Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/138

 130 Southern Historical Society Papers,

This was his disposition — never to evade or shift responsibility ; and that he did meet it is the reason why the issue is now settled, and that ourselves, not our children, were involved in civil war.

When Clay on one 09casion bantered him to future discussion, sions of debate did not chill the personal relations of these two great leaders. Henry Clay was full of that generosity which recognized the foeman worthy of his steel, and frequently evinced his admiration and friendship for Jefferson Davis. Besides, there was a tie between them that breathed peace over all political antagonism. Lieutenant- Colonel Clay, the son of the Whig leader, had been slain in the battle of Buena Vista. ** My poor boy," said he to Senator Davis, ** usu- ally occupied about one-half of his letters home in praising you." and his eyes filled with tears. When turning to him once in debate, he said: ** My friend from Mississippi — and 1 trust that he will per- mit me to call him my friend, for between us i..v,ie is a tie the nature of which we both understand."
 * Now is the moment,** was the prompt rejoinder. But these colli-

Without following, as indeed I could not in this brief hour, the bearings of questions that came before the Sena »-;-. his service,

or portraying the scenes of digladiation in wh. . ciiey were dealt with, I but pronounce the general verdict when I say that his great parliamentary gifts ranked him easily witl ^^ fo»-f^*^ost men of that body. He was measured by the side of thv. . .cb of his time, and in nothing found unequal.

TWO SPEECHES IN CONGRESS ABOUT THE MEXICAN WAR — DAVIS AND LINCOLN, AGAIN.

In connection with the Mexican war, two speeches were made in the House of Representatives which were filled with the doctrines which all Americans have inherited from the fathers c^i ^^e republic.

The one of them was made by a man who, with a mind as broad as the continent, advocated the railroad to connect the Mississippi valley with the West, and who poured out from a heart thrilling with the great tradition of his country inspiring appeals for fraternity and union.

from recent defection to the time when Massachusetts and Virginia, the stronger brothers of our family, stood foremost and united to defend our common rights. From sire to son has descended the love of our Union in our hearts, as in our history are mingled the names of Concord and Camden, of Yorktown and Saratoga, of Monetrio
 * 'We turn," said he, ** from present hostility to former friendship,