A Biography of Henry Clay, the Senator from Kentucky / Containing Also, a Complete Report of All His Speeches; Selections From His Private Correspondence; Eulogies in the Senate and House; and a Poem, by George D. Prentice, Esq.

Footnotes.

1–

In one of the many speeches which he made during his journey, he thus alludes to the tenderness with which he was treated. ‘Iwas taken into custody, made captive of, but placed withal in such delightful bondage, that Icould find no strength and no desire to break away from it.’

2–

Extract from the Grant to Crozat, dated at

‘Fontainbleau, September14, 1712.

LOUIS, By the grace of God,&c.

‘The care we have always had to procure the welfare and advantage of our subjects, having induced us,&c. to seek for all possible opportunities of enlarging and extending the trade of our American colonies, we did, in the year 1683, give our orders to undertake a discovery of the countries and lands which are situated in the northern part of America, between New France and New Mexico; and the Sieur de la Salle, to whom we committed that enterprise, having had success, enough to confirm a belief that a communication might be settled from New France to the Gulf of Mexico, by means of large rivers, this obliged us, immediately after the peace of Ryswic, to give orders for establishing a colony there, and maintaining a garrison, which has kept and preserved the possession we had taken in the very year 1683, of the lands, coasts, and islands, which are situated in the Gulf of Mexico between Carolina on the east, and old and new Mexico on the west. But a new war having broke out in Europe shortly after, there was no possibility, till now, of reaping from that colony the advantages that might have been expected from thence,&c. And, whereas, upon the information we have received concerning the disposition and situation of the said countries, known at present by the name of the Province of Louisiana, we are of opinion, that there may be established therein considerable commerce,&c., we have resolved to grant the commerce of the country of Louisiana to the Sieur Anthony Crozat,&c. For these reasons,&c. we, by these presents signed by our hand, have appointed and do appoint the said Sieur Crozat, to carry on a trade in all the lands possessed by us, and bounded by New Mexico and by the lands of the English of Carolina, all the establishments, ports, havens, rivers, and principally the port and haven of the Isle Dauphine, heretofore called Massacre; the river of St.Louis, heretofore called Mississippi, from the edge of the sea as far as the Illinois, together with the river St.Philip, heretofore called the Missouri, and of St.Jerome, heretofore called Onabache, with all the countries, territories, and lakes within land, and the rivers which fall directly or indirectly into that part of the river St.Louis.

‘The Articles—¹. Our pleasure is, that all the aforesaid lands, countries, streams, rivers, and islands be, and remain comprised under the name of the government of Louisiana, which shall be dependent upon the general government of New France, to which it is subordinate; and further, that all the lands which we possess from the Illinois, be united,&c. to the general government of New France, and become part thereof,&c.’

3–

The chairman had risen to put the question, which would have cut Mr.Clay off from the opportunity of speaking, by carrying the bill to the house.—Editor.

4–

This prediction is already beginning to be realized.—Editor.

5–

It is due to Mr.Clay to observe, that one of the most offensive expressions used by Mr.Quincy, an expression which produced disgust on all sides of the house, has been omitted in that gentleman’s reported speech, which in other respects has been much softened.—Editor.

6–

It is impossible to describe the pathetic effect produced by this part of the speech. The day was chilling cold; so much so, that Mr.Clay has been heard to declare, that it was the only time he ever spoke, when he was unable to keep himself warm by the exercise of speaking; yet there were few eyes that did not testify to the sensibility excited.—Editor.

7–

This speech was never published.

8–

The proposition which it asserts was, he thought, sufficiently maintained by barely reading the clause in the constitution on which it rests: ‘the congress shall have power to dispose,&c. the territory or other property belonging to the United States.’

9–

The house of representatives has uniformly maintained its right to deliberate upon those treaties, in which their coÖperation was asked by the executive. In the first case that occurred in the operation of our government, that of the treaty commonly called Mr.Jay’s treaty, after general Washington refused to communicate his instructions to that minister, the house asserted its rights, by fifty odd votes to thirty odd. In the last case that occurred, the convention in 1815 with Great Britain, although it passed off upon what was called a compromise, this house substantially obtained its object; for, if that convention operated as a repeal of the laws with which it was incompatible, the act which passed was altogether unnecessary.

10–

The resolution, offered by Mr.Clay, declaring that the United States would not see with indifference any interference of the holy alliance in behalf of Spain against the new American republics.

11–

Madame de StaËl.

12–

It has been, since the delivery of the speech, suggested, that the reverend Robert Finley, of New Jersey, (who is also, unfortunately, dead,) contemplated the formation of a society, with a view to the establishment of a colony in Africa, and probably first commenced the project. It is quite likely that he did; and Mr.Clay recollects seeing Mr.Finley and consulting with him on the subject, about the period of the formation of the society. But the allusion to Mr.Caldwell was founded on the facts, well known to Mr.Clay, of his active agency in the organization of the society, and his unremitted subsequent labors, which were not confined to the District of Columbia, in promoting the cause.

13–

A society of a few individuals, without power, without other resources than those which are supplied by spontaneous benevolence, to emancipate all the slaves of the country!

14–

See the last annual report and the highly interesting historical sketch of the reverend Mr.Ashmun.

15–

To say nothing of cotton produced in other foreign countries, the cultivation of this article, of a very superior quality, is constantly extending in the adjacent Mexican provinces, and but for the duty, probably, a large amount would be introduced into the United States, down Red river and along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

16–

Mr.Clay subsequently understood that colonel Murray was a merchant.

17–

Mr.Clay stated that he assumed the quantity which was generally computed, but he believed it much greater, and subsequent information justifies his belief. It appears from the report of the cotton committee appointed by the New York convention, that partial returns show a consumption of upwards of two hundred and fifty thousand bales; that the cotton manufacture employs nearly forty thousand females, and about five thousand children; that the total dependants on it are one hundred and thirty-one thousand four hundred and eighty-nine; that the annual wages paid are twelve million one hundred and fifty-five thousand seven hundred and twenty-three dollars; the annual value of its products thirty-two million three hundred and six thousand and seventy-six dollars; the capital forty-four million nine hundred and fourteen thousand nine hundred and eighty-four dollars; the number of mills seven hundred and ninety-five; of spindles, one million two hundred and forty-six thousand five hundred and three; and of cloth made, two hundred and sixty million four hundred and sixty-one thousand nine hundred and ninety yards. This statement does not comprehend the western manufactures.

18–

As to Shirley, Mr.Clay acknowledges his mistake, made in the warmth of debate. It is yet the abode of the respectable and hospitable descendants of its former opulent proprietor.

19–

This subject had been set down for this day. It was generally expected, in and out of the senate, that it would be taken up, and that Mr.Clay would address the senate. The members were generally in their seats, and the gallery and lobbies crowded. At the customary hour, he moved that the subject pending should be laid on the table, to take up the land bill. It was ordered accordingly. At this point of time Mr.Forsyth made a motion, supported by Mr.Tazewell, that the senate proceed to executive business. The motion was overruled.

20–

It is understood to have been read by Mr.Hill.

21–

The following is the proceeding to which Mr.Clay referred:

Resolved, by the general assembly of Maryland, that the senators and representatives from this state in congress, be requested to use their utmost endeavors, in the admission of the state of Missouri into the union, to prevent the prohibition of slavery from being required of that state as a condition of its admission.

It passed, January, 1820, in the affirmative. Among the names of those in the negative, is that of Mr.Taney.

22–

The amendment was in the following words:

Be it further enacted, that in all instances of appointment to office by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, the power of removal shall be exercised only in concurrence with the senate; and when the senate is not in session, the president may suspend any such officer, communicating his reasons for the suspension during the first month of its succeeding session, and if the senate concur with him, the officer shall be removed; but if it do not concur with him, the officer shall be restored to office.

Mr.Clay was subsequently induced not to urge his amendment at this time.

23–

The following is the table referred to by Mr.Clay.

Statement showing the dividend of each state, (according to its federal population,) of the proceeds of the public lands, during the years 1833, 1834, and 1835, after deducting from the amount fifteen per centum, previously allowed to the seven new states.

States.	Federal population.	Share for each state.	Fifteen per centum to new states.	Total to new states.
Maine	399,437	$617,269
New Hampshire	269,326	416,202
Massachusetts	610,408	943,293
Rhode Island	97,194	150,198
Connecticut	297,665	459,996
Vermont	280,657	433,713
New York	1,918,553	2,964,834
New Jersey	319,922	494,391
Pennsylvania	1,348,072	2,083,233
Delaware	75,432	116,568
Maryland	405,843	627,169
Virginia	1,023,503	1,581,669
North Carolina	639,747	988,632
South Carolina	455,025	701,495
Georgia	429,811	664,208
Kentucky	621,832	960,947
Tennessee	625,263	966,249
Ohio	935,884	1,446,266	230,844	1,677,110
Louisiana	171,694	265,327	67,661	332,888
Indiana	343,031	530,102	325,485	855,588
Illinois	157,147	242,846	483,760	726,606
Missouri	130,419	201,542	174,354	375,897
Mississippi	110,358	170,541	788,403	958,945
Alabama	262,508	405,666	541,940	947,607

[Fractions of dollars are omitted in the above sums.]

24–

MESSRS. GALES & SEATON:

In the speech which Iaddressed to the senate, on the subject of abolition petitions, Iascribed to Dr.Franklin the authorship of the law passed by the state of Pennsylvania, in 1780, for the gradual emancipation of slaves. Such was the impression on my mind; but, from a communication which Ihave since received, Ibelieve that the measure originated with another distinguished citizen of Pennsylvania, the late honorable George Bryan.

I will thank you to make this correction, unimportant in respect to the use Imade of the fact, but otherwise just and proper.

Yours, respectfully,

H. CLAY

Washington, March2, 1839.

25–

The result of the returns has since been announced, and it shows a population of rising seventeen millions. Still Ohio has the proportion supposed, of about one tenth of the population, according to federal numbers, which furnish the rate proposed for distribution.

26–

It is but justice to those officers to say, that the most extravagant increase in the contingent expenses of congress is in the article of printing, for which they are not responsible.

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