Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-06-28
POLITICAL.
From a. yaekson (l1shn. Telegraph.

PsOLITHCAL.
From the Jaetson Tenn. Telegraph.
8. 81 will nov introtnce 10 the readers nc
.auainrance MIR. Henry G lay and such dncu-
siiieutary evidence as Ii convenient 10 show;
the partshe has played frpm his outset ia
pnblicliGe, down TO The period of. 1920
Upon the great question of 'Abolilionism, it
seems that this n,onswas tinctured strongly
with this doctriuo before lie reached the
years ofmanhooa. In Prcntiss' life of Clay,
it is represented that The year 1878, wh hen
MIR. Clay was hut 2ltyears old, lie greatly
distinguished, himself in Kentucky, as the
champion of tho abolition party.N A Stale
was about to he: f0rmed-a
small party was in favor of excluding slave.
sry in the State. Mr.. Clay headed this party
--made many slump spcecles,.wrotc many
publications, aud used his utmost exertion,
to elect men 10 the Convention friendly to
his object. read this biography of Mr..
Clay many years ago. and speak from re-
collection only. This bool; was written by
his devoted friend. Prcnriss, of the Louis
vile paper, aud il is supposed underwent
MIR. Clay's correction.
But there nre three other Biographical
Sketches of Mr.. Clay's lie before me. 1
will copy such passages as relate 10 this
subject. Miss Marineau. the celebrated
English traveller in the United States,
.@roie u history of her travels, and has in-
serted in it the Biography of Van Buren,,
Webster. Calhoun and Clay.uponn n limited
scale; MIR. Clay seems to be the favorte.-
She begins thus with him: "Hcis the sou
ofa Virginia Clergyman aud horn in l777.
-Af,er studying law, he settled in Lexington.
kentucky, and stroue in rain for the aJot
tion Of Slavery in Mdt Stale" See tho
American edition Of the London and West
minister review, for January, 1888, page
$50. This book has ;tn extensive circua
tion i'll Eurupc and Amcricn--it is noticed
IN tho reviews Of both countries; Mr.. Clay
or his friends have never denied this charge.
In Alcxanlcr's Philadelphia Messenger,
of the 18th April. 1888, an cxcellcn, Bio
graphy OF MIR. Clay is given. Upon the
subject of abolition. The author says Of Mr.
Clay, that "Ih i79S, he ,ook a promincn,
pari iii he discussion relative To the fornla
tion nf n Constitution for his adopted State.
His main Object WAS toprevent Slavery
1n,this he failed. although his speeches at
public meetings OH the occasion, done much
10 raise him in public estimation us pro-
missing andialencd statesman.',
In the National. Portrait Gallery forl S3l
,ttcresis an extended Biography of Mr.. Clay,
Tho author says "Iu 179S, when The people
of Kentucky wRse preparing To frame a
Constitution torFhe Stale, plan was pro-
posed ioi the gradual emancipation of slaves
MIR. Clay Zealously eXrrtcd his talents in IA
,vorof it. He wrote for the Journals, and
.declain,cd at the public meetings, bu, his
efforts failed ofsuccess."
E These fur several biographical accounts
all agreeing us to the facts stated, suppose
they wilhbe disputed by nobody. He used
his mighty eioquence upon the stutnps, to
abolish slavery in Konlucky. The question
was holly contested, but his party got de-
fcaied, right or wrong he left no exertion
.aniried. y
andswri,ing in favor oft, he refused to sign
a memorial upon the same subject precise.
ly,whcn urged bys his own constituents
We will now take a view of MIR. Claws
course IN Congress upon the subject of the
far fameu Missouri restriction. He has
been culogiscd by some for The compromise
0t that quc'.tion i'll The Congress 0fthe u.
States; with what propriety we shall short
~ see. In the Constitution of the United
States. Article the third, Section third.
there is the following provision, TO wi,
Now States may be admitted by Congress
into this Union" Which should cr course
be upoo an equal footing with all the old
States. aud the same privileges.
ask what was the constitutional right
of Missouri under this provision! Every
State in the linton, at the adoption of the
Constitution, was a slave holding State. |
and did actually hold slaves. Is there one
man in America not all abolitionst) who
will conIcnd that il Missouri had rieht 10
come into the Union with the sama nri vile.
,cs as The original States thar Mr.. Clay had
my right 10 compromise away their con.
titutiun rights, and say that no State north
'f'attude 36e 30', should hold slaves. Ye,
Slr. Clay directly in opposition to the A.
'ovc clause in the Constitution, did COM
Promise away the riglnsof al! Starcs which
nay or have coue into tho Uuon. north Of
hat line. He had as muc, righr to comoro.
Mise away the rights Of the States South of
hat line, as north of it. Wha, right had
hey toexcept Missouri from the limo com.
upon! This brings the subject
especiins MIR. Clay. and Mr.. Van Buren,.
own TO the date of the Missouri question.
ibici is convenient resting place for the
rst No. In the next will bring up the
ublic transactions Of those gentlemen up-
n the subject of Abolition, to the present
me, when some precious documents will :
c disclosed 10 the view Of The public.
A SUBSCRIBER.
From Tie Georget0,cn Union. S
Mn NNrucrcp' l.,