The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-09-04

you in the form Of threat. But we ow
? Tito you 10 state, that ia our jadgmen
your own safely as we'll as the repose an
peace of the community, are involved i
your answer. We await your repiy,l
the hope that your own good sense an
regard for the reasonable wishes of com
munitv in which you have many connex
ions and friends. will induce you prompt.
TO comply with our request. We are in
s,ructed 10 report your answer to meet
ing, tomorrow evening, at three o'clock
and will expect it by Two o'clock, p. M
ofto>morrow. Respectfully, sc.
B. w. DUDLEY,
Tho. III. WATERS,
JOHN w. HUNT.
To this letter MIR Clay sent the follow
ing bold and manly reply:
SIRs 81 received through the hands o
Mr. Thomas Fl. Waters, one of your com.
mi:tee, since candle Light, your extraordi-
nary letter. Inasmuch as two of your
committee and myself are not upon speak
ing terms, and when add 10 this the fact
shat you have taken occasion to address
me note of this character, when am on
bed OF Sickness of more than month s
standing, from which | have only ventur-
ed at intervals 10 ride out, and 10 write a
few paragraphs, which caused relapse,
think that the American people will
agree with me, that your office is base
and dishonorabe one, more particularly
when they reflect that you have had more
than Two months whilst ] was ia health,
TO accomplish the same purpose. Isay in
Teplyto your assertion ihat you are COM
mlttee appointed by respectable portion of
the communityth it cannot be true. Trait.
ors to the laws and constitution cannot be
deemed respectable by any but assassins,
pirates and highway robbers. Your meets
ing is one unknown to the laws and con-
Slltullon Of my country; 1t was secret in
its proceedings, its purposes, its spirit
and its action, like its mode of existence,
are wholly unknown to or 10 direct vio-
lation OF every known principle of honor,
religion or government, held sacred by
the civilized world treat them with the
burning contempt Of brave heart and 10y
al citizen. deny their power and defy
their action. 1t may be true that those
men are excited as you say, whose inter,
est it is 10 prey upon the excitement and
distresses of the country. What tyran,
ever failed to be excited when his unjust
power was about 10 be taken from his
hands2 But deny, utterly deny, and
call for proof, that there is any just ground
for this agitation. In every case of vio-
lenee by the blacks since the publication
OF my paper ii has been proven, and will
be again proven by my representatives, if
my life should fail to be spared, that there
have been special causes for action indie
pendent of. and having no relation whats
ever 10 the True American or its doctrines.
Your advice with regard 10 my personal
safety is worthy of the source whence it
emanaed, and meets the same contempt
from me which the purposes of your mis-
sion excite. Go tell your secret conclave
OF eowardIy assassins lha, G. M. Clay
knows his rights and how to defend them.
G. M. CLAY.
Lexington, August Is, l845.
Having thus met the enemies OF Free.
dom Of Speech and of the Press. he made
the following Appeal to the friends of
Constitutional Liberty to stand by him in
This hour of trial.
KENTucKIANs: You see this attempt
OF these tyrants, worse than the thirty des-
pots who lorded it over the once free Ath-
ems, now to enslave you. Men who re.
gard law---men who regard all their lio-
critics as not TO be sacrificed 10 single pc.
euniary interest," 10 say the least OF doubts
full vaIue-lovers of justice-enemies of
blood laborers of all classes--you for
whom | have sacrificed so much, where
will you be found when this battle between
Liberty and Slavery is 10 be fought?
cannot, will not, dare not question on
which side you will be found. If you
stand by me like men, our country
will yetbe free. but if you fater now,
perish with less regret when remember
that the people ofmy native Sta'e, OF whom
l have been SO proud and whom have
loved go much, are already slaves.
9. M, CLAY.
Lexington, August u.s. 1915.
What response will be made 10 this no.
BILE appeal remains to be seen. But let
the friends of Slavery beware. If they
resort to violent measures, they will give
10 their darling Institution a shock from
which it can never recover.
Since the foregoing was in type we
have received letter from our cores
pondent at Cincinnati, which is here sub
Joined. 1t speaks in language as elo
quent as it is justly indignant Of an out.
rage upon the Freedom of the Press,
which will yet recoil with stunning force
upon its short sighted and infatuated au
thors.