The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-07-30
LIE TIER FROM CASSIUS NJ. CLAY
To THE ANTI-SLAVERY CON-
VENTION AT CINCINNATI.

LEXINGTON, May 18th, 1s45.
Messrs. P. S. Chase and Others Committee &C.:
GESrLEMEN--I have some time since re-
ceived your letter on the 2lst ult., inviting
M e TO attend a Convention TO be held in Gin
C innati, on the 1lth day OF June next, Of "all
who, believing that whatever is worth pre-
serving in Republicanism, can be maintained
enly by eternal and uncompromising war
upon the criminal usurpations Of the slave
power are resolved to use all constitutional
and honorable means to effect rhe extinction
OF slavery in their respective States. and its
reduction to its constitutional limits in the
Uuited States" l have held your invitation
under respectful considerations; and whilst
| appreciate your kindness, and should be
gratifed to meet you personally in council, L
must beg leave TO decline being present on
that occasion. The language used by you is
my own: il was written on:thc event OF the
gross usurpation by he two houses Of Con-
gress, Of the treaty making power, which is
vested BY the Constitution exclusively in
the Senate, representing in action two-thirds
of the sovereign States of the Republic, in
stead of mere majorities OF quorums in each
house; u this too, with the avowed purpose of
adding slate territory 10 this Union, by which
you and | were deprived yet more and more
Of our equal right of representation in our
own government. Bui this language also
applies to a systematic design on the part of
the slave party relentlesly persued from the
formation of the Union TO the hour, to sub
ject the free labor Of this contry TO the slave
labor, and to make the freemen of the repub-
lie tributary to the Shareholders ofthe country
the slaves Of slaves, BY suppressing the right
oc,ot.t,on t.,,l ~ ,,r- I,hartv of s.aaob
freedom OF the press, and the right of habeas
corpus. In view of all which despotlc acts,
Q speak not OF the right, political or natural,
of the sovereign Sts.by municipal law TO hold
the African, or any other race in slavery f;
with thai, as a politician, | disclaim having
any thing TO do.) | have not scrupled 10 de-
nounce them as "the crimina. userpations OF
of the slave power" | declare once more
that shall never cease to oppose them 'by
speech, by the pen, by the press and by the
ballot" / 90 for vindicting all these rights
by re-establishing the broken Constitution,
and eradicaring the root Of the evil so far as
| lave legal power. am for abolishing
slavery in the District OF Columbia, by pay
ing the masters an experimentation enforcing
habeas corpus in all the territories and in
all places ofexclusive national jurisdiction
for the total abolition of all clauses in the
National constitution, as soon as 1t can be
done by the ballot box. The Constitution
and laws of the land are binding on me SO
Ing as they exist; but | utterly deny that
there is, OF ever was "ment" to be, any "com-
promise by which my ancestors agree that
! should be enslaved any longer than the
ballot in IFS %omnipotence, could strike off my
letters, aud restore me TO that political equali-
" which in an evil hour, they deemed them
selves necessiafed 10 put in temporary abey-
ance.
Here then is my ground. 1t is broad E.
nough for all parties, and 10 whomesoevcr
takes it, | give the right hand ofiellowship.
under whatever party organization he may
be arrayed. In the meantime,I abide thedes-
tiny Of that party in which , have grown TO
manhood, until come oiherInumbering more
friends ofliberfy than we, shall give indica-
ton of speedy success. claim to be a
| Wing because | stand upon the same ground
| ofthe ilIusirious ieclaraiors ORG. If the NY.
Courier and Enquirer aud others like not
the principles of these men, let them yield
the name also. If they are the friends Of