Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-05-24
PErERBoRo' March 90, 1914.

Cassius M. Clay, ESP
NV Dear Sr:-I have this day read your letter
to the Mayor of Dayton. So, Notwithstanding
you had forty thousand dollars in slaves, and a
slaveholding reputation and influence, which
money could not measure, you have surrendered
all, and ceased to be asaveholder God be prais
ed for this glorious triumph of the truth, which
American abolltionists have been incuIcatlng, Tor
the last twelve years God be praised for having
made them willing to suffer so much loss, and to
count not even their lives dear unto themselves,
for the sake of intoxicating it, And thrice blessed
be you-and you will be-for having yielded to its
power! No victor is so happy, be his conquests
never so numerous and extolled, as he who suffers
himself to be conquered by truth. Such one U.s.
indeed the greatest of conquerOrs. His captivity
is the establishment in his own soul ofthe suprem-
acy of virtue over vce-of right over wrong. 1t
is the matchess victory of gaining the rule over
| ones own spirit
welcome your letter, not only because 1t con-
dennis neutrality-suspicious. it as an outrage on
republcanism 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 concurred with you, IN TINS
latter respect Bur, even the New York Tribune
your favorite newspaper, to WHICH you sent the
letter living before me-makes elaborate argu-
ments against this principle, that the STAKEHOLDER
is unworthy of civil office. am very sorry to
observe that, even in your own mind, this prncl-
pie is not one of entirely universal applicability
You plead for an exception to it: single eXcep
ton, it is true: and such an exception as, own
it seems rather ungracious to blame you for plead
ing for Henry Clay is your kinsman, neighbor
friend. He has stood by you and given you effect
i've help in your most memorable perils. lie is
witha the leader, not to say the idol, OF that par
ty from which you are not yet fully weaned' Now
that in these circumstances, you should purpose t
) vote for him is indeed fault-but fault so mt
, gated by these circumstances, that none, ana es
pecialy they who are the subjects OF the adnlra
ton, gratitude and love, excited by the emancIpa
ton of your numerous slaves, can find it easy t
fix their eye upon very steadily or stefnly. And
what alleviates this fault still farther, is, that 1t
only for once more you would have even Henr
CLAY voted for Your prescription OF slaveholC
t ers is to extend to him also, after the next pres
, Dental election. The dspensatlon of republican
and christians to vote for buyer and seller {
men, even though he be Henry Clay himself, yo
; would have cease next November
f Your letter will be of immense service to Ii
C anti slavery cause. Such testimony of one of tt
q noblest minds of the south against sQvery-test
mony no longer contradicted by your saveholdln
II but sustained proven to be deeply sincere, al
|, made solemn and impressive by the emancipatiC
e of your slaves, will tell upon every northel
neGhborhood. And even the declaration Of yol
purpose 10 cast your Nol0 loI hCuIy Olay w
e work far less injury than many fear. For, Is
l. that vote is too obvious a violation of your ov
v admitted principles, and too obvious an nconsi
y tencv with YOURSELF to carry much influence wi
II it, end, it will be regarded as yielding to tt
l. pressure of circumstances and to human weakness
Sc es rather than as the conclusion of wise, delbe
70 ate, unbiased rcasonngs. Sd, those amongst
20 who are hunting for excuses for their intend
10 vote for Henry Clay, will not find any in your
We tenton to vote for him. That you, his neighbt
e. warm personal friend and relative, should be iii
or sstibly tempted to vote for him, is a fact hayi
-, no application to misunderstanding no apple
=" ton to persons in circumstances so totally unli
3s' your own.
vn Nevertheless, little harm will minge with
m great good of your letter. We have class
abolltionists swho are called Z" the just-ths-or
% men" They generally vote the auti-savery til
Try et but, occasionally, the intoxicating expedite