The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-04
Ell.

1t was by his discharge Of tho functions Of
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
by improving his opportunities to Join In debate
while the House was in Committee of the
Whole, that Mr.. Clay gained national distinc-
ton. The place he occupied gave full scope to
his talents and called forth all his powers. He
was not only the head Of the popular branch of
the Federal Legislature. which. under his in
luence, az 1t had been under Madison's. was the
principal power in the nation. but he came to
the position. as we have said, at the moment
when the question of war with Great Britain
was pending. At this crisis Henry Clay is
justly described by his biographer as tho
War King, who led both houses Of Congress and
the country, to whom President Madison
and his Cabinet looked for guidance. The pre-
ponderance of the House lasted as long as Clay
was Speaker. and, according to w. H. Seward.
1t was Clay's transference to the Senate which
first converted that branch OF Congress " from q
negative position. or one OF equilibrium between
the Executive and the House OF Representatives.
into the active ruling power of the republic"
There IL no doubt that Clay was tho controlling
advisor Of the war OF 1912. 1t required his ut
most persuasion to overcome Madison's timid-
ity and hesitation. His biozrapher believes
that he carried through life q deep sense
Of tho responsibility which he then In.
CURED, and to this Is attributed tho dread
Of war which he always subsequently
evinoed when war could DO honorably avoided.
1t Is certain that, after 1915. he was always a
man of peace. He objected to certain perform
ances OF Gen. Jackson in Florida which throat
ened to involve MS in a quarrel with Spain; he
prevented Gen. jackson from p%lunging the ma
ton into war with France; he protested against
the annexation of Texas because 1t would bring
on war with Mexico. and we know how tremen-
dous were his efforts in the last years OF his life
to secure the internal peace of tho country
against sectional luminosity. Yet, however OPP
pressive may have been in retrospect tho respon-
ability for the war OF 1912, there 10 no
evidence that Clay ever reproached himself
for tho part he took In bringing 1T on. On the
contrary. he said in tho House of Repre-
sentativeso on Jan. 20. 1915: II voted for the
declaration OF war. ! exerted all the littlo in.
huence and talent ! had to make the war. The
war was made. 1t Is terminated; and I declare
with perfect sincerity that II II had been poi.
mitted to me to lift the veil Of futurity and to
have foresoon the precise series of events which
has occurred my vote would have been I'M
changed. We had been insulted and outraged
and despoilcd by nearly all Europe; by Great
Britain. by France, Spain. Denmark. Naples.
and. to cap tho climax. by tho little. contempti.
bic power Of AlEiers. We had submitted too
long and too much" 1t Is well known that Clay
1850 NS ~ WV
was negotiated the treaty OF Client,
which said not a word about tho United
States being exempted hereafter from tho
right of search and of impressment claimed by
England which had been one Of tho chief provo
cations Of the contest. Nevertheless MI. Reed
holds In his Introduction that Clay's skill as
an orator and statesman was amply supple
mented by his skill in diplomacy. BY the war
itself, our warliko fame. except at sea and at
the battle Of New Orleans. was not much height
ened, but tho purposes of the war were all 40
compllshod. After that war we took our real
place among %nations. Mr.. Clay was tho most
conspicuous figure In this whole transaction,
and deserves to BIO remembered 30 long as that
event remains prominent In tho history of
the country" Tho biOgrapher Colton's COM
mont on the matter is that tho waving
Of tho question Of tho right Of search by Mr..
Clay at Ghent was precisely of tho same charno-
ter as the waving OF tho question Of slavery
involved in tho Missouri Compromise OF 1891.
The assumption on which Clay proceeded was,
Say nothing about the matter in controversy
and you will never hear anything moro aboutit.'
That happened in ono of tho cases. at all events.
Mr.. Clay himself, when accused OF his reticencs
at Client touching tho pivotal point at issue in
1872, said In vindication OF the American Com
mlssioners: "Truo, one Of tho great causes of
the war and OF its continuance was the practice of
im~pressment exercised by Great Britain; and, II
this claim had been admitted lin the treaty., by
necessary implication or by express stipulation,
tho rights OF our seamen would have been aban.
doncd. 1t Is with utter establishment that / hear
1t has been contended in this country that be.
cause our right Of exemption from the practice
had not been expressly secured in tho treaty 1t
was therefore given up. 1t Is impossible that
such an argument can DO advanced on this floor.
No member who regarded his reputation would
venture to advance such n doctrine"
1t is not generally known that. when tho war
OF 1912 was declared. President Madison seri.
ously thought Of giving Clay a military commits
sion and putting him at the head of tho army.
IT was not only civilians who believed TINT hr
possessed remarkable military capabilities. At
a somewhat later date Gen. William Henry Har-
rison wrote to him ana urged him 10 enter tho
army. I'm my opinion" said the General.
your presence ON the frontier would be pro
ductive OF great advantages. / can assure you
that your advice and assistance in determining
tho course OF operations for the army. to the
command OF which 1 have been designated by