The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-10-04
RELIGION AND MORALITY IN DANGER
UNLESS HE is ELECTED.


Sir, we have often been told upon this floor, that
the good of this country and the welfare and pros.
perity OF the people, depend upon his election
Out of this House. grave considerations are urged
upon the religious portion of the community they
are told that to preserve religion and good morals,
it is necessary to elect Mr.. Clay Sir, when did
he become the conservator Of morality and religion
Where and when has he shown any respect for
either' Is il 10 be found in his duels? Is il to be
found in his participation in the duel in which Gil
ley fell? Is it to be found in the language address,
ed to the Speaker of this House, (Mr. Polk,) then
in that chair, when he said to him $50 home. God
damn yoM ,chere you belong" Istto be found
IN his attempt to fight duel with an honorable
senator (Mr. King? Is it to be found IN his pro-
cessi ons, with music playing and banners flying on
Sundays-in his political mission to the South'
might ask his friends here whether, on his pres
ent mission, he went forth as the champion of re-
ligion and morality-with his life in one hand and
the Bible in the other; or whether he went forth
on political mission for the advancement of his
own interest," armed with his accustomed weapons,
the pistol in one hand and cards in the other?
WING PRINCIPLES ARE PERSONIFIED
IN HIM.
So say the poets, and orators, and noveists of this
party. To ascertain what are whig principles, we
must look to his. When Missouri was admitted
into the Union, he was member of this House,
and took part in this discussion, and then proclaim
ed his principles From that day to this he has
never been known to change them, so far as can
learn.
In his speech on the 18th day of February, 1919,
he said:
1g;-"If the gentlemen WILL NOT ALLOW
US TO HAVE BLACK SLAVES, THEY
MUST LET US HAVE WHITE ONES: FOR
WE CANNOT CUT OUR FIRE WOOD AND
BLACK OUR SHOES, AND HAVE OUR
WIVES AND DAUGHTERS WORK IN THE
KITCHEN"
1t is denied by the gentleman from Kentucky
mr. WHuEl that Mr., Clay ever used this Ian
guage And have noticed in the public papers
that Mr.. Clay himself is disposed to deny it. At
any rate, he can't recollect using the language
Now sir, | shall undertake to prove that he did
Use this language For that purpose, | shall first
allude to the evidence furnished by member of
this House, of which Mr.. Clay was then speaker;
a gentleman who replied to Mr.. Clay on the same
day he delivered his speech; who was subsequent
ly speaker of this House; and who, for many years
his life, has been on the same side III politics
with Mr.. Clay, and still Is, living. Imean John
w. Taylor, of New York. His speech was writ
ten ou, by himself, and will be found in the Nation
al Intelgencer of the Goth day Of March, 1919;
and contains the following passage:
"You cannot degrade it (labor) more efrectually
than by establishing system whereby it shall be
performed principally by slaves The business in
which they are generally engaged, be it what il
may, soon becomes debased in public estimation.
1t is considered low and unfit for freemen can
not better illustrate this truth than by referring to
remark of the honorable gentleman from Kentuc-
ky, (Mr. Clay.) have often admired the liberali-
ty of his sentiments. He is governed by no vulgar
prejudlces; yet with uhat abhorr'nce did he speak
of the performance by olr actUeS and daughters of
those domestic officers which he was pleased 10
cdH se1rae? What comparison did he make be-
tween the ''black slaves of Kentucky and the
"white slaves" of the North; and how Instantly did
he stike the balance in favor of the former? If
such opinions and expressions, even in the order OF
debate. can fall from that honorable gentleman,
what ideas do you suppose are entertained oflabor-
ing men by the majority ofslaveholders."
Here, sir, contend is the substance of the lam
guage proved upon Mr. Clay--languoge no less
offensive, no less disgusting.
But now pass TO the next witness. An honor
able member Of this House from the State of Yer.
mont, (Mr Rich,) also made speech in reply to
Mr. Clay on the 18th day of February, 1920, aud
his speech, written out by himself, was published
in the National Intellgencer on the lst day of July,
1920 To this speech he appended note, in which
he says that Mr.. Clay remarked to the following
eflect--usng the language which have before re-
peated During all this time Mr.. Clay was in the
House; and Speaker ofthe House. These honor
able members gave their testimony--one twenty
five and the other twenty years ago. They
had no interest to misrepresent the facts; they
were not unfIiendly to Mr. Clay; they had no de-
sire to injure him, or to range themselves among
his enemies; they spoke honestly, believe they
spoke truly. If they had not, ask would this tes
tmony-his written, concurring eyidence-have
been permitted to stand twenty -four years uncon-
radicted; unexplained? Which is the most reliable
evidence, written speeches in answer to Mr.. Clay,
and printed soon after-written when all the facts
were fresh in the recollection of the speakers? or
the frail recollection of man striving for Office
who may wish to forget' Remember, sir, that a
quarter ola century has since elapsed. Well may
Mr.. Clay say he does not remember; his forgetting
does not disprove the fact. Messrs. Taylor and
Rich, members of this House, do remember. The
record of their testimony has outlved one of them,
as well as the memory of Mr. Clay. Now, sir,
this is my DroOf--not lepaI hut moral proof-of
fact, which no ingenious mind can disbelieve.
believe every word OF it; and would credit such
evidence at this remote period against the concur
rent "don't-remember" testimony of a thousand
purely dsinterested witnesses. Much more do !
believe it in opposition to the declaration of ore SO
deeply interested as Mr.. Clay.
Yes, sir, he must haye "white slaves to saw his
wood and black his boots!" promised the mem
Der from Hin Dis to find place for his picture and