Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-10-31
THE APPEAL OF cASsIUs NJ. CLAY.

THE APPEAL OF CASSIUS NJ, CLAY.
We have read this document with consid-
cradle interest. and as we did not expect so
much from it az did some with whom we
have conversed, our disappointment is less
than theirs. True, there is much that is
great and noble, but it also contains devel-
opponents that will be far from pleasing to the
uncompromising opponents of slavery
Were it not for its extreme length we would
gladly give place TO it in our columns.
We sympathize with Cassius NJ. Clay,
not because we suppose him to be an aboli-
ZIONIST, properly so called, but because we
know he is a man prosecuted for opinion
sake; and that the course he was pursuing
would call the attention of the people to sla-
very as it existed in his native state. and
we felt that every ray of light that was
thrown upon the internal system would tend
to make it odious in the estimation of tbe
people. Cassius NJ. Clay never professed
TO be an abolitionist, as tie term is applied
in the north and understood in the south, and
if there be any who have heretofore doubted
This fact they can now learn it from his an
peal. We have never regarded him as such,
and 1t has appeared strange to us that some
who are considered the most clear sighted
in the anti-slavery ranks, have by their &C.
ton or speech conveyed to the public an
idea that the True American was a paper
which taught correct doctrines in regard to
the principles of American slavery. Doubt.
less some have been deceived by such repre-
sensations, and having become subscribers,
and readers of the paper, have imbibed from
it a low toned abolition which denies the
foundation principle of the present a~nti.sla.
very retorm-Lmmediate Emancipation. The
True American never professed to adopt a
standard of abolitionism than that of
''gradual emancipation" Its editor was not
unwilling that the greater part of the present
generation of Kentucky slaves should die in
bondage and the few of them who were
freed should be liberated not by the poten.
cy OF truth, but by the power of gold. His
plan OF emancipation as embodied in his an.
peal is as follows:-
Although | regard slavery as opposed IN
natural right, 1 consider Mw and its i~npiolnte
in all cases whateuer, as the onIv
y my r1cn liberty and the Rberfv
others. l therefore have not and will not
give my sanction to any mode of freeing the
slaves which does not conform strictly TO the
and Constitution of my State. And
as am satisfied that there is no power. nm
der the present Constitution, by which sla.
very can be reached, | 90 for a Convention.
In a Convention, which is politically omnip-
'tent, | would say that every female slave
,orn after a certain day and year should BIO
rec at the age of twenty-one. This, in the
course of time, would gradually, and at last
make our State truly free. | would further
that, after the expiration Of thirty years,
more or less, the State should provide a
und, either from her own resources, or from
Ter portion in the Public Land, for the pur-
'hase OF the existing generation of slaves,
n order that the white labOring portion of
'ur community might be as soon as possible
reed from the ruinous competition of slave
The fund should be applied after
his manner: Commissioners should be an
'olnted in each county, who shall on oath
'alue all slaves that shall be voluntarily pre-
ented to them for that purpose. 70 the
wners of these slaves shall be issued. nv
he proper authorities, scrip bearing interest
the rate OF six per cent. to the amount of
he value of their slaves, and to the redemp-
OF said scrip this fund shall be app]ied.
rlnciPal and interest. By this plan tho
resent habits of the people would no, be-
broken In upon, whilst, at the
anne time, we believe that it would brinr
Ihvery to almost utter extinction in our
tate within the next thirty years.
with regard to the free blacks, would
OF go for fcrclble expulsion, but | would en-.
ourage, by all the p%eeuniary resources that
lie State had to spare, a voluntary emigIa.
on to such countries and climates as nature
'ems particularly to have designed them,
With regard to the political equality Of tho
with The whites,I should oppose in
0nventlon their admission to the riqbt of
As minors, women, foreigners,
'ni2ens and divers other classes of indiyid,
lis are, in all well regulated governments,
Ridden the elective franchise, so | see no
'od reason why the blacks, until they be.
me able to exercise ths right to vote with
oper discretion, should be admitted to The
yht of suffrage. 'Snfieiept for the day is
e evil thereof The tims might come
lth succeeding generations when there
ould be no objection on the part of the
hites, and none on account Of disqDalifca-
m OF tho blacks to their being admitted TO
8 slme political platform; but let after gem
atoms act for themselves. The Idea Of
and social equality resulting
I'M emancipation is pToveu by experience
be untrue and absurd, II may be- said bv
me, what night would . Convention hsvs