Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-02-02
CASSIUS NJ. CLAY ON SLAVERY.

The Lexington (Ky) Observer, of the 10Th, h q
full report Of nobIo speech, delivered 10y Cassius
VI. Clay in reply to kichord NJ. Johnson, aud
others, az u meeting nj the White Sulphur Springs,
Scott Go. KY Dec 30, to favor the annexation Of
Texas TO The Union. Col. johnson having been
called to preside, aud resolutions Affirming the pol
icy OF uniting Texas TO the Union having been or
Tered, and advocated by the chairman and others,
Mr.. Z. M Clay offered substitute of an opposite
tenor which he advocated in u glorious Speech.
We do no. to publish much of it as relates
to The main question, for the annexation eff Texas
with slavery existing therein, to this Union is rs
| impossible the falling of the sky. There was
u time when this was possible, but now there APP
pears TO be considerable party or section in ia.
vor of it, and we have no room to waste in oppo-
son 10 frustrated or by gone mischief.
But there il n portion OF Mr.. Gays remarks,
taken in consideration with his position and the
general aspect Of the slavery question, which de-
serves attention. Among the leading axioms OF
those Including the Liberty candidate tor Pres
idenIl who advocate the abolition of slavery at so
much per month, are lhese,-I. That every slave
holder Is 10 be regarded as an enemy of Human
Rights and prescribed, so far possible, from all
public station 2. That nobody who belongs to
either Of The Two great political parties can he IA
vorable 10 emancipation, but every Wing is, of
necessity Pro slavery aud an enemy 10 liberty
for all 3. That no man can he heard in oppos-
lion to slavery, in The Slave Staes either orally
lion of these assumptions, we can cite the case of
Cassius NJ. Clay, at this moment an ardent Wing
and extensive slave holder, who has repeatedly
spoken, both in the Kentucky Legislature and be-
fore the people, in earnest, powerful opposition 10
slavery, and whose speech is published in full in
the leading journal in Kentucky, enbodying such
sentiments as the following -
"To say that am an abotionst, in The sense
in which the enemies of all moral progress would
| halin tbnt I
ton and massacro-my wife, children, mother
brothers aud sisters, and relations and friends, are
all hostages for my sincerity, when restraining
myself 10 the Use of courteous terms repel the
unjust aud dishonorng impu,alior. That am al
aboliiionist in the sense that would take away
without Just compensation, the rights Of property
in slaves which the laws secure 10 mo and tC
some thirty or forty thousand citizens OF Kentucky
my letter 10 The Tribune whrh is before tho world
" SILL sir, am an aboli;ionist. Such an aboli
ZIONIST as have been from my boyhood such al
aboonst was in 1886, when | declared, in III!
place in the House OF Representatives, TO which
was just then eligible, that if the Constitution die
not give Us power to protect ourselves against lh
internal slave trade, that renowned it, and woul'
appeal TO Convention for Il nsw one. Such al
aholilionist as was in 1910, when | declared il
the same House of representatives, that wished
10 place the Sate of Kentucky in such position
, at any time that she thought it conducive TO he
) highest interest, 10 free herself from slavery
} Such All aboulonsl as have ever avowed myse
| IN public speeches aud writings 10 the people o
this district, that ii Kentucky was wise enough
f tree herself from the counsels OF pro-savery mer
that slavery would perish Of itself by vounar
action OF masters aud the irresistible force OF Gil
$ cumslances which would convince the people
The use OF free Instead OF slave labor every wa
more advantageous. Such an a5ollllonist as wer
= The band of immortal men who formed the Fede
/" raj Constitution, who would not have the wor
0 slave IN that sacred instrument, am l.. Such q
o aboIionst us was Washington, who, 80 far iroi
: lending counlenance TO the propagation of SLAYER
Y as you are now doing, declared that GU oil prspI
occasions his influence aud his should Le ca
i for the exlnguishment of slavery among men, al
i also. Such an abolilionlst as was Jefferson I'll
0 great father Of democracy, whom you all prote
# TO follow, who loretod, what has since como
# pass, that slavery if not destroyed, would eoparS
d lze and finally exngush the liberty oil the Whit
v themselves who lorosaw, with an unerring glanc
that the slavery OF tho black race, If not remedie
IF by The whites, would at last remedy itself sue
k an abolilionist am also. And, being such, tax
/. issue with the opinion which has been here Il
r. day, as il has been often elsewhere, most dol
Il lnalcally advanced that the question is "whetb'
tho whites shall rule the blacks or the blacks sha
q rulo the whites" Such an issue is false in theor
"a false in practice, and is proven TO be false in
"a experience. IL 10 derogatory 20 human nature an
" blaspheny sgansl God himself
N "All America, except Brazil and the Unite
States, have freed their slaves and are tho white