[DURING the session of 1823–4, attempts were made to _run at_
Mr. Clay, on account of his peculiar situation in being named for
the presidency, while speaker of the house of representatives,
and for his zealous support of the American system. In a debate
on an improvement bill he encountered Mr. Randolph of Virginia,
who had endeavored to provoke him to reply, and the following
remarks were made by Mr. Clay on that occasion, in the course
of the debate.]
SIR, I am growing old. I have had some little measure of experience in
public life, and the result of that experience has brought me to this
conclusion, that when business, of whatever nature, is to be transacted
in a deliberative assembly, or in private life, courtesy, forbearance,
and moderation, are best calculated to bring it to a successful
conclusion. Sir, my age admonishes me to abstain from involving myself
in personal difficulties; would to God that I could say, I am also
restrained by higher motives. I certainly never sought any collision
with the gentleman from Virginia. My situation at this time is peculiar,
if it be nothing else, and might, I should think, dissuade, at least, a
generous heart from any wish to draw me into circumstances of personal
altercation. I have experienced this magnanimity from some quarters of
the house. But I regret, that from others it appears to have no such
consideration. The gentleman from Virginia was pleased to say, that
in one point at least he coincided with me――in an humble estimate of
my grammatical and philological acquirements. I know my deficiencies.
I was born to no proud patrimonial estate; from my father I inherited
only infancy, ignorance, and indigence. I feel my defects, but, so far
as my situation in early life is concerned, I may, without presumption,
say they are more my misfortune than my fault. But, however I regret my
want of ability to furnish to the gentleman a better specimen of powers
of verbal criticism, I will venture to say, it is not greater than the
disappointment of this committee as to the strength of his argument.