Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-10-08

upon the subjec, of Abolition. We not insensihle
that this topic been banded from one pary 10 The
other quite as much coports with good sense, or
ths dignity Of political discussion and should not
span obtrnde il upon you, had il in some degree
been rendered necessary by the organs Of The wing
Convention. The course OF alr Van Buren, upon liis
subject, tar from Disguise is above rrproaeh
During the late Presidential canvass he was ,"eo e
gated as to his opinion upon the constitutional Isn "
Congress 10 abolish slavery in the bsiict 81 e"'u"
believing that the legislative p"~er % G"ns'ess WV
the Dstric, of Columbia was ample 10, a M
legitimate legislation, he frankly sain upon 'e "osae
riSht that he believed Congress possessed The power
but at the same time, declared that there were ooga
tons against It's exercise no less solemn ana bhuihe
shan constitutional Pfohiouons. Iouio ahy Soouei'
man ask more:
When all arowas Of opinion and all pledges upon the
subject had been rendered for any purposes
OF ambition, by his elevations to the presidency mt van
Buren, voluntarily declared in his inaugural ADDRESS
tha, he would inierpose his veto 10 any BILL having Tor
its object the abolition of slavery within the District OF
Columbia Against all schemes OF interfering with the
subject of slavery in the District the States MIR Van
Buren, has repeatedly avowed his most determined hos
sility Upon this subject well upon his political
principles in general Mr. Van Buren, has with pfoPrety
been dsnomnaed "s. NoriherH man ,eh Southern pan
ci2ies."
Now. how stands the case with Mr.. Cay2 fie com
menced bis political Kentucky, by running for
the Convention which framed the Constitution OF that
State. as an aVowed advocate for the gradual aeoon OF
slavery he beaten the question, and his biogra
pher has made his abolition sentiments at that period the
theme of a highly wrought euogy When, fellow cl,i.
Gems, was Mr.. Van Buren, found advocating me
abolition Of slavery any State, at any period OF his
life!
In 1927 MIR. Clay made address before the Colon-
cation Society, Of which he 49, or was TIL lately, the
President In that address, he went into an arihnetcai
calculation prove thai in the processo utL slavery
pght be entirely eradcst from the States, by annual
y sending Africa number equal 10 The increase OF
she colored population.
In tina, address, Mr.. Clay amply manifess his oppo.
stion to slavery by siyhng it "a "the deepest
stain upon the character Of country, and 1.-THE
greatest Of human evils In the same address he aIso
asserts that the States BY adopting the views and pocy
Of the Colonization Society may rid themselves Of sia
very The following paragraph from the above men
toned address, lie quoted iron, page 33 oi Mr. Clay
speeches, some time since collected and published;
Lmiled the project by The society, to colony
to be formed by The free and oaconsra;neo consent OF
free persons Of color, il is objection but on The con-
trary great recommendation OF the plan, that II no
mits Of being taken up and applied on scale OF much
more comprehensive utility The society knows, and IL
affords lust OF elc,tatoD, that all OF any one OF
the States which tolerate slavery, may carry The scheme
of colonization into effect, IN regard 10 The slaves whn
their respective limits, and thus ultimately rid themselves
Of an universally acknowledged curse
Again at page 32G, &c says: "Such, Mr Vice Pres-
dent is the proec of The society, and soc The extern
sion and use which may be made OF the principle .. CO
lonization, application 10 our slave popua,In,o those
States which alone competent to undertake. ohd exc
III.
slavery may adopt and execute it, by Corporation or
separate exprton. if could be instrumental in eradi.
eating this tespes, stain the character OF our c"un
try, and removing all cause OF reproach on account OF IT.
by foreign nations IL could only be instrumental in
Kidding of this foul blot tina, revered State ,ha, gave me
BIRTH that less beloved State which kindly adopted
me her son. would not exchange tie proud snlstac
ton which should enjoy, for the honor OF all the tn
umphs Gecrced 10 The nycst successful cnEqusrnr
And ALSO page 800, he further says: Our friends
who cursed with this greatest o human evils deserve
the kndest attention snd consideration. heir sntety
and their property are bnlh involved. Bu, the liberal
and candid among them will not, cannot, expect that
every project deliver country from 10 be crush
ed, because Of possible and ideal Danger
Although the address repudotes the idea Of any di.
rec, interference nh tins subject in any OF the Slstts,
nevertheless in Mr. Clay avo@s his opposition to The
institution OF slave,y, and expectation that much
will be done toward is final abolition by the efforts of
the colonization society. Has Mr.. Van Buren, lent
any counleuance support 10 sch andproec $:
Has he ever declared slavery curse or stain on The
national character: Do you fellow citizens, in
such sentiments:
/, is q well known fact that Mr. Clay advocated The
reception of abolition petitions IN the Senate OF the u
States for several years. ard wont TO rcproach mr
Calhoun with being TOO hard upon the ath0nis,s =
1t trus that at the lae session Of Congress alter the
abolition question had been put 10 rest by Ahertons
resolutions ard the exerons OF the Democratic rarty
MIR Clay came into the Senate and made most Hour /
ishing and voclierous speech against the abottonlss
Over this speech his paIlzans have sung loud hozan
nahs, and seek not 10 deprive him oil all the merit
which properly belongs TO the enacng OF this new dra
ma If Mr.. Clay has abandoned his heresy, rejoice
TO hear it, and regret he had not offered the South the
aid Of his influence upon this subject, when it most
needed, and woCld have been OF signal service But
the feast having been made the fall OF AbnonIsm
before the prodgai returned there be necessity
for saugheriDg The taed calf II is for the American
people determine whether this last step OF Mr. Clay
was the result Of conrcuon OF patriotism and sense
of duty; or whether it had its origin motives Of n.e
sled ambition and self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In his last speech this subject Mr. Clay acquitted
MIR Van Buren, OF any friendlness to the views q" The
Abotonsts, and against the inslnuations Of The Wings
Of this State, oppose the testimony Of their leader
and champion, NJ. Clay.
Ito be continued
(fIon the .Vt..GnnrIe { Tenn Gazette of Stpt 90