[From _The Life and Speeches of the Hon. Henry Clay_, edited by Daniel
Mallory (New York, 1844, v. i., 4th edition)]
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, forebearance,
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.