Mr. Clay, being in the chair, had little opportunity to engage in the stirring debate that followed, yet he seemed to infuse a portion of his own glowing spirit into the friends of the measure, which caused others to approach it in the most determined resolution of sustaining any feasible and just course calculated to sustain the dignity and honor of the nation. The doctrines of the report were soon known throughout the country, and were hailed by the great mass of the people with every demonstration of approbation, and the echoes of their loud rejoicings rang back through the halls of congress like the tones of the ‘storm stirred deep,’ with most thrilling effect on the hearts of their representatives. The whole nation was kindled into a blaze by that document; it was what the people had been expecting, and impatiently waiting for. This applied the last bundle of fagots to the flame of patriotism that burned in the hearts of millions remote from the neighborhood of the outrages complained of, the extent and enormity of which, vague rumor only had conveyed to them. But this instrument made them acquainted, not only with their number, but also with their turpitude and murderous design. It showed them, on the one hand, the haughty, menacing attitude of England, and on the other, our own crouching, succumbing posture at her feet. It placed in bold relief before them, the ♦barbaric depredations of the former on the ocean, her inhuman treatment of our seamen, and the huge paw of her lion tearing and lacerating our commercial interests whenever it could be placed upon them. The exhibition was viewed with feelings of surprise and indignation, causing them to stand aghast, and with difficulty to credit the evidence of their senses――to believe the picture accurately drawn. But the period of their stupified amazement was brief, and then the loud yell of vengeance which succeeded, was such as freemen only can send up when the iron heel of oppression is on their necks, and their precious heritage in his ravenous jaws. Like the earthquake, it shook the whole land, and its burden, repeated from every hill-top and valley, was _war_, _vindictive war_. For this there was great unanimity among the populace, who could not rest, now that the knowledge of the long-inflicted wrongs was brought to their dwellings; but there was not a corresponding unanimity in congress. It was painful to Mr. Clay to witness, in some members, a manifestation of awe and reverence even towards Great Britain, and in others, feelings of favor. By the revelations that had been made, his soul was wrought up to the highest point of manly and bold resistance, and he could not conceive it possible, that free legislators, similarly circumstanced with himself, could be affected otherwise. In many he witnessed a disposition to believe that the country was not in a suitable condition to commence and carry successfully on a war with so formidable a power as England.