Excerpt from Speech of Mr. Clay, of Kentucky, in Support of His Propositions to Compromise on the Slavery Question
I make no reproaches, sir - none to either portion of the House. I state the tirt; ami I state that fact to draw from it the conclusion, and to express the hope that there will bo an endeavor to check this violence of party.
What vicissitude do we not pass through in this short mortal existence of ours! Eight years ago, I took my leave finally, and - as I supposed-forever of this body. At that time I did not conceive of the possibility of being again returned to it; and if any private wishes and particular inclination, and the desire during the short remnant of my days to remain in repose and quiet, could have prevailed, you would never have aeon me, sir, occupying the scat which I now do upon this floor. The Legislature of the State to which I belong, unsolicited by me, chose to designate me to represent them ir. this Senate and Have come here, in obedience to a nemo of tem duty, with no personal objects - no private views now or hereafter to gratify. I know, sir, the jealousies fears, and apprehensions which arc engendered by the spirit of party to which I bine referred i and if there be uny in my hearing now-if there be in or out of this Capitol - anyone who is running the race for honor, and for elevation - for higher honor, for higher elevation, than that which he may enjoy - I beg him to believe that I at least vref never jostle him in the pursuit of these honors or that elevation. I beg him to be persuaded that, if my wishes prevail, my name shall never be used in competition with lib. I beg leave to assure him, that when my services are terminated in this body-and Z hope that before the expiration of my present term they may be-my mission, so far a* respects the public affairs of this world and upon earth, is closed, and closed, if my wishes prevail, forever.
But, it is impossible for us to be blind to the facts which are daily transpiring before u. It is impossible for us not to perceive that party spirit and future elevation nri more or less in nil our affairs, in all our deliberations. At a moment, when (he White House is itself in danger of conflagration, instead of all hands uniting to extinguish the flames, who are contending about who shall be its next occupant. When a. dreadful crowave has occurred, which threatens inundation and destruction to all around it, wc are contesting and disputing about the profits of the estate which is threatened with total submersion.
Mr. President, it is passion, passion-party, party-and intemperance; that is all I dread in the adjustment of the great questions which unhappily at this time divide our distracted Country. At this moment, we have in the legislative bodies of this Capitol, and in the States, twenty-odd furnaces in full blast in generating heat, and passion, and intemperance, and diffusing them throughout the whole extent of this broad land. Two month* ago, all was calm in comparison with tho present moment. All now r? ap-roar, confusion, menace to the existence of the Union and to the happiness and safety of this people. I implore Senators-I entreat them by all that they expect hereafter, at*? by all that is dear to them here below, to repress the ardor of these passions-to look at their country at this crisis-to listen to the voice of reason, not as it shall be attempted to be uttered by me, for I am not so presumptuous as to indulge the hope, that anything I can say shall deserve the attention I have desired; but to listen to their own reason, their own judgment, their own good sense, in determining what is best to be done for our country in the actual posture in which we find it. To this great object have ray efforts been directed during this whole season. I have cut myself off from all tho usual enjoyment of social fife. I have confined ray self almost exclusively, with very few exceptions, lo my own ... Это и многое другое вы найдете в книге Speech of Mr. Clay, of Kentucky, in Support of His Propositions to Compromise on the Slavery Question (Classic Reprint)