[THE house being in committee of the whole, on the bill to
increase the salaries of certain officers of government, Mr.
Clay rose and said:]
IT had been his settled intention to renew, pending this bill,
the proposition which he had the honor of submitting at the last
session, having for its object the recognition of the independence
of the United Provinces of South America. He was restrained from
executing that intention, by two considerations; one was his personal
indisposition, but another and more important one, was, the small
portion of the session yet remaining, to transact the public business.
Whilst he was up, he would say, that so far from his opinions,
expressed on the former occasion, having undergone any change, they
had been strengthened and confirmed, by all the occurrences which had
subsequently taken place. He had been anxious, if time had permitted,
to examine what appeared to him very exceptionable reasons assigned
for declining to recognise our sister republic, in a paper entitled
to the most profound respect, the message of the president at the
opening of congress. He was desirous, also, of noticing the still more
exceptionable grounds taken in a paper recently transmitted to the
house, from the department of state (it ought to be laid on our table;
why it was not, he did not know; he hoped our worthy clerk would, in
his future contract for the public printing, guard against the delay
to which we have so often been subjected). From that paper it appeared,
that even a consul could not be received from the southern republic,
because the grant of an exequator implied recognition! We receive her
flag, we admit her commerce, and yet refuse the consular protection
which that flag and commerce necessarily drew with them! But to submit
his proposition, would be to occasion, perhaps, a protracted debate.
And considering the few days yet left us, the pressing and urgent,
though not more important business yet to be done, he should not hold
himself excusable to the house and to the country, after having himself
so materially contributed to the consumption of time in debate, if
he were even the unintentional instrument of preventing the passage
of what might be thought essential laws. He would like exceedingly to
contrast the objections urged against the reception of the Venezuelean
minister, with the more forcible and stronger personal ones that lay
to the present Spanish minister. But deep as the interest which he
heretofore had felt and still felt, in the success of that great
struggle to the south, he must, for the reasons assigned, forbear
to press any proposition upon the house, at present. Should it be
necessary at another session, and should he have the honor of a seat
on this floor then, he pledged himself to bring up the subject, unless
adverse causes should render it highly inexpedient.