Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-02-27
SPEECH OF c.. Nj. CLAY.

VlaIIVereu III ludSS tuSCttH6 Va q pOibiOii
Of the citizens of the 9Th Congressional
district,on Saturday the 30th of Deem
Der; ls43, at the White Sulpher Springs,
10 Scott County, KY, in reply 10 Col.
r. M. JOHNSON,a land others.
The following resolution were offered
by c. NJ. Clay, as substitute for those
presented by the majority of the committee,
and supported in speech which has been
reported as follows: (See resolutions ss
published in the papers.)
Mr.. President, land Fellow Citizens: In
presenting the resolutions which have Of.
fered q substitute for those reported by q
majority of your committee, do not hope
10 be more successful here, than have
been in the committee itself This place
oil meeting the presiding officer Colo
mel Richard NJ. Johnson) and the audience
who fay or me with hearing,a ll forbid any
expectation on my part, Of carrying the
substitute. But rejoice, humble as may
be in ability. unknown TO fame, and Of nc
consideration among men, that associated
with your name,in this days de alterations,
will give me FICTITIOUS Importance, which
will recommend what shall say 10 hear
ing from the people Of the United States
My opinions though Of little intrinsic value
may excite the m nds of my countrymen to
reflection, and then after mature considera
tiou, dare venture the assertion, that the
position have this day taken will be main
tanned in practice and vindicated at last by
n recognition of those principles, which it
is the province Of history TO enforce and
consecratc in the affections of mankind.
Regarding the question at issue as
second only 10 those which have forever
illustrated the year l776, | shall speak
with that freedom which inherit as my
Dir bright, and which SO much desire TO
transmit unmpared TO posterlty. Though
yet young; am Old enough 10 know, from
sid experience, what history in such mel
anchoy strains has uttered in vain into the
deaf ears of men: that the best counsel is
Tar from being always The most accepts
BILE. When the storm cast vessel is threat
encd with wreck the man who would save
her by throwing overheard the boxes Of
gold and other things of more cherished
ondearmcnt, is hardly heard Wills; he who
maintains that all is safe, is too often trus-
ted till both life and treasure are irrecov-
cradle lost. lie who from good motives
gives even bad advice, is entitled at least
DO Just lorbenrance: whilst the man who
advances the best of counsel fer selfish
purposes deserves no consideration for his
services.
Those gentlemen who would annex Tex
as 10 the Union, and hurry us blndEolt
Down this prccipice of ruin and dishonor
iu,vc here in these slave states At least, pop
dSar prejudice in their favor. On one side
are honor, power, wealth, and easy access
TO fame: on the other side, dcnunciation,
punishment. roverty,and obscurity threat
en-. If then speak freely the truth, wher
sou, my countrymcn, are TO reap all the
fruits OF the sncrifite,n no man can say thu
ask too much, when pray you 10 hear m'
with paticncc,b b, coming IN solemElty o
The occasion.
FRS, of al Their, | protest against ihi
appeal to our sympathies in behalf Of Tex
as,and these unjust denunca'ions OF Mexi
60, as foreign 20 the true issue, and emf
ncntly calculated to lead us into error
Through uuly,and with sorrow be it said
of Anglo. Saxon blood, bone Of our bono
and flesh of our flesh, in the language 81
gentlemen, ask you, what claims Of sym
patty has Texas on the people OF the Uui
ted States? Enjoying all the blessing,
which The Constitution guarantees to he
Peoplc, with all the offices Of honor ant
profit, open to the humblesl citizen;with al
unocupicd domain extending TO the distan
Pacific, like our first parents going gu
from Eden, with the world before then
where to choose in any cline, home =
they voluntarily ban shed themselves Gror
their native country, disavowed the glori
ous principles of the American Declarat;o
Of the rights of man, renounced the inest
mable privileges of the Federal Cons;itu
ton which was their inheritance. and foI
getful of all the ties of common blood, lar
guoge,and home, they became the fello'
subjects with half barbarian people, Of
distant Spanish Prince. Yes, without be
coming the advocate Of Santa Anna, whom
we have heard denounced rs n tyrant an,
traitor for the purpose of preudIcing III
cause which | vindicate: trusting 10 indes
iructible truth and avenging history. chal
ienge a comparison between Texas an
Mexico. The Mexican people inspired b,
that Declaration Of American independents
which recreant Texas had renowned, i
1921, vindicated by glorious revelation
her title to independence of the SPANS
monarchy ;aud illustrated in act.the postu
late taught by our Revolutionary heroes
that people cannot of ght be governe
without their own consent In 1874, MeN
AGO, following the example of the Unite
States and Great Britain. who in 1920 ha
declared the slave trade pracyland punish
able with death, prohibited in the languag
OF Judge Story,this internal trafick.' |
iS29,once more unlike Texas, she made
part OF her constitution that 40 person Dor
attersthe PRONUNCIATION of the same, in III
several provinces should be held slave.
Again in 1929 this much abused Mex
co declared slavery was extinguished in tn
hepnohc and elevating tho dread standar
OF "uod and Liberty" she called upon ii
sons OF freedom by arms to vindica,e sh
Immortal decree. And where now. through
out this vast empire, did this glad note
liberty iall to receive a willing respose :
Alas! for the ecre ant Saxoos &c t.,