-
ed in the Senate his celebrated resolu.
tion to inquire into the mismanagement
Of the Pest Office Department. It was
an overwhe lining task, with the whole
Federal power and the most pSrtizaD
press the Country had ever seen, oppo
sed to him. Every obstacle was put in
the way, and many real proofs were
suppre ssed.
Mr.. Clayton made the most la6ored |
spseoh Of his life in denounciRg the dis |
honest method. At that time Van.
Buren's Vaccinations had caused the
first rupture between Jackson aud Cal.
houn. The committee had q complete |
triumph in the end for So tOrgsries
we're discovered in cur public docu.
ments, tending to cover up in part
most stupendous fraud. At last, after
gigantic work, he exposed the greatest
system of corrupt psculation which up
to that time had even been revealed.
Clayton rsmedied the great wrong,
showing how the money accruing from
the Post Office Department had never
been rightly used, and pointing oat
that Congress must take he Depart
ment in charge. His final triumph in
this was the passage OF a bill reorga-
nizing and reforming the Department.
More questions of National impor.
tance came up between the years
Of 1928 and 1887, than during any cor
responding number of years previous,
and during the recessss in Congress,
Clay ton was employed in the advocacy
of great public measures. With all
his rare ability he advocated the pre-
servation OF the currency and sound
financial system. One Of the most i'm
portant subjects, bearing upon this was
his opposition to President Jackson's
veto Of the bill rschartering the Nation
al Bank. On this question he made
speech which was quoted as conclusive
evidence that he torsaw the great e.
nancial crash that followed Jackson's
arbitray use OF the veto power. His
speech was an exact prophecy Of the
great panic. Tie Chief Justice quoted
an extract from this celebrated speech.
Clayton was always an advocate of I
the protection of American industry.
So firm was he in the support of this q
that once in the Senate he said, I
would pause before sacrificed protec- /
tion Of American industry to save the 7
Union" /
When the South Carolina nullifca- t
lion came up there wers friends of free t
trade in every State. The administra- q
tion attempted to settle the difficulties b
which arose by breaking down the c
Iaritf, and bill was introduced which, &
estimating the expenses Of the govern p
nent at 81, ,000, 900 per year, recon.
Itructed the whole system and imposed
lutiss which did not exceed Is per cent
ID valolem. Then the friends of pro. s
ection saw that the axe was to be laid o
It the root Of the whole protective el
,olicy. II was time ofgreat danger. Il
When Jackson declared his intention Of b
'oercing South Carolina Clayton threw b
side party and supported the Rxecu- Il
i've, and in the Senate made speeches il
n which the doctrines Of secession and il
xtreue States rights are repudiated. el
Extracts were read from those speeches p
nd In one Of these he held that oiti. NJ
snship was National and that the to
snator of a State was more q Senator W
( the United States and bound to sup m
ort the National Constitution. CO
The Chief Justice now took mp the
ubject of the passage of the bill for
he correction Of duties on imports. at
layton was one Of the committee of M
even to whom Clay's compromise bill 7,
ras referred. When the oommittee