Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-05-07
ABOLITION.

The Washington Chronicle is almost as bitter a
rainst Abolition il against the tsmpcr
and the RoyaliSts twelve months since. lis great
object is to induce the South to believe that it
has more to fear, on this, from Wing ascenden-
cy than from that of the opposite party. But what
confidence can the South have in the opinions Of the
Editor ofhe Chronicle when, but little While ago,
before lie deserted his - late allies" in company
with his great 6leeader, Mr.. Calhoun, labored just
as hard prove that the South had nothing to APP
prehcnd, this subject, except iom MI. Van Blu
rem and his rsnds, whom he supports He
denounced the venerable editor Of the Richmond
inquirer as ORATOR of the South" from support
ing Mr.. Van Buren,, and yet he is now doing the
same thing, friend of the Soutb. Because the
editor of the Chronicle thinks proper himself sup
port Mr.. Vau Buren,, are we, who are not easily
blown about by every wind of doctrine bound be-
icve that all he formerly SAID and sung against that
gentleman, and OF the hazard which the South IN
Cured by his election, were mere fgmenrs of the
Imagination True, the editor may tell us that lie
proves what he now says ly tacrsbu he did IL
ganst Mr.. Van Buren,. Aud yet lie now supports
Mr.. Van Buren,. He prorea by figures, that Mr..
Van Buren, Isufper-and yet lie supports
him He demonstrated that the Democrats are
Royalists-and yet he herds with hen He con-
victed Mr.. Van Buren, of being an .4boiitionist in
disguse-and yet he is rivalIing the Globe in ITS
jealous support Of the gentleman. lie is now en-
dcavorins TO show that the Norhcr Wings are
Aboonists-and if he succeed, lie will only CON
vince US that the Northern people of all political
creeds. are Observation-Disclosures few in
dvidual exceptions differing only as to the right
Of the North 10 interfere and the expediency of in
terference-and, on this point, we believe though
there be many noisy zealos on both Sides who act
upon the principle that Slavery is sin aud must be
abolished at all hazards and regardless o. ccnm
stances, yet that the great body Of both parties are
sound.
Another leading objec, Of the editor of the Chron
ice to be TO identify Mr.. Clay with the Abo-
i,tionists TO say nothing Of the fact, that that
editor himself willing, not very long ago, to
support Mr.. Clay for the presidency, against Mr..
Van Buren,, whom he then strovc prove Adolf
zionist with as mnch zeal, and with much more rea-
son, than he urges the objection agains,
Mr.. Cay,-itself strong presumplive evidence llat
the change is merely for political effect, and with
view to rally the South on Mr.. Calhoun, the idol
or the Chroniclc,-the assumption is diSprored, |,
by MIR. Clays express declaration ., by the facr
that he is STAKEHOLDER 3, that he is a representa-
tive of a slavehoding State a, that he and his
friends in Kentucky are opposed to the call of
Convention in that State. which is zeaousy advoca-
ted by the Van Buren, party, which is Amos Ken
daPs old paper, the -" Frankfort Arsus," with the
express design to pave the way for abolishing slave
ny IN that Commonwealth aud 5, by the re-
Dukes which Mr.. Clay never fails give the Adolf
fonists whenever he speaks writes any thing in
relation to them. The charge is too ridiculous for
grave argument, ho~ev supported by such facts
AS those upon which the editor of the Chronicle re-
lies to give its force.
But we must not omit to allude to one ofthe evil
dences to which the Chronicle refers with snch
triumphant air. 1t is an extract from Prentice,s
Life OF Clay" showing, that, when young man.
Mr.. Clay was the jealous advocate of the gradual
abolition of slavery in Kentucky by the action of
the State. Does that prove him to be an Aboiihon-
,'t, in the odious and offensive sense of that term
IL II does, Mr.. Jefferson rank an Abolition
ISL as WIN. Floyd Garrison, for he WIS in favor of
''"'ar action in Virginia, (see his - Note on Viz
g'pia,') Mr.. Madison WAS an Abolltionisl, to the
same extent: SO is Mr.. Rves and Thomas Rite hic
and James Mcdowell, and Tn. J. Randolph, and
many other of our leading men, of both pa,ties-dt
'east they were so, years ago, when under a
conviction that slavery was "moral, socialnnd po-
''''cal evil" nearly half of Legislature was
IN 'avor oihe adoption Of some measure to abolish it
forever. And We believe, that, had the Aboonlss
'e' US alone, that feeling would have spread wider
'"' wider, and grown deeper and deepsr, until it
''nid have effected its object M Clay may be,