Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-03-13
DON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH1a, 1889.

OF long-borne oppression Whose voice
was heard throughout Christendom, plead
ing in silver tones for the struggling
Greeks? Who urged the duty of nation.
al sympathy in behalf of The nascent re-
publics of South America2 Then Hen.
ry Clay was eloquent, for he was right,
he was pleading in behalf ofhuman iber-
ty, and reason, history, science, scripture
fastened to furnish him with the intelIec- i
tual weapons he required But Henry
Clay, pleading for slavery, interminab]e.
hopeless, eyer-increasing slavery No
wonder his mind was empty, and his
voice broken, and his fires hashy and va
pld, when he undertook to seal the hope
less doom of three millions of his own
countrymen in chains, and TO prostitute
his divinely-bestowed gifts to justify the
oppressor! How could he be eloquent
IN such cause, when his own conscience
broke out even in the midst of his plea,
and forced him to confess that his soul
abhorred that for which he was laboring
to obtain the sanction of his country?
In noticing briefly some of the positions
OF this great speech, as it is called, our
limits confine US to a few points. Mr..
Clay is doubtless right in supposng that
the abolitionists have gained by the man.
ner in which their petitions have been
treated by Congress. We wish aboli-
tionsts to notice, however, whatthis great
Wing oracle says, that "there was no
substantial difference" between the treat
ment which has been bestowed, and that
which he would have advised. Let this
be borne in mind, when our votes are
claimed by the partisans of Mr.. Clay on
the ground of their favor to the right of
petition But he is wrong in ascribng
the apparent success of our enterprise
) chiefly to this cause. 1t is one of the par
adoxes of divine Providence, that the ri ght
gains, if properly supported by It's friends,
whether It's enemies help or hinder We
devoutly acknowledge the good hand of
: our God upon US, that has overruled the
malice of our enemies, and the folly of our
: prejudiced countrymen to the furherance
: of our cause. But we by means admit,
: that with SO much truth and righteousness
on our side, and the favor of the God OF
e the oppressed always pledged to our aid,
t the holy cause OF abolition would not have
S been much further advanced had its advo-
: Gates met with no outrages upon their per.
: sons and no constitutional violations oil
o their own rights. 1T any rate, we are
d willing TO try it for while; and if the
e mobs, the editors, the politicians and the
0 clergy will let Us alone for three years
a we will see what can be done. and be con.
is tent TO abide the issue. AS Mr.. Clay has
embodied in his speech full sample O
= the topics which he would have embodied
e in report, and which he thinks suited Il
n "check the progress if not altogether ar
fl Fest the efforts of abolition" We are will
n ing to let it have fair chance 70 influenc,
IS the public mind, and see how many abo
: lltlonists it will unmake, and how mucl
ID effort it will arrest, and how much agita
IT. ilon 1T will put to rest. Trying is the ma
E. hed truth.
u The admirers of Mr.. Clay claim tn
B. credit OF great acuteness for the three-fol
re division which he has made of those VIII
< are "opposed, or apparently opposed, /
lie the continued existence of slavery in til
ne United States. AS division, we ,woul
= not complain Of it particularly Thos
is who like it are welcome to class then
n selves either with those who are onl
MS apparently" opposed to slavery, or VIII
MS are little more opposed to abolition tina
or to slavery. The caricature which he ha
ce drawn of the third class, 1.-The real ultr;
eel aboltionists," will hurt no one so muc
re- as its author. We recognise but tire
m classes in the whole community, thos
of who are openly in favor of the continl
rth ance of slavery, those who are apparent
RI in favor Of its abolition, and those WI
ay, are really for going forward with just ar
lad lawful measures to abolish it. But
st, many now claim the name of abolitionis
an, we would divide them into theoretical a
nat olilionisls and abolishng, abolitionists.-
DID The former affect the abolition of slave
ial Just as theoretical Christianity affects Il
the conversion of the world.
oli- But we utterly repudiate the sentimen
of with which this honorable Senator h
but stopped to blacken the character of
y third class, the real abolitionists. We a
ven not reckless of consequences, but it is
in wise regard to consequences that lmp'
les. us onward 1t is because we fear t
cry CERTAIN CONSEQUENCES c
he DOING WRONG, that we so.pressin
ave ~ urge our countrymen to Do RlGH
gu and leave the consequences to God. 1t
eel the slaveholder,-t advocate of contir
con- ed and perpetual slavery in our Republ
Don Henry Clay for instance, who Is JUS
Err chargeable with this madness. Nv
lay them the rights of property which q
ton has given to every man in himself 6;
II to nothing;" the responsibility to God
gto the world for.the right of employment
me. all 1.-THE movers of the General Cove