Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-10-27
From the N. Y. Tribune Of Oct. 2lst.
Speech Of MIR. Clay.

of Mr.. Car, delivered AT Richmond, Indiana
on the 18Th inst. which we hasten to lay be
fore our readers. While Mr.. Clay was adj
dressing the assembled multitude on pollica
topics, u Mr.. MENDENHALL ascended The
stand and presented petition to NJ. CLAY
which WAS read aloud, requesting him forth
with 20 liberate all his slaves.
Afisr the reading of the petition, the as
sembly manifested great sensation, some
cried out pull him Mr.. Mendenhall) down
aud high degree Of excitement, of anger
Il and of Indignation were klnded against him
The slightest manIiestnti"n of dlspleasure "i
The part Of Mr.. Clay might have exposed Mr.
II Mend"nhulI To great personal danger Bu'
II Mr.. Clay rose with perfect calinness and
composure, and first addressed the multitude
Il ~ u STRAIN of persuasion and entreaiy. lie
hoped that Mr.. NJ. might be treated with the
II greatest forbearlnce and respect. lie as
sured his fellow citIZens there collected, that
/ the presentation of The petition had moi occa.
stoned him the slightest pain, nor excited one
solitary disagreeable emotion. II it were TO
be presented TO him, he preferred that il
should be- done in the face Of this vast and
respectable u-semblage. lie thought he
could give it such an answer as became him
and The subject OF which it treated. At oil
events, he cntrcated and besoughl his fellow
citizens, for their sake, for his counlry's sake,
Tor his sake, 10 offer no disrespect. no indig-
nifty, no violence, in word or deed, TO Mr..
H MendenlaIl.
\ This appearing 10 compose the assembly,
Mr.. Clay bowed TO Mr.. Mendenhall, and aG-
dressing him said-
II ] will now, sir, make TO you and TO this
\ petition such response as becomes me.
H a low me to say that think you have not
CONFIRMED to The independent character OF
an American CIlIzen, ~ presenting petition
10 me. | am, like Yourself, but II private cIiI-
zen. A petition, as the term implies, gen.
orally proceeds from an interior ~ power or
station To n superior; but between us there
\ IL entire equality. And what are the circun-
stances under which you have chosen to
offer II? ! am total stranger, passing
through your State on my way To It's capital
III consequence Of an invitation with which
! have been honored 10 visit 1t 10 exchange
salniaiIons with such Of my friends of lndia
ma AS think proper TO meet me, aud To accept
OF their hospitality. Anxious as am tn see
them, aud 10 view purts of this State which
had never seen, ] came here with reluc
tance, because ] upprehended that The mo-
lives ofmy journey might be mlsconcevedI
and perverted. But when the iulfmeut Of
an old promise to visit indianapolis was in
sisted upon, yielded to the solicitations of
friends aud have presented myself among
YOU.
Such is The occasion which has been de-
lbernlely selected for rendering this petition
to me. | am advanced ~ years, and neither
myself nor the place Of my residence Is alto
g.ther unknown TO the world. Yon might,
at any time within these last 25 or 30 years
have presented your petition to me at Ash
land. II you had gone there for that pur-
pose, you should have been received and
treated with perfect respect and liberal hos
pialiiy.
Now, Mr.. Mendenhall le, us reverse con
dnions. aud suppose that you had been invit
ed to Kentucky TO partake Of It's hospitality
and that, previous to your arrival, ! had en-
ploycG such means as understand have been
used to get up this petition, to obtain the
signatures Of citizens Of that State To pc
illlon, To present 10 you, 10 reinqnIsh your
farm or other property, what would you have
thought of such II proceeding? Would yom
have deemed j, courteous and according To
the rites %! hospiia,lly?
| know well that yon, and those who think |
with you, controvc.t the legitimacy of slavery,
aud deny the right of property IN slaves
But the law of my Stale and other States has
ordained. The law may be wrong,
Ia your opinion, and ought to be repealed
but, then. you and your associates are not
the law makers for us, and unless you can
show some authority TO nullliy our laws. we
must continue To respect them. Until the
law Is repealed, we must be excused for as.
ser'lng The rIgh's-ayc, the property IN slaves
which It sanctions, authorizes, and yindi
Gates.
And who are the petitioners whose organ
you assume to be? ] have no doubt thai
many OF them are worthy, nrniable and hu-
name persons, who, by erroneous representa-
lions. have been induced inconsderately To
hhx their signatures TO this petition, and
that they will deeply regret II. Others, aud
not iuw. am told, are tree blacks, men,
women aud children, who have been arltully II
deceived and imposed upon. A very large
portion, have been credlbly informed, are
he political opponents Of the party to which
belong. Democrats, as they most unde.
'ervedly call themselves, who have eagerly Il
seized this opportunity to wound, as they una
yIned, my feelings, and TO aid the cause to
"HiCn 'Hcy hTe hltaCneu. IN Olner quarters
II The Union, Democrats clam To be the ex-
elusive champons OF Southern interests. the
,nly safe defenders Of The rights in slave
property, and unjns,ly accuse ns Wings with
Abolition designs. wholly Incompatible WITH
is severity. What ought these distant Dem
,crals TO think Of the course Of their friends
Icre who have united in this petitions?
And whn, is the foundation Of this appeal
20 me in Indiana TO lberuic the slaves under
ny care IN Krnurky? II is n general dec
arailon, IN the act announcing Ia the world
he Independence Of the thirteen American
,"lonles, that all men are created equal
Now, as an abstract prime iple, there Is no
luubt OF the truth of tla, declaration and 1t |
5 desirable in tho original construction of
Society, and IN organized Societies, 10 keep
~ view rs great fundamental principle.
}ni, then, apprehcnd that ~ no Soclciy that
'ver did exist, or over shnll be formed was
" can the equality asserted among the mem
'ers Of The human race, be practically on.
nrccd and carried out. There are puriions
4 4, large portions, women, minors, insane.
ulpriis, transient scjuurucrs, tho, will always
'robably remain subject 10 the government
u another portion oi the community. II
That declaration, whatever may be- the cx
cnt oi ns import, was made by the dclcga