Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-09-25
CAssIUs M. CLAY.

The Cincinnati Gazette of September IIth has a
letter from this gentleman, written in reply to letter
from the Cincinnati committee appointed at the meet
ing of the citizens Of that place. to take measures
relative to the press of the True American This let
ter is dlted August q. The committee inform hlm
that the press is le and inslrad and tender hin their
services in any way in which they can aid him. HIS
reply is below:
LEXINGTON, KY September 4th, 1915
Beniania Uraer J.sa,es S GaScoe, Jlc05 Ernest, o.
ticer LOtceI, Geo. W. Phillips, H. G. Mitchell, James
Calhoun.
Gentlemen,-I have Just received your letter of the
9th ult enclosing the proceedings of the citizens Of
Cincinnati and their resolutions in public meeting
Their words of Kindness and generous appreciation
and noble anil dignihed avowal, have moved me more
thn all the studied cruelties ana wrongs Of my enc
mics, though was unneved by disease ana threaten
ed, for long days and nights with horrible DEATH
thank you, thtt you have not allowed the c)lunni-
ous manifesto Of the reyoUtonists of the 18th Of Aug,
TO weaken your confidence in my loyalty to the const-
tuition and laws. thank you, that you have no
thing in the past to you to lose confidence in the
future; that my "measures and means" will be "sae,
practical and peacelble" thank YOU that you deem
my 'work high and holy" and for the reverent and
soul-sustainng invocation of Divine protection me
and on ii.
You, gentlemen, have taken me upon trust; the time
for my defence will with my reestabHshcd health
when, venture to say your sentence will not be
revoked by Kentucky and the world"
shall allude to only one charge going the rounds
of the plpers--t1lt there was compromise between
me and the rebels of the 18th, and that agreed to dis
continue the publication of the True American, proy-
ped they would spare the press 1t is unnecessary for
to say to YOU who have my letter addressed to
the meeting well my previous handbills address
ed to the people, that this story is caumnous and NOR
ally impossible 1t is enough that the Committee Of
Sixty have authorized the Lexington Observer and Re-
OeAlto f,ptT fot,
or any of my friends This attempt therefore, to de-
grade me, the part of those who failed to destroy
me, is of piece with this whole outrage Of cruelty q
wrong as shall be able to show as soon as my health
will allow.
hope shall be able to show that | am neither a
sandman" nor a "unahc."
They who sent back from ThermopylG the sublime
message, "tro tell it in Llcelamon that we died here
in obedience to her laws"-the Roman who returned to
captivity ana to delth TINT his country might be saved
Sydney, Hlmpden and RuSsell-Enmett, who utter
ed the mighty instincts of great soul, 'the man dies,
but his memory lWe5"-Adlms, who exclaimed, Sur
viYe or perish am for the declaration" Henry who
cried "Gve liberty Or give me death"-wcrc ALL in
she eyes of these men, 'madncn" and 'fanatcs."
1t necessary that some should bear the stan
dard of Liberty into the encmys camp and by so do
ing whether he stood Or fell arouse this great nation
from the ethargy and death, which have over the
spirit Of free people, 1t hls been the policy Of
zen with the concentrated power and nYiOlabiIy Of
tae whole capre. 1t was lnough for one amidst the
widest barbqran3 to say, Il Ronln citizen" and
he was safe. No country in Europe is 80 careful OF
individual and national glory France the first nation
an Europe; and England few years ago, ready
TO peril her thirty millions OF lives on the rescue OF a
single subject 1t cannot therefore, be less than mad
in the American people, if they expect long to
list nation, and not to fail easy sacrifice to for
egn aggression, internal anarchy and dcspotism tC
look cooy on, when even the humblest of those con
tending for constitutional liberty and national honor
are Overcome and traGp3a down in the battle. Sure
w. that nation cannot live long, far less be free, that
Sees time after time, whatever Of spirit and manly in
dependence may any where exhibit ltscf' crushed and
utterly eXtnguishcd.
think you then and the people of Cincinnati my
feow-citizens, men glthered under the nationa
Constitution to which owe allegiance and which owe
me protection hrnthers of the same blood nherng the
same proud recoechons OF the past and looking IN Tho
future to the same nscparable DESTINY that YOU have
not covered before the slave power but that you stool
by the friendess, the poweress the fallen, and daret
to speak out for constitutional rcpubicansm and cter
nal justice, which have been yiolled in my person.
Above ALL am deeply affected by the fact, that yol
assembled in "mass meeting" without distinction o
party and as BOTH PARTIES here are lost in over
whelmng subsevlencc to slavery, so you Of the fret
states begin to unite in the defence of your right
and in the cause Of national liberty.
If the Wings and Democrats and Liberty men shal
become really what they assume, then is hafuy work
accomplished and the Republic slfe-lor though my
State should sink into rreyocabe despotsm there vii
be left somewhere on this wide continent home 70
the exile and the oppressed
With regard to the Press, I would briefly remarl,
that my banner, "God and Liberty" will never b.
struck.
Though overpowered by numbers, have the sam
unconqueable will and defiant spirit though the dl
had not gone against me- 1t is for those who fight 70
the wroug, to despair in defeat.
shall not "dic through notification" my enc
mics would have it. trust sHnl yet live to sec hos
who, on the 18th of Augu3, 1866 rose in arms, over
powered the civil authorities and oyertjrew the con5
tuonl Liberties Of the Site, ana established OIL It's ri
ms an irresponsible dospotsn, hurled from Their uslI
ed places Of flncied security, and hctcly yt MAJ
free
IT, however this be vain hope still; will not re
pine, for should feel prouler to have fallen with he
honor than to have nI,orously triunphed with my er
enies the grave of the liberties of my county,
With gratitude and admiration, am your friend an
obedent servant, c. NJ. CLAY.
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