Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-09-22
MIR. CLAl'S REMARKS.

Tn t0f0niSdfioa, =" a fd'f mtdbS az l6Ifng-
ton, Ny, reported by the Lexington InfeM-
gencer.
Mr.. CLAY said that lac came 10 the meeting rs a
listener, with no prepared speech, aud with no
purpose of making speech. Standing, however,
IN the relation he did 10 the gentleman, who had
just taken his seat, he felt it incumbent on him
fra to say something of him, and next of the great
cause tina, had brought us togeiltr. That gentle
man he had known for many wears, as one OF the
most jealous, perseverinG, energetic pious and be-
ncvOlent friends OF the cause OF Colonization he
was one oithe National Society, and to hi. srrvi
ccs III that capacity, The free colorrd people, the
Colony and the Society were largely indebted
lie spoke of Mr.. Gurcy as having proved, by his
labours his assiduty, his cloquonec in defending
the cause OF Colonization, and his general and well
known character for Christian philanthropy, that
the tullrs, confidence IN him could not bc mlspla-
ccd. Having said thus muc and less he could
not have said in relation 10 that gentleman, If he
said any thing, lie would proceed to the to-
PICS whose consideration had caused this meet
my.
" hen We take survey of our country, We find
It occupied by two distinct classes OF pupu,lion--
two races OF men--dIStInCt IN many important re
'peets-a9recing IN few, except that they alike
possessed the gift of reason. The amalcan,aiion
of these two races a thing posssblc--iorbid
by all considerations Of regard Ia ellher-'Tlc case
presented difficulties long ago deeply felt and de-
plored They were seen by the Fathers of the
Republic, who, after much argument aud rc1cc-
lion resolved 10 do the best they could, and de-
pend for the result upon Providence. Many
schemes passed ia review before them, and all we're
rejected as impractcable
About twenty years ago some Jealous piu> be-
ncvolcm men conceived the project of African
Colonization. He rrcollccttd we'll til. proceed
incs al W ashngton Al the organization of the So
cutv. lie was invited 10 he present. At first he
declined but, on further reflection, he tel, dispo-
.,d To think well oi the plan. Among those pre-
sent NJ the original meeting hr mcmbcrrd were
Mr. Caldwell and France, 5. hey of the District OF
COLUMBIAN the Rev. DIR. Finley OF y. J., and u late
distinguished member of Congress from Virginia.
John Randolph of Roanoke. We met aud con.i
deIed the pre- Judlces IN way Il the obstacles To
be accomplished and inall, organized the Socir-
~ on the principle which it has since publicly
proiessscd, and which have just been stated TO this
meeting.
The success of this Society has exceeded the
hopes of its founders. |, was not dccmed possible
for Society with mere private means, to do more
than plant u Colony, and thns demonstrate the
praciicabili,y of the object. When look back
said Mr.. C., on the twenty years during which this
Society has existed, and consider What il has DONE
an, impressed with the belief :lr is the ork OF
AL overriding Providence. Ii WAS surrounded by
ifiic uties AT its outset, and II has at all times
countercd opposition and misrepresentation
Gently "A new school has sprung up--onc which
maintains that slavery isa hlcssing-lhat it is an
Indispensable element for the preservation of our
own freedom OF this school, | take tho liberty
To say, AN NOT ONE. There are two extremes
of opinion tins subj ect, in neither OF which do
| concur The first ls that oil those who regard
slavery AS no euii, but a good. 4 consider STARR
ryas ourst-a curse TO the master, wrong, II
grievous wrong To the slave. In the abstract, il is
ALL wrong and no possible contingency can
make il right. Ii is condemned by all our notions
of natural j,s,ice and our n,nxlIns at natural po-
liiica equality among men, Necessity, a stern pc.
iiiical necessity alone, can excuse or justify II u
necessity arising iIom the fact that, to give free
dom to our slaves that they might remain with us,
DouH be doing them injury, rather than a
beM ft--would render their condition worse dian
il il at present.
That slavery condemned by religion he
did not II WAS not his purpose to speak of IT,
except in its political relations. That slavery was
n blessing, and ought to be pcrpetua,ed as a
valuable institution, was one extreme !; and those
who occupied it had ever been opposed to Airi-
eau Colonization. But there was another extreme
and on that 10 be found the advocates OF i'm.
mediate, unCOnuitiOhal, ihuisCfHnilatc "mahClIih
ton, without regard to consequences. To this IA
natical class were to be referred directly indi
rectiy, much Of the violence and wrong, the MODS
and the outbreakings, which rife in some
portions OF our country, with which no friends o
good order, and of the just rights of the diilcren
portions of the Union could have any concenia
" Of feeling on this subject. These were none o
your old fashioned @ adual emancipationsis, sucl
as Franklin Rush, and other wise and bcnevolen
Pennsy lvanians, who framed the scheme for tn
gradual removal of slavery from Pennsy lvania, a
bout the time of the origin Of the Federal Govern
n,ent. They were not of that class with whom, h,
mir. CO. was proud to say he had acted in thi
State forty years ago, TO procure the adoption Of
gradual system ofemancipaon, on such terms an,
under such regulations, might consist with til,
good order and highest interests Of the Commons
wealth.
He had heard with some surpris, in the course
Of the day, that individuals even in this COM
n,unity. suspect that there is some connecton be-
tween the Colonization and Abolition Societies
lie could assure the meeting that there n,
cause reason for any such suspicion Iie ha'
eosrssponded with leading gentleman Of tho All