Soon after the president’s recommendation of reprisals, the French minister was recalled from Washington, and passports presented to our minister at Paris, by the order of Louis Philippe, the French king, in anticipation of a rupture with the United States. In consequence of these proceedings, Mr. Clay, near the close of the session, made a short report from the committee on foreign relations, recommending that the senate adhere to the resolution previously adopted, await the result of another appeal to the French chambers, and hold itself in readiness for whatever exigency might arise. The advice of the committee was adopted by the senate, and thus terminated the consideration of the subject.
On the fourth of February, 1835, an occasion occurred favorable for the exercise of Mr. Clay’s philanthropic feelings, which he promptly embraced. He had received a memorial from certain Indians of the Cherokee tribe, setting forth their condition, grievances, wants, and rigid and cruel policy pursued towards them by the state of Georgia. A portion desired to remain where they were, and a portion to remove beyond the Mississippi. In presenting their petition, Mr. Clay made remarks which came burning with pathos and eloquence from his inmost soul. He manifested the deepest feeling, as he dwelt upon the story of their wrongs, and their downtrodden state. This he represented as worse than that of the slave, for his master cared for and fed him, ‘but what human being,’ said he, ‘is there, to care for the unfortunate Indian?’ Mr. Clay alluded to the numerous solemn treaties, in which the United States pledged their faith towards the red man, to allow him the unmolested occupancy of his hunting grounds. He was much affected, and many of his audience were bathed in tears. Mr. Clay’s sympathetic feelings flowed forth unbidden, and unchecked by selfish considerations, whenever he beheld suffering humanity, and no class have participated more largely in them than the poor, friendless aborigines. He invariably advocated their claims, and a full redress of their grievances. The presence of a Cherokee chief and a female of the tribe greatly enhanced the interest of the occasion, who seemed to hang upon the lips of the benevolent speaker, and drink in every word as though it had been water to their thirsty souls. In conclusion, Mr. Clay submitted a resolution, directing the committee on the judiciary to inquire into the expediency of making further provision, by law, to enable Indian tribes to whom lands have been secured by treaty, to defend and maintain their rights to such lands, in the courts of the United States. Also, a resolution directing the committee on Indian affairs, to inquire into the expediency of setting apart a district of country west of the Mississippi, for such of the Cherokee nations as were disposed to emigrate, and for securing in perpetuity their peaceful enjoyment thereof, to themselves and their descendants.