Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-07-25
YPsII4ANTI (NIlCH) THURSDAY JULY 25 1874

must make his election in visw of tn,
real issue, and contribute to the success
of that candidate who will make the mos
favorable disposition ofthe great question
do no more endorse, or in the least coun
tenance Mr.. Clay's slaveholding, when
vote for him for the reason above stated
than should endorse or countenance Mr.,
BIrney's or Mr.. Smiths sentiments and
practises on the subject of religion, by
voting for them because they are aboli.
tioniss. But am not acting out the re-
probated doctrine Of choosing the least OF
two evils, and not on the safe principle oil
choosing neither? think not. l choose
positive good in this case; and more, |
choose the greatest possible good within
my reach. do what in me lies TO avert
very great and threatening evil, in the
only way in which my effort can be eff.
fecIive. five shonld wait until we found
candidate entirely uncxcepiionable in
every respect, before casting our vote for
him, through fear of endorsing what is
wrong, it would be exceedingly rare, IN
this imperfect slate, that we should find
1t our duty to 60 to the polls at all. We
should virtually disfranchse ourselves.
But Mr.. Clay, slaveholdng man as he
is, has given abundan! evidence through
a long life, by many public declarations
and acts, that he is at least no friend to
slavery, and would take earnestly hold of
any scheme which he should see to be
practicable and peaceable for its removal.
am not without hope of yet seeing him,
before he dies, an ardent advocate of uni
versal emancipation. l am aware he is
opposed to the present abolition move
ments, and am sorry for it; but he is
honestly opposed to us, and think when
he comes better TO understand the views
and purposes of the great body of anti.
slavery men at the north, he will think
better ofus; and sympathise in our feel
ings and doings against slavery.
But it is asked again. now can Chris
tan vote for man so morally corrupt as
Henry Clay! put but little confidence
in the representations of n mans charac.
ter by exasperated political opponents.
who:e interest it is to magnify his defects
aid hide his excellenciee. That Henry
Clay in yeais past has been deeply in
fected with the fashionable vices of the So
ciety where he lived is probably but TOO
true, and if he suffers for them now il is
but just re!ributIon, of which he has no
right to complain; but that Mr.. Clay's
character is nop aad has been for years,
as good as that Of most of our puoic
men. who are not protesting Christians,
| do honestly believe, and when hear
such pure and spoiIess men as John Quin.
cy Adams and theodore Frelinghuysen,
who have for years been in habits of the
closest political and social intimacy with
him, speak ofhim as patriot and man,
in the most eulogislic strains, | cannot be
made to believe, by the exaggerated rep
reservations of his political enemies, that
he is so very corrupt. 1t does not stand
to reason. Ii is moral inconsistency
which cannot be believed. These repre-
sensations are all made for political effec,
and not from any regard TO public morals.
Mr.. Clay has never been incorporate,
am assured on the best authority; and in
all his relations as a citizen. husband and
father, he is unexceptionable and exem-
plary. As master, he is proverbially
KIND and iudulgent.
Unless we act upon the principle that
we will vote for no man who is not
Christian, it is not easy to draw the line
defining the extent of moral qualification
which ought to satisfy our conscience.
1t is clear. however, the Christians duty
to withhold his vote from every man OBJ.
vIously wanting in moral integrity, and
addicted to vice. To put Mr..
Clay in this class, would, have no doubt
be- foul SANDER. Ia the coming con-
test, however, the great issue which, think
| have fairly stated. sinks the respective
as individuals, very much out
ofthe way. They are to be regarded ra-
her as the opponents of two widely diff
ferent and adverse policies. lfo sue
ceeds, we are 10 have a slaveholdtng ma
ltufis WuOSc luudOftdutS iCochSt iaOt1 III ~
rightful government, and conquered free
couptry, and cursed its virgin soil by
planting on it the foulest system Of op.
preston on which the sun ever shone,
yoked 10 the car Of our destiny; by which
set we shall plunge into bloody war,
saddled with debt Of uncounted millions,
he organic law Of our glorious consiitn-
ion destroysd-the political relations be-
tween the north aud south changed-the
demon of slavery placed on throne
high aud ;l,fed np.' where lie,can laugh /
o scorn our puny efforts to dethrone him;
md our country made kissing and a
BYE word throughout the civilized world.
And all this to please the unblushing adj
socates of perpetual slavery, and "a set of
and selfish spectators, in.
Texas land script. Thez nstion of the
u. i -