Litchfield enquirer., 1845-08-28

per by this gentleman at Lexington, devoted to the cause of Emancipation, has been justly consider ed most fearless and self-sacri6cing act, on his part, and there has been a general expectation, that his personal safety would be endangered by his bold denuncatous of Slavery, through the cOl- nmns of the " True American" An Extra from his office, dated the 18th inst states that a meet ing was held that day, to take measures for the suppression of the American, at which some 20 persons (including T. F. MarshaIl,) were present. The result of the meeting was communicated to MT. Clay, in the following letter: 7 LEXINGTON, 14th Aug. 1s45. CAssIUs M. CLAY, EsQ.-SIR I've, the un< dersgned, have been appointed as committee up@ 1 on the part of number of the respectable citi| zens of the City of Lexington, to correspond with you under the following resolution:
 " "Resolued, That a Committee of three be ap- pointed to wait upon Cassius M. Clay, Editor of 1 the s' True American," and request him to dis1 continue the publication of the paper called the '' True American" as its further continuance, in 1 our judgment, is dangerous to the peace of our community, and to the safety of our homes and | families"
 1 In pursuance of the above, we hereby request | you to discontinue your paper, and would seek to impress upon you the importance of your acquies- cence. Your paper is agitating and exciting our ] community to an extent of which you can scarce 1 ly be aware. We do not approach you in the form of threat. But we owe it to you to state, that in our judgment, your own safety. as we'll as the repose and peace of the community, are involved ] in your answer. We await your reply, in the hope that your own good sense and regard for tho rea- l sonable wishes of community in which you have many connexions and friends, will induce you 1 promptly to comply with our request. We are in- | structed to report your answer to meeting to- morrow evening, at three o'clock, and will expect it by two o'clock, P. M of tomorrow Respect i fully, Sc. B. w. DUDLEY, THO. H. WATERS,
 JOHN w. HUNT. 1 To.this letter, Mr. Clay made the following bold and manly reply:
 S1Rs:-I received through the Lands of MT. Thomas H. Waters, one of your committee, since candle-light your extraordinary letter. Inasmuch as two of your committee and myself are not upon ! speaking terms, and when add to this the fact, that you have taken occasion to address me note | of this character. when am on bed of sickness 1 of more than months standing, from which I have only ventured at intervals to ride out and 10 write few paragraphs, which caused relapse, 1 1 think that the American people will agree with me, that your office is base and dishonorable one more particularly when they reflect that you have ] had more than two months, whilst was in health, l to accomplish the same purpose. ] say in rcplytO your assertion that you are committee appointed by respectable portion of the community, that it cannot be true. Traitors to the laws and const- tuition cannot be deemed respectable by any but as- sassins, pirates and highway robbers. Your meet ing Is ono unknown 10 the laws and constitution of my country, it was secret in its proceedings, its purposes, its spirit; and its action, like its mode of existence, wholly unknown to, or in direct violation of every known principle of honor re- | lgion or government, held sacred by the civilized world. treat them with the burning contempt 1 of brave heart and loyal citizen. deny their power. and defy their action. IL may be true that ] those men are excited, as you say, whose interest it is to prey upon the excitement and dstresses of the country. What tyrant ever failed to be exc;- 1 ted, when his unjust power about to be taken ] from his hands? But deny, utterly deny, and call for proof, that there is any just ground for this the publication a psper has been ven, and will be again proven by my representa- tives, if my life should fail to be spared that there have been special causes for action, independent of. and liav'ns no relation whatever to the True American or its doctrines. Your advice with gard to my personal safety is worthy of the whence it emanated, and meets the same contempt ] from me, which the purposes of your mission ex- cite Go tell your secret conclave of cowardly as- sassins, that c. M. Clay knows his rights. and how l 10 defend them. C. M. CLAY. ] Lexington, August 15, 1s45. 1 Having thus met the enemies of Freedom of 1 Speech and of the Press, he made the following Appeal to the friends of Constitutional Liberty to stand by him in this hour os trial.
 l KENrUcKrANs You see this attempt of these tyrants. worse than the Mirfy despois who lorded
 it over the once free Athens, now to enslave you! l Men who regard law-men who regard all their liberties not to be sacrificed to single pecuni- 1 ary interest, to say the least, of doubtful value l lovers of justice-enemies of bOc[-labCreTs of
 all casses--you for whum ! have sacrificed so much, where will you be found when this battle between Liberty and Slavery is to be fought I cannot, I will not, dare not question on which side you will be found. If you stand Ly me like men, country will yet be free, but if you fater now, perish wi tn less regret, when l remember 1 that the people of my native State. of whom l 1 have been so proud, and whom ] have loved 50 l much. are already slaves. c. M. CLAY. Lexington, August 15, 1S45. ~
 What response will be made to this appeal re- mains to be secn fj..a...
 P. S. Lynch La,u Triumphant "A mass meet
 ing of the citizens of Lexington was held on Mon-
 day of last week, and committee of sirty appoint
 ed to take possession of C. M. Clay s press. The
 Committee accordingly proceeded to the office, and
 in very orderly manner boxed up the press and
 types and shipped them to Cincinnati! MT. Clay
 was too sick to leave his house, having been seve-
 ral days confined to hisb bed with the typhoid fever The cause of Human Slavery will not gain much
 by so cowardly an act of violence. l An Address, written by Tn F. Marshall, was a. dopteG at the mass meeting, which concludes in these words ..., r s .,...r ,..,. q. slgss l "Mr. Clay has complained in his recent hand- bills of his indispostion, and charged the people
 as deficient in courage and magnanimity in moving upon him when he is incapable of defence. If all
 that be said of him, his purpose, and his means, be true, his indisposition is fortunate. He may rest
 assured that we will not be deterred by or 1O,-