The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-08-21
VOTE FOR HENRY CLAY.

mere are many " h'S -A'NO-0N~ '''@S
admire the splendid talents of Mr. Clay, who
coucede TO him the highest requirements as
n statesman, and the most noble aspirinss as
patriot and friend of human freedom at
large, and who wish and even almost pray to
heaven that be might be elected President Of
the United States, and declare they cannot
vote for him because he is a slavehnlder.-
Tell them that the policy which Mr.. Clay and
the party with which he acts is the only poll
cy under which the people can thrive and
the country advance in wealth and greatness:
all this they most cheerfully concedc, and in
the very next breath declare they cannot vote
for him. because he is STAKEHOLDER. Tell
them that the censuTe cast upon MIR. Clay for
drinking wine, and shutting cards, and fight
ing duels were no more chargeahle to Mr..
Clay than to all the high-rninded and honor
able men at the South twenty years ago, that
Dir. Clay has long since renowned these
practices and especially denounced dueling
az barbarous and inhuman custom, which
he has sought to abolish by streuuously ad-
vocating and voting for Mr. Prentiss' bill;
all this is frankly acknowledged, and yet they
cannot vote for him, because he is slayehol-
der. Tell them that the most soul-stirring
issue, and the most ominous for evil, and
deadly in its consequences to the harmony
and even existence of the Union, and the final
abolition of Slavery, to wit, the Annexation
of Texas is 10 be decided in the neAtP residen-
sial canvass, and that nothing but the cleo
ton of Mr.. Clay can prevent the accomplish
meut of this nefarious scheme, and still they
hesitate, but at length with great reluctance
refuse to vote for Mr.. Clay, because he is a
Shareholder. Again insist that although a
STAKEHOLDER from necessity, as living in a
slavehoding State, where the cause of hu-
mainly demands he should retain his slaves
rather than turn them adrift upon the cold
charities of the world, that such was his love
OF impartial freedom that in the very COM
meucement of his political career, at a great
sacrifice of his popularity he boldly advoca-
ted the cause of emancipation in Kentucky,
and has ever since done so whereeverit could
be accomplished with safety to the white pop
ulation, and has ever taken high and holy
ground in all practical measures for relieving
the country from what he has himself de-
clared the great moral and political evil Of
slavery. and by breasting himself against an
nexation is doing the. work of Abolitonists
and exercising giant power to give it effica-
cyand success TO their canse, yet they cannot
vote for STAKEHOLDER.
But suppose such scrupulous abolitionists
should either withhold their votes from MIR.
Clay. or vote for Mr., Birney, whose success
even the mos; sanguine Of them could not
hope for and suppose the Shareholders can
didate Mr. Polk should consequently be cleo
ted, protection should be abandoned, all the
great interests of the country ruined, Texas
should be annexed, and slavery strengthened
and perpetuated. what plea would they urge
before the throne of the Almighty for the
miscbiefs they had brought upon this heav-
on-farored nation L couldnot be ignorance,
for they knew full well the fatal consequences
Of their course; nor could they exculpate
themselves on the ground that they we're pro-
hibited from doing evil that good might come.
The act itself was the most evil ;l,ing
they could have done. II would have been
violation Of their most sacred duties as citi
aens ofihs last OF the republics. 1t would
be Il base treachery TO the commonwealth, as
we'll as foul betrayal Of the future hopes of
three millions OF the unhappy race in whose
favor they pretend TO raise the var cry of I'd
party abolition.
Besides, this maxim has already bcen dis
earded in practice, by Sd party men from whom
it comes with very poor grace. Are they
not constantly insisting that runaway slave
may take boat or a horse and steal his living
TO enable him to regain his freedom! These
conscientious men say further, they will do
right and leave the results of their actions
with God. But suppose they do what is pal
ably wrong, how dare they look for the ap-
rroving smiles of the Almighty?
But, say our mistaken friends, if we vote
for STAKEHOLDER we justify slaveholding.-
What sublimated morality is this Such cas-
uistry is disgrace to an intelligent mind.
II we vote for candidate who will sustain
such policy as we deem expedient, do we
sanction his vices in other respects, which we
choose to overlook for the sake of those quail
ihcations which fit him for our purposes y If
so; show us the man so wholly unimpeachable
that the people can conscientiously vote for
him.
We therefore call upon all sincere Abolition
lists to 20 forward in the noble cause in which
they are embarked by the use ofthe only
practicable means in their power for It's ac-
complishment. Throw your weight into the
scale of freedom. Give your votes for men
who can be elected and if elected will pre-
sent an unsurmountable barrier against the