The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-05-02
ANTI-SLAVERY.
Gerrit Smiths Review
OF
G.. NJ. CLAWS LETTER.

pldlSh NOi AOSx'
Cassius M. Clay, Esq:
My Dear Sir: have. this day, read
your letter to the Mayor of Dayton. So.
notwithstanding you had forty thousand
dollars in slaves, and slaveholding repu-
tation and influence, which money could
not measure, you have surrendered oil,
and ceased TO be s|aveholderl God be
praised for this glorious triumph of the
truth, which American aboliiionists have
been intoxicating, for the last twelve years!
God be praised for having made them
willing 10 suffer so much oss and 10 count
not even their lives dear unto themselves.
for the sake of inculcating i'll And thrice
blessed be you--and you will be for
having yielded to its power No viclor
so happy, De his conquests never so NUM-
erous and extolled, as he. who suffers
himself 10 be conquered by truth. Such
one u.s. indeed, the greatest OF conquerors.
HIS captivity is the establishment in his
own sonl otthe supremacy OF virtue over
vice of right over wrong. l! IS the
matchess victory of gaining the rule over
ones own spirit.
| welcome your letter, not only be-
cause it condemns slaveholding-con'
dennis it as an outrage on repubIicanism
and christianity; but, because it lays down
the principle that Shareholder is unfit
to be civil ruler. | wish, that the
Northern political and religious press con-
CURED with you, in this latter respect
But, even the New York Tribune
your favorite newspaper, to which you
sent the letter lying before me-makes
elaborate arguments against this principle.
hat the Shareholder is unworthy of civil
Office. am very sorry to observe, that,
even in your own mind, this princi pie is
not one Of entirely universal applicability.
You plead for an exception, to 1t: sim
gle exception, it is true: and such an ex-
ception, as, | own. it seems rather ungra-
cious TO blame you for pleading for
Henry Clay is your kinsman, nelghbor,
friend. He has stood by you, and given
you effective he p in your most memora'
bic peris. He is, withal, the leader, not
to say idol, of that party, from which you
are not yet fully weaned. Now, thai, in
these circumstances, you should purpose
to vote for him, is, indeed, a ult-but
fault, so mligated by those circumstances.
that none, and. especially they who are
the subjects of the admiration, gratitude.
and love, excited by the emancipation Uf
YOUR numerous slaves, can find it easv
to fix their eye upon, very steadily or
sternly. And, what aleviates this fault
still farther,is, that it is only for once more,
you would have even Henry Clay voted
for. Your prescription Of Shareholders
is TO extend to him also, after the next
Presidential Election. The Gispensation
of republicans and christians to vote for a
buyer and seller of men even though he
be Henry Clay himself, you would have
cease, next November.
Your letter will be Of immense serviceto
the AntiSlavery cause. Such testimony
ofone of the nobest minds of the South
against slavery-testimony. no longer
contradicted by your slaveholding; but
sustained, proved 10 be deeply sincere,
and made solemn and impressive, by the
emancipation OF your slaves, will tell upon
every Northern neighborhood. And even
the declaration OF your purpose to cast
YOUR vote for Henry Clay will woI k far less
injury than many fear. For lst,that vote
is too obvious a violation Of your own
admitted principles, and too obvious nm
inconsistency with yourself, to carry much
influence with it. ed, it will be regarded
as yielding to the pressure Of circum'
stances and to human weaknesses, rather
than as the conclusion Of wise, deliberate,
unbiased reasonings. Sd, those amongst
us, who are hunting for excuses for their
intended vote for Henry Clay, will not
find any 10 your intention to vote for him.