Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-03-13

-
sec or fancy against the measures of abo-
iltionists. The powers of Congress, the
admission of new slave States, the value
OF the slaves, their numbers, the terrors of
amalgamation, butchery, and the dissolu-
ton of the Union. the colonization scheme.
the laws of comfy, the impertinence of in
terterin9;- ON which OF all these topics
has this great apostle of slavery told us
any thing that is new-or unanswered
or that our little anti-slavery boys and
girls cannot readily confute2
The next general remark is on the ex-
IRENE shallowness of the argument.
There is no proposition of great princi.
piles either political or moral no diving
down of landmarks, no calculation oflhe |
toundaton-rights and powers of society
no discussion of the theories of human re.
lations and responsibilities but, on the
other hand, an entire and apparently in
territorial omission of all allusion to The
GREAT MORAL QUESTION Of
RIGHT, on which the aboltionists have
built their system. We can easily con-
lecture the reason for this; but we cannot
SO easily see why many persons, even at
the North, consider this speech as great
blow at the Anti-Slavery cause, and some
even profess to think the agitation now
settled forever. We should think more
nean y of Henry CIay's discernment than
we ever expected to think, if we believed
that he had any expectation of settling this
question by such IA TRADE of shallow soph-
lstry as this. Why, it is the great con-
troversy not of the nation or of the age
only, but Of human nature-WHETH-
Err MAN, AS MAN, HAS RIGHTS.
Human destiny is now ready to turn on
this hinge. Ifman has rights of his own,
the person in whom these rights inhere
. mus! be IN its own ownership, and slave
~ IS wrong. But on the other hand, if
might gives right, and if the natural pro-
pensity of the stronger to Cypress and en-
slave the weaker as Chancellor Harper
argues, confers, just authority, and i'm
poses corresponding obligation on the
t weaker to submit, and not only is slavery
}, right, but sundry other consequences fol
!, low, which Mr.. Clay can easily infer
And where, we ask, are to be found the
true and faithful advocates of the grea
{ doctrine Of Human Rights, should Thu
II nation deliberately and defntiveIy aban
S don the case and concede the issue as IN
It tenable! That Henry Clay would d.
v this, for the sake of holding slaves ant
,, being President of the United States, w,
now know That he dares not ottempt tc
{ justify his apostacy from liberty by even
/ show of argument, the deficiency in thi
e speech equally proves. ......
IL In speaking lightly of the speech be
e fore us, we have no desire to disparag o,
: the great orator of the West. Far from
. it. Henry Clay is not wont to turn oil
: dcnunciation and superficial defamation
for eloquence. The reason is, that he ha
been guilty of the folly, the more mex
cusable in an experienced b1rrister an
rs politician, of undertaking his antagonis
lie Taking up with the representations of We
y, nal presses, .serviIe politicians and prejl
ID diced priests, he has assumed that the al
ne oitionists are set Of fanatics, like tn
'y Mormons, ignorant. irresponsible, recI
less, without principle or aim, except tn
n ACKNOWLEDGMENT of their leaders and I'll
n qualification of their own malIgnitv.-
Is Hence he has not thought it worth h
to while TO examine the ground on whc
" they stand, to ascertain the real design
W. they have in view, TO measure the mean
he they have for carrying GU, their object,
his to Judge whether the method of defen
ng which he has chosen is calculated 10 rep
We the attacks which are made upon his b
* loved /" institution" Hence the irreIeva
on CIV of his reasoning and the feebleness
he his elcquence. Had he thought it wor
en- his while to examine for hin self the w
III tngs of the aboitionists, of Garrison, J
or Bnney, Stewart, Weld, and the like: h
is he deigned to study the Philanthropy
err the Emancipator, OIL the Friend of M5
lad for year past, he would have found til
uId the anti-slavery movement has taken he
for of the foundation principles of the soc
by fabric, and has incorporated itself with t
me vital cords Of the body polite that abe
ade ton has possessed itself of weapons
Lii ethereal temper, which no shield
the righteousness can repel: that alread
direction and an impulse have been gi,
as TO the current of public opinion and Of
vel tellectual excitement, whichshe may d
ems pair of turning back, and which siav'
'ir. can resist but a little while. Had
'cch known his ground, he would at least h;
,oii- given us the pleasure of meeting ar
heir ments, and discussing principles. and f
irer ing he master-grip of a man, in this c
'olnt troversy. Would he be prevailed az
nent even now, to examine this GREAT AM
irtu- 1cAN QUESTION to the bottom. and
was himself out 10 settle the grand agitat
New about HUMAN RIGHTS as it ough
pre- be settled, and as the world is groanin
ietV. haun If sotil,d he NAV vet achieve SO