Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-10-25
speech of the Hon. CasSius III. Clay.

The following is the admirable eloquent. 1nd
highly effective speech. delivered by the Hon.
CAssIUs u. CLAY, Of kentuckv 1T Ito TreuoN,
Temple on the evening of the nineto2nth instant
after The adjournment of the great Convention
BOSTON, CoMNoN.
Il would be ungrateful ~ taa To- feet to be m
sensible 10 tho respect and enthusiasm with which
| hayo been received here, ;,a elsewhere in tho
whole north. yet qualification IS diminished
by tho reflection that | cannot point
ncLicy etnent Of my own---anv great public sut-
vice which deserves 40 much distinction Won
arc pleased to bcstow upon me. Still. if fixed
moss of purpose, ardent lovo of country and
n fearless advocacy Of truth are worthy of con
sdoraton, trust may not prove altogether tln-
deserving your generous confidence. ! stand
hero under very Ct-uii"i q e'frif7aruf rr'',,
boon ever true TO tho wing cause, from my c9r
lest manhood down 10 the present hour, | hHd
myself denounced by leading wings rs ultra in my
opinions. | Owe tho wings uottting--oncc having
possessed thoir confidence and support, because
| would not submit my conscience nnd my rcason
10 ihoir viii. have been by thau, or NJ '2Ast by
a portion Of them, joined by tho democratic par
ty prose ribcd forever. Il - unnecessary 10 say
that from tho democratic party meet with 10 tc-
,or myself an, thcn, only responsible Tor r'v-
self. | know too we'll that ana denounced 1T
tho south as an cnomy of my country know
also who thoy are, that pursue me with lncNoro-
bio malice. which neither tame nor distance. nor
person can ever satiatc. TO the pro-siayery par
" at tho south owe nothjng--no--Do my life;
once more now, as heretofore, srorn their wrath
nud defy their power. appeal from the 3l.t"o
shareholders to the 100000 free white laborers
Of my own loved State. Yes. 70 kontuckv. piacc
of my nativity. home of my bovhool, the early
and fond associations of chIdhood and moro
turc ago. owe my first and lasting allegiance
there shall ever live and there shall rcposc in
death. To my country. 10 postcrity, 10 God, |
look for slow coming Justice and ultimate Iudg-
mcnt.
Shall repeat that the present crisis is the mos.
eventual IN the annals of our history. 1t IS tho
same great struggle, which from time immenn-
rial down to tho present hour. has mover ceased
between liberty and slavery. In tho language OF
Mr.. Choate. the question Is not how shall be
governed only, but who shall govern II IS thl
same issue which the colonies OF America. il
seventeen hundred and soventy-six, nlado witt
tho tvranncal parliament of Britain, except thai
called upon not only to indicate the
right that taxation and representation should be
equal and inseparable, but to stand BY. forever
lose many of those great safeguards Of liberty
which enjoyed under the British rule. Mr.
Webster has asked to-day, .nhero, out of An1eri.
ca. save III England. exist trial BY jury, free
press, public assemblies the right Of free discus
sion and the hobeas corpus act : | ask YOU
where but in England do they exist do they OK
st here no. YOU know too we'll that they Dc
not These great bulwarks Of human liberty
founded on the blood and unspeakablo woe Of the
groa, and good, who have for long ages fallen
sacrifice 20 the vindication of the eternal princi
pies of right and truth. arc now trampled under
iooS by the despotic pro-slaverv party Of this re
public.
YES, It IS 10 slavery and to tho compromising pol
,cy OF our fathers. owing that tho war of 10 was
'ncompletc, and that we now called upon il
lSll once moro 10 tight the battle of liberty
will not reproach lllustrious sres or detract
from thor glorious fame they did more. bv the
American revolution and the constitution Of the
tnited States. TO establish tho cause of hun,a
freedom. than any other men whose deeds illus
'rato tho annals of tho world; still sad expert
ence has too well proved TO rs that they lef
much undonc. and the permission of slavery If
the United States government has we'll nigh Ief
Us nothing OF our original franchises. Let II.
look the evil boldly in the face and If i. be no
already toe late, rotrace our stcrs and Be Ne