The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-03-02
From the Emancipator.
Mr.. Claws Snnech.

From the Emancpaor.
MIR. Clay's Speech.
In noticing briefly some of the positions Of this
great speech, as it is called our limits confne us
TO few points. Mr., Clay is doubtless right in
supposing that the abotonists have gained by the
manner in which their petitions have been treated
by Congress. We wish abolitionists to notice,
however, that this great Wing oracle says, that
'there was no substantial difference" between the
treatment which has been bestowed, and that
which he would have advised Let this be borne
in mind, when our votes are claimed by the part-
sans of Mr.. Clay on the ground of their favor to
the right of petition. But he is wrong in ascrib-
ing the apparent" success of our enterprise chief
ly to this cause 1t is one of the paradoxes of d-
vine Providence, that the right gains, if properly
supported by its friends, whether its enemies help
or hinder. We devoutly acknowledge the good
hand OF our God upon us, that has oyerruled the
malice of our enemies, and the folly Of our pref
udced countrymen to the furthcrance of our cause
But we by no means admit, that with so much
truth and righteousness on our SIDE and the favor
of the God of the oppressed always pledged to
our aid, the holy cause of abolition would not
have been much further advanced had its adyo-
Gates met with no outrages upon their persons and
no constitutional violations of their own wrights.
AT any rate, we are willing to try it for while );
and if the mobs, the editors, the politicians and
the clergy will let us alone for three years. we
will see what can be done, and be content to abide
the issue. As Mr.. Clay has embodied in his
speech full sample of the topics which he would
have embodied in a report, and which he thinks
suited to "check the progress if not altogether ar
rest the efforts of abolition" we are willing to let
it have fair chance to influence the public mind,
and see how many abolitionists it will unmake,
and how much effort it will arrest, and how much
agitation it will put to rest. Trying is the naked
truth.
The admirers of Mr. Clay claim the credit of
great acuteness for the three-fold division which
he has made of those who are Oppressed, or ap-
parently opposed to the continued existence of
slavery in the United States. AS division, we
would not complain Of it particularly. Those
who like it are welcome to class themselves either
with those who are only apparently" opposed to
slavery. The caricature which he has drawn of
the third class, "the real Observation-Disclosures" will
hurt no one so much as its author. We recog-
Mise but three classes in the whole community
those who are openly in favor of the continuance
of slavery. those who are apparently in favor of
its abolition, and those who are really for going
with Just and lawful measures to abolish it. But
as many now claim the name Of abolitonist, we
would divide them into theoretical abolitonists and
abolishing abolitionists. The former affect the
abolition of slavery just as theoretical Christianity
affects the conversion of tie world
But we utterly repudiate the sentiments, with
which this honorable Senator has stopped to black
en- the character of his third class the real aboli-
tionists We are not reckless of consequences,
but it is wise regard to consequences that mpels
us onward, 1t is because we fear the CERTAIN
CONSEQUENCES OF DOING WRONG, that we so press
ingly urge our countrymen to DO RIGHT and leave
the consequences to God. 1t is the Shareholder,
the advocate of continued and perpetual slavery
in our Republic Henry Clay for instance who
is Justly chargeablc with this madness. "With
them the right Of property" which God has given
to every man in himself "are nothing;" the res
possibility to God and the world for the right en-
ployrnent of all "the powers of the General Gov
eminent Is nothing; the acknowledged and in
conteshble powers of the States" and their duty
TO their sister States and to the Union care moth
ing; civil war, dissolution of the Union, and
the overthrow OF a government in which are con-
cenraed the fondes hopest of the civilized world i"
all which SLAVERY hourly threatens and must ere
long inevitably produce, "are nothing. A "single
idea has taken possession of their minds" the de-
termination to continue the practice of enslaving
their countrymen, and to protect their crimes from
all attacks, at all hazards land onward they pur-
sue it, overlooking" and overlapping call barri-
ers" of reason, religion, humanity law and con-
stution, RECKLESS and regardless Of all conse-
quences."
If Mr.. Clay believed that the designs of the
"real ultra -abolitionsts" were ever sought to be
concealed by the thnnest veil,' we can only
pity his ignorance of the subject which he has
undertaken to discuss. The Anti,Slavery Socie-
ty at its first formation seven years ago, wrote its
designs in letters of light on the banner which it
Gung to the winds. "Immediate and Universal
Emancipation" was our word from the beginning j.