New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-06-27
Letter from Cassius ". Clay TO the Anfs-sss-
very Cesventien ct Cincinnati.
LEXINGTON. May 18th. ls4S

LExf<Cro>, NAY .Sll -('~~
Messrs s p Chase and 7.sr-s, Co~zias< 81
GryrIExrS-I have some time since receiv-
ed vour letter OF the 2is uli- inviting me 20
attend Convention 10 be held in Cincinnati on me
llrh iay Of June next Of al who. believing tha'
whatever i worth preserving N RePuoicanisin-
can be maintained only by eternal and uncomproml'
sing war upon the criminal usurpsions OF the save
power are resolved 10 u>e all CONSTITUTIONS and
honorable means 10 effect the extinction 81 slavery
in their respective States. and its reduction 10 us
constitutions limits in the United States have
held your invitation under respectful consideration
and whilst I appreciate your kindness and should
be gratiied 70 meet you personally IN council,
must be- leave 70 decline being present on that &C
cas0n. The language used By Won = nay own II
was written on the event OF the gross uslrpauon'
bv the two houses OF Congress Of the treaty making
power which : vested by the Constitution eSclu-
-rely in the Senate. representing IN action two
thirds of the sovereign States Of the Republic. IN
stead OF mere majori;ies of quOrums IN each house
and this too. with the avOwed purpose OF adding
Stare territory TO this Union. By which you and
were to be- deprived Yet more and more OF our equal
night Of representation ia our own government But
this language also applies systematic design on
the par OF the slave party reenie>sly pursued from
the formation Of the Union to the present hour, 10
subject the free labor OF this country 20 the slave Ia
Dor and to make the rcemen OF the republic triouta
" the shareholders OF the country-the slaves OF
Jury. liberty OF speech. freedom Of the press. and
the right OF habeas cOrsus In view OF all which
iespOtic acts II speak H0f now Of the night. political
or natural of the sovereign states by municipal law
to hold the African or any other race ia slavery
with that. a politician disclam having anything
20 do. have lot scrupled 10 denounce them a. the
criminal usurpaiious o. the slave power. declare
once more that ! shall never cease 10 oppose them
by speech. by the pen. by the press. and by the
ballot 90 for vindicaiin- all these rights, by re
estab -hin the broken Constitution and by eradca-
tn. the rot of the evil far have legal power.
am for abO-hin- slavery IN the District OF Co.um-
bia bv paving the masters capitalization enior
cling the habcas corpus in a the territories and In all
places OF exclusive national iurisdction-ior the to
;al abolition Of all the slave clauses IN the National
Constitution - soon Il can be done by the ballot
box The Constitution and laws of the lard are
binding on me 80 long a. they exist but utterly
ieny that there Is ever was. or ever was meant
10 be- anv com promise BY which my ancestors
agreed that should De enslavcd any longer than the
ballot in is omnipoience could strike off my letters.
and restore me 10 that political equality which IN an
evil hour, they deemed themselves neceSSifGfed 20
put IN temporary allegiance.
Here then Is ms ground Il l. broad enou Oh for al
parties and 20 whousocyer takes H. give the right
hand OF fellowship. under whatever party organiza
non he may be arrayed. In the meantime. abide
he destiny OF that party in which have grown TO
/ msnhOOd until some other. numbering more friends
of liberty than We. shall give indication OF more
| speedy success | claim 20 be Wing because
stand upon the sano ground ol the illasirlous d.
claraior- OF &C. Il the New YORK Courier and FL
lnircr and others ike no, the principles o. ihe-e
nenlet them yield the name also Il they are the
friends OF prerogatiye the abeilors OF the violation
OF the Constitution the lovers ct despotis, the al
vocaics OF political inequality L they are "coh
,cYr1fircs only by bassly submitting u sec every
principle OF human liberty tramped under foot b,
The slave power then let them strike their coors and
| 20 over 10 the enemy But as for my single sell
while there is banner flying soed and torn AMI
.rampled though it b.. BY an minimizing and Inatu
ated multitude yet indcbly inscribed with the fai,h
of the iustrious dead and living Political equal
ty unirammeled social progress, liberty and union
now and forever; there still rallying would be
olnd. with an unconquerable spirit whether over.
vhelmed by numbers or borne down By superior
orce ever ready to sacrifice all things but honor anc
he right. those ennoblng elements Of selielevaol
and unfliling security. which no more when lb
eny is lost
Respectfully. your obedleni servant
CLAY