The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-09-03
LYNCH LAW versus A FREE PRESS.

LYNCH LA w teTSbS n hbH
The intelligence which Preached US from
Lexington yesterday, while it indicates
clearly enough the deadly hostility of the ad-
voca,es OF Human Slavery to an untram-
ueIed Press, leaves US still 10 doubt whether
thew huve succeeded in driving the intrepid
and indomitable CAssIus Nd. CLAY from his
native Kentucky and fiom the position he has
80 nobly taken as an advocate of!Justice and
Liberty. The intense interest ieli here in
tho issue thus made up between Freedom
and Law on the one side and Slavery and
Lynch Law on the other, induces US TO give
TO our readsrs aIli the information that has
Gene 10 hand.
All the accounts agree in representing the
excitement in Lexington and vicinity as most
intense. Mr.. Clay's indignant answer to the
Committee appointed by the meeting held on
the 14th inst. 10 solicit the discontinuance cf
his paper very. naturally excited the rage Of
his enemies. the senior Editor Of the
Louisville Journal. who was in Lexington,
wrote to his paper on the 18th as follows
Tribune.
During the whole forenoon OF to-day the
popular excitement was very high. Many
anticipated that the meeting OF 3, p. M
would tear down the office of tho True Amer
ran. Clay, in anticipation Of such an at
tempt, made his will, armed himself, land sent
10 his Office (being TOO sick TO sit up for any
great length of tilne) bed 10 be occupied
by him during the day. At 3, P. M. went
10 the Court House and found it full. Bev-
erIey Hicks was in the chair. MIR. Waters,
in behalf ofthe Committee, reported G. M.
Clay's letter, and offered long preamble
and resolution which were read by 1. r.
Marshall aud unanimously adopted. The
preamble was warm reJoInder to Clay's
handful. The resolution was that mass
meeting Of the citizens oil Lexington and
Fayette to be held at the Court House, on
Monday next al elevn O'Clock, A. M. Tor The
adoption of such measures as may be deemed
expedient The adjournment was quiet
The meeting OF Monday will be tremen-
dous. What it will do am ofconrse una
bic to say. II may postpone ultimate action,
but think the almost universal impression
is that it will resolve itself into Committee
for iheredress OF grievances and demolish the
True American Office, though every body
understands that the editor will have 10 be
killed first, and that he is somewhat difficult
to kill.
This is a most lamentable state Of affairs.
What effect the killing Of c. NJ. Clay will
have in the FREQ States, in exasperating the
Aboltionists and swelling their numbers,
you eanjudge as well as j.
On Saturday. Mr. Clay, in hopes allaying
the excitement 80 far as it proceeded from a
misunderstanding OF his principles and pur-
poses, issued the following Address:
Tohe Citizens of Fdyette County and City
of Lexington.
Asmy opponents, notwithstanding my
sickness; will not wait 10 hear my plan OF
emancipation, and seem determined TO pre-
cipitate measures to extremity, without Civ
ing me hearing, and as they insist upon
branding me as an 'Abnlitionists,' name
full Of unknown and strange terrors and
crimes TO the mass Of our people, will make
brief statement ofmy plan OF emancipation.
Although regard slavery as opposed 10 nat
ural right consider law and its invlolate OBJ
servance in all cases whatever, as the only
safeguard of my own liberty and the liberty
ofothers. ! therefore have not, and Will
not, give my sanction 10 any mode OF freeing
the slaves, which does not conform strictly 10
the laws and constitution OF my State.
Ant, as am satisfied that there is no pow
or, under the present constitution. by which
slavery can be reachedl go for Convention.
In Convention, which is politically omnipo-
tent, would say that every female slave
born after certain day and year should be
free at the age of twenty-one. This, in
course oftme. would gradually, and at least,
make our State truly free. would further
say that, after the expiration Of thirty years,
more or less, the State should provide a
fund, either from her own resources, or
from her portion in the public lands, pur-
chase of the existing generation OF slaves, in
order that the white laboring portion OF our
community might be as soon as possible
freed from the ruinous competition ofthe slave
Tho funds should be applied after this man.
nsr: Commissioners shall be appointed in
each county, who shall on oath value all
slaves that shall be Involuntary presented
TO them for that purpose. To the owners OF
these slaves shall be issued. by proper au-
thorities, scrip bearing interest at the rate oil
six per cent, 10 the. amount of the value OF
their slaves. and 10 the redemption of said
Grip, principle and interest. BY this palm The
present habits of our people would not be sud-
denly broken in uron, whilst at the same
time, we believe that it would bring
slavery to almost utter extinction 10 our
State within the next thirty years.
With regard to the free blacks, l would
not 90 for forcibIc expulsion, but would en-
courage by all the pecuniary resources that
the State have TO spare, voluntary emf
grafton to such countries and climates as
Nature seems particularly to have designed
them.
With regard to the political equality of the
blacks with the whites should oppose in
Convention their admission TO the right OF
suffrage. As minors, women. foreigners,
denizens, and divers other classes of individ-
usls are, in all well regulated governments,
forbidden the elective franchise, so | sec no
good reason why the blacks, until they be-
come able 10 exercise the right 10 vote with
proper d;scIetion, should be admitted 10 the
right Of suffrage. Sufficient for the day Is
the evil thereof The time might come with
succeeding generations when there would be
no objection on the part Of the whites, and
noue on account of disqualification of tbs
blacks to their being admitted TO the same