This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1843 edition. Excerpt: ... mainly historical and extremely close: --he did not deviate at all from the main point at issue, though he dashed aside the extraneous considerations by which the members of the opposition sought to prevent an approval of the Proclamation. Both as one of the earliest, and one of the best, specimens of his argumentative eloquence, aside from its intrinsic worth, this speech of Mr. Clay is eminently deserving an attentive perusal. It had great weight when pronounced in the Senate, gaining the support of many of those who had previously been among the warmest opponents of the measure he had vindicated, and securing, by a handsome majority, the approval of this timely Proclamation of the President. Though the part he took in the debate upon this question has most general interest, still the other legislative labors of Mr. Clay at this session were both arduous and important. He mingled in nearly all its discussions, and, as a member of several of the most important committees of the Senate, performed an amount of labor rarely surpassed by any member of any legislative body. In March he reported, for the committee to whom the subject was referred, a bill granting right of pre-emption under certain conditions to purchasers of western public lands--which was adopted by the Senate; and soon after procured the passage of an act more effectually to regulate trade and commerce with the Indian tribes and to preserve peace on the frontier. In the latter part of April, being greatly exhausted by the fatigues and labors of Senatorial service, he obtained leave of absence for the remainder of the session. The principal topic of (he next session, in the winter of TJkri-'il} ves that of the re-charter of a Bank of the United States. The Legislature of...