Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-04-18
SPEECH OF MR.. CLAY,
And ossvsr.sss. delivery Abolition
Richsoud Indiana

ONO, Indsnapos the Fehto goVeTnntn
the State 81 fndsna which he had been previously in
vited. siop At Richmond, hOushing In that State
where multitude. amounting Is or 10000 had
.smbed 10 him. and greet and welcome his arrival
Inong them After taking rccshment he repaired
stand provided Tor the from which he addressed
the immense sssembage In his accustomed the
public topics 81 the day IL intended report any
part Of that speech which received with enthusiastic
applause. After it, close. Mr.. Clay informed that
Mt Mcndenhsl was present aud DESTROYS of presenting
petition 10 him. and he requested for that purpose
ascend the stand. He did So and delivered the petition
Mr. Clay. tie handed IL friend who read II aloud TO
Mr. Clay and to the assembly. The petition prayed or re-
quesied that Mr. Clay would forthwith bcraic all his slaves
unusty IL alleged held In bondage and placed the ap
pcaion principally the ground that by the Declaration OF
American Independence is declared ihai all men are
created equal that they endowed by their creator with
certain unaienable rights" &c.
After the reading OF the petition, the assembly manifested
great sensation, some cried pull him mir Incidentally
down and high degree OF excitement OF anger and OF in
dignaton kindled against him. The slightest mani
cstaon ofdispcssure the part OF Mr. Clay might have
exposed Mr. Mcndenha TO great personal danger. But
Mr.. Clay with perfect cnlmness and composure and
first addressed the multitude OF persuasion and
He hoped that Mr.. VI. might be treated with the
greatest orbcGnnce and respect lie assured his fellow
citizens there collected, that the presentation OF the petition
had occasioned him the slightest pain, excited ono
solitary disagreeabe emotion. If were presented TO him.
he preferred that should be done the of this and
respectable n-sembage. lie thought he could give such
became him and the subject which treated
At oil events, he enreaed and beseeched his oow-ei'
for their sake for his counts sake Tor ms sake to
offer nodisrospect indgny, violence in wordo deed
TO Mr.. NJ.
This appearing compose the assembly Mr.. c. bowed
TO MIR. NJ. and addressing him. said:
will now sir make TO you and TO this petition, such a
response becomes Allow say that think YOU
have conoImed the independent character OF an ~
mericnn citizen, in presenting petition to me- am like
yourself, but citizen petition, the term I'M
plies generally proceeds from inferior power
superior, but between us, there entire equality
And what the circumstances under which you have
chosen TO offer am total stranger, passing through
your State, my its Capitol consequence OF an
invitation with which have been honorcd visit
change friendly situations with such of my
OF Indiana think proper and TO accept OF their
hospitality. Anxious am them, and TO view parts
Of this State which had seem came here with hes
iaion and reluctance because apprehended that the
uves OF my journey might be msconcoved and perverted
But when the tument old promise to visit Indian
apos insisted upon; yielded the solicitations Of
friends and have presented myself among you.
Such the occasion which has been deliberately selected
for rendering this petition advanced in year.
and neither myself the place OF my residence aoge
ther unknown TO the world. GU might at any time within
these last p 30 have presented your petitions
ut Ashland II you had gone there for that purpose
should have been received and treated with perfect
pect and liberal hospitality.
Now. Mr.. Mendenhal let us reverse conditions, and
suppose that you had been invited Kentucky parakc
of hospitality; and that previous your arrival, had
employed such understand have been used
get this petition TO obtain the signatures OF citizens Of
that State TO petition, TO TO TO renquish
YOUR farm or other property, what would have thought
OF such proceedingl Would you have deemed it
Gus ana according 10 the mites sf hospitality
know well that you, and those who think with YOU,
the legitimacy of slavery, and deny the right
erty slaves. But the law State and other States has
otherwise ordained. The law may he wrong, IN
your opinion and ought be repealed but then, and
associates the US unless you
can show some authority nuliify laws
unue TO respect them. Until the law is repealed
be excused for asserting the ghts-aye, the property
s!nves-whch it sanctions authorizes, and vindcales
And who the petitioners whose organ you assume TO
be- have doubt that many of them worthy
bic and humane persons who, by representations
NaNa haaW a..
to this petition and that they will deeply regret Others,
and few, am told, free blacks, men, women and
children, who have been aruy deceived and imposed up
on very large porfion, have been crcdbly informed,
are the political opponents OF the party which belong
Democrats, they undeservedy call themselves,
have eagerly seized this opportunity wound they
gined my feelings, and 10 aid the which they
attached In other quarters Of the Union, democrats claim
be the exclusive champions the Southern Interests the
only safe defenders Of the nights slave properly and
Justy accuse US Wings with abolition designs, wholly ncom
pauble with its security. What ought distant Dem.
ocrats 10 think Of the Of their friends here
united in this petuonl
And what foundation of this appeal 10 me in Ird
anna, 10 hberste the slaves under my in Kentucky!
It's general declaration, in the announcing
world :he Independence OF the Is American Colonies
all men are are created equal! Now abstract pnnci.
pie there Is doubt Of the OF that decaraol
II desirable in the original OF Society," and in
organzed Societies, 10 keep view great undamcn.
I'd principle Bat. them apprehend that IN no Society
that ever did exist, shall be formed the
equality asserted among the members Of the human race
enforced carried out there portions
OF H. large portions women, minors, insane, cuPuts
sien soounes, that will always probably remain subject
the government OF another portion of the community
mat declaration, whatever may be the extent OF It's i'm.
port made by the delegations of the thirteen States
In most Of them slavery existed and long existed and
was Established by law. introduced aud forced upon
the Colonies by the paramount law England. Do YOU
believe that in making that declaration the States that con
CURED IN intended that it should be tortured into yir
tla emancipation Of all the slaves within their respective
n's Would Virginia and the other Southern States
ever unlteu declaration which
70 an abolition OF slavery among them2 Did any one of
tue 10 States entertain such design expectation To
lnpue such and unayowed purpose would be 4,
charge political fraud upon the nIbest Of patriots that
ever assembled in council fraud upon conederacyo of
the Revolution fraud upon the Union Of these States
whose Constitution not only recognized the lGwuncs Of
slavery but permitted the importation of slaves from Africa
until the year lsOS. And bold 10 say that if the doc
ine' OF modern ulta political aboitoniss had
" promulgated at the epoch Of Revolution our glorious
Independence would have been achieved Never,
Never
lOreat applause; and many voices echoing Never
know the predominant sentiment in the free States is
adverse slavery but happy in their own exemption from
Whatever evils may attend IT, the great mass Of our fellow
citizens there do not seek violate the Constitution or TO
disturb the harmony Of these States desire no conceal
meni OF my opinions IN regard the Of slavery
look upon 1t great evil and deeply lament that we
nave derived II from the parental government and from our
ancestors wish every slave IN the T.. State. was IN the
country OF his But here they are and the oues
ton ~ how they be best dealt With liza state Of nature
existed and we were about 10 lay the foundations Of society,"
'''' """'" w IH't 7HonBy opposed nuu should be
- incorporate the institution Of slavery among lis elements
bui there s an incacuabe difference between the original
formation OF society, and long existing organized society,"
WIN It's ancient laws Institutions aud establishments Now
great a. acknowledge my opinion the evils Of slavery
are iney are nothing absolutely nothing IN comparison
WIN tne lar greater evils which would inevitably hpw from
sudden, general and indiscrimnatc emancipation In
some OF the states the number OF slaves approximate to-
wards an equality with the whites, one or two they sur
pass them What would bc the condition OF the two races
IN those States upon the superstition of an immediate
cpauon7 D1csany suppose that they would become
blended m one homogeneous mass Does any man recon
mend amaigamaton-that revolving admxture alike oifen
s'eio God aud mani FJr those whom lie by their nh v
scn pfopcrto has made unlike and put asundo we may
Nmou pfesumpuousncss, suppose intended to
BE- joined together IN Of the hottest rtos And r inc
tc' you, sir hyou do already know IT, that such are
ine cehngs-prcJudccs you please and what man claim
ing 70 be Statesman will overlook, disregard the deep
hud and uuconquerabo preIudcos of the People, n the
save states that no humun law could enforce a union be
tween the two races
p" nat men would certainly hnppcn2 struggle for DO.
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