preside in the absence of the Speaker, or in Committee of the Whole. He joined in the debate on many important questions; and to judge from the rather imperfect reports of that 'day, he must have wielded much in fluence. Several speeches by him were printed, and circulated throughout New Hampshire by his political friends. ' No sooner had he entered Congress than an encounter with Mr. Clay served to bring him into prominence before the country. It was during the debate on Mr. Webster's Greek resolution, on the 24th January, 1824. The Speaker (Mr. Clay) had left his chair to urge, in an ardent and eloquent speech, the adoption of the resolution. Mr. Bartlett, then an unknown young man, took the floor to oppose it. With what felicity he could turn a compliment may be discovered in the following allusion to Mr. Webster: — "There is an influence connected with the distinguished individual who moved this resolu tion that I have neither the inclination nor the power wholly to resist. While it has been urged upon us with a force which shows that eloquence expired not with the renowned orators of ancient Greece, we have listened with pleasure — with pride for the American character, a pride more cherished by me as the claim of New Hampshire, dearer still as of my own native village. Though such is the resolution, under such circumstances and thus urged upon us, yet I must vote against it." Of the charge of personality made by the Speaker, Mr. Bartlett said: — "If the loud voice, the menacing look and the sneering gesture which accompanied it were in tended to apply to him personally, he must send it back as unjust, ungenerous and untrue. He did not advise, but he must say to the Honorable Speaker that it was unwise to throw out the in sinuations which had escaped him as to the mo tives of the opposition. They were as little 1 Among the more important subjects that he discussed were: Suppression of Piracy (1825); Amendment of the Constitution (1826); Internal Improvements (1827); and Retrenchment (1828).
merited as would be the insinuations of one who should say to that Honorable gentleman : — "You, Sir, have a great personal and political object in view. You perceive that on this ques tion the whole country is in a tempest. You feel it to be necessary for you to ' buy golden opin ions from all sorts of men '; and you have aimed to 'ride on the whirlwind, and direct the storm.'" Mr. Clay was nettled at this bold language of " a mere boy that New Hampshire had sent here." He began his reply by alluding to the young member as having made " a very ingenious, sensible and ironical speech." He then went on to give his young friend some advice, in that lofty and imperious tone of which Clay was so peculiarly the master. The " National Intelligencer " reports Mr. Bartlett as rejoining as follows : — Mr. Bartlett: He had been seriously advised by the Honorable Speaker. He ought doubtless to receive the advice with due deference; yet, however criminal it might be, he felt inclined to say to him. " I thank you for your advice; more forasmuch as it was entirely gratuitous and uncalled for; but however inexperienced I may be, or however young, when I feel any need of lessons on the subject of political integrity, I feel myself of age to select my instructor. . . "Gentlemen were asked if they dare go home to their constituents after voting against the resolu tion. Whether to vote against the resolution or against the opinion of that honorable gentleman were the more daring he would not attempt to determine. Where he should go when he left this House, he might not be able to say, but if not to his constituents, he certainly should not go to the Grand Seignior, — for he should make a bad slave, either at Constantinople or in this House. However obscure he might be, he had no constitutents so humble as not to know that he dare do all his duty." Mr. Clay rejoined with warmth : saying that the gentleman from New Hampshire he believed was a member of the House. If he had ever been here before he (Mr. C.) was ignorant of it. He had never till now
