Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-07-23
Letter from Cassus Nj. CLAW
TO THE ANTI SLAVERY CONVENTION AT CINCINNATI,

Lexington, May 15 1915.
Messrs. S. p. CHASE and others Committee
GENTLEMEN---I have some lime since received
your letter of The 2lsi alt nviti e me to attend
Convention; to bs held in Cincinnati, OH the ii IN
day of June next Of all VINO, believing that what
ever is worth preserving in republicanism can be-
maintained only by eternal and incorporating
war upon the criminal usurpations ofthe slave pow
er are resolved TO use all constitutional and hon.
orable means to effect Inc extinction of slavery in
their respective States and its reduction to its con.
siitu,iona limits in The United States" l have
held your invitation under respectful consideration
and whilst appreciate your kindness and should
be gratifed TO meet you personally in council ]
must beg leave to decline being present OH that
occasion.
The language used by you is my own: il was
written on the event of the gross usurpdtion,
by the two houses of Congress, of the treaty ma
king power, which is vested by the Constitution
exclusively in the Senate, representing in action
two thirds OF the sovereign States of the Republic
instead of mere majoritles of quorums in each
house: and this too, with the avowed purpose Of
adding slare territory to the Union, yet more of
your equal rights of representation in your own
government. But this language also applies TO
systematic design on the part of the slave party
relen,lessy pursued from the formation of the o.
MON to the present hour, 10 subject free to slave
labor and make the freemen of the republic tribu-
tary to the shareholders ofthe countryside slaves
of slaves, by suppressing the right of petton.tral
by jury, liberty of speech, freedom of the press,
and the right of habeas corpus in view ofall which
despotic act, Il speak not now of the right, po-
cal or natural, of the sovereign States Of mu-
nicipal slavery with that as politician, dis
claim having any thing to do,) have not scru-
pied to denounce them as "the criminal usurpa-
tons of the slave power" g -
declare once more that shall never cease TO
oppose them by speech, by the press, and BY the
ballot" go for vindca'Ing all these rights. by
establishing the broken constitution, and by
eradicaling the root of evil so far as have legal
power. am for abolishing slavery in the Dis
trct Of Columha,by paying the masters an equiv.
alent-for enforcing the habeas corpus in aItthe
territories and in all places of exclusive national
jurisdiction for the total abolition of all the slave
clauses in the national Constitution, so soon il
can be done by the ballot box. The Constitution
and laws Of the land are binding on me so long as
they exist but utterly deny that there is, or
er was meant" to be. any 'compromise'by which
my ancestors agreed that should be ensiaved any
longer than the ballot, in its omnpotence, could
strike off my letters, and restore me TO that polii-
cal equality, which, in an evil hour, themselves
to put in temporary allegiance. 81 ie
Here then is my ground. 1t is broad enough
for all parties, and to whoever takes it, give the
right hand of fellowship, under whatever party
organization he may arfayed. Ia the meanimeI
abide the destiny of that party in which l have
gro wn to manhood, until some other, numbering
more friends of liberty thnn we, shall give indica-
ion of more speedy success. claim to be wing
because stand upon the same ground of the al
ustrious decIaralors of ,76. Ii the New. York
Courier and Enquirer and others like not these
men let them yield the name also. If they are
he friends Of prerogatve, the abetors Of the vio-
alton of the Constitution, the lovers OF desposm,
he advocates of political inequality; 1T they are
only by basey submitting to see
every principle of human l,oerty trampled under
oot by slave power, then let them strike their
,oIors aud go over to the enemy! But sfor my
single SELF, while there is banner flying. soiled
and torn and trampled though it be,by an upthink-
ng and infatuated multitude. yet indelibly inscri-
bed with the faith fthe illustrous dead and living,
Political equality, nn,rammeied social progress,
.libertv and union now and forever there still
-alyng would be fonnd, with an unconquerabls
spirit whether overwhelmed by numbers or borne
lown by superior force, ever ready to sacrifice
,Il things but honor and the right, those ennoblng
clements of self elevation and unfaIllng security,
which are no more when liberty is lost.
Respectfully your obi serv't.
C. M. CLAY.'
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