The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-02-27
Address of Cassius NJ, Clay {:
10 the People Of kentucky.

40 the People Of kentucky.
Whilst | was battling in the North, in a
triangular fight, with Wings, Abolition-
lists and Democrats, for the postuIate that
"what the law makes property, is proper
ty," and that all good citizens should a,
blde by The law, till they can, in a legal
and constitutional manner, conform II 10
their conscientious standard of morality
the Southern press was denouncing me as
wishing to employ the Army and Navy
of the United States in the forcible liberia.
lion of the slaves. The many calumnies,
insinuations against my fidelity 10 the laws
and Stale allegiance, l shall not condo.
scend to repeI. l say to those who are
so insidiously attempting 10 prejudice Inc
in the confidence Of the Wing party, that
| shall nothing paliale or deny; conscious
Of my own duty TO the American people,
have fearlessly discharged it; and as |
never played the sycophant to men for the
sake of Office, though sacrificing some
personal pride in the cause ofthe political
principles of that party, to some portion of
which owe nothing, SO in defeat, have
nothing to depore but the common ca
lamities of the country.
To the people OF Kentucky would
humby suggest that am the son of one
of the first pioneers of The West-a man
who, in an obscure way, rendered some
service TO his country, both in the council
and in the field; he was one of the found.
ers Of the State Constitution, and his servi-
ces were not unappreciated by those who
have pe.petuated his name 10 one of the
counties Of the Commonwealth. | speak
not of these things in a vain spirit, or from
overweening fIlaI affection, but to remind
those men of yesterday, that they are pre-
suming 100 much upon popular creduity,
and their own significance, when they set
themselves up as the exclusive guardians
of the honor and welfare OF the State and
undertake 10 denounce and oslracise me
as an enemy Of the country. Having some
small interest in the soil, us well as in the
good name Of the Commonwealth, with
all my humility and love of equality, /
cannot but give utterance TO some touches
OF contempt and Indignation towards those
feeders upon the crumbs which fall from
other mems tables, who affect so much
senslbilily about the property Of The coun-
try. If there is in our State something
improper or dangerous to be talked or
written about, put it TO every true and
manly Kentuckian, if that thing is not i'm,
proper and dangerous 10 its existence a.
mong US? And if SO, is he who under>
takes 10 remove the evil the enemy Of his
country2 Or rather, is not that man, who
seeing the wrong, for the sake Of POPULAR
ny, and a narrow scIfinlerest, IN opposi.
ton to he welfare Of the great mass Of The
people, dares not attempt its extinction, a
traitor and a coward, and truly deserving
the execraton of his countrymen | am
not ashamed 10 adnIit that | am the I'M
compromising foe of tyranny, wherever
displayed aud | proudly avow myself
the eternal enemy of slavery. AT the same
time, experience taught charity warns me
10 lose none of my sympathy for the slave
holder, because of his misfortune, or his
fault and whilst would be just to the
Black, | am free 10 confess, that every
feeling of association, and instructive sen
liment of self elevation, leads me to seek
the welfare Of the White, whatever may
be the consequences Of liberation 10 the
African.
Bred among slaves, regarded then
with Indifference, seeing no departure from
morals or economical progress in the ten.
ure. The emancipation movement abou
1880 affected me as i! did most persons d
the time and felt some new and pleas
ing emotions springng up in my bosom
when | had resolved, in common with my
lamened bother, TO lberale my slaves
lauthorlzed him to put nv name to tbs
Emancipation Society formed about tina
time in Mercer county, In the same yea
went on 10 Yale College, in a Ere,
State. was not biod, and therefore saw
a people living there uxuriousIv, on
soil which here would have been deemed
the high road to famine and the aims
house. A city Of ten or fifteen Thousand
, inhabitants rose up in The morning, passe
through all the busy strife Of the day. an
lay down again at night 10 quiet and secu
rlty, and not single police officer wa
) any where 10 be seen. There were NOR
than five hundred young men congregar
ed from all cimes, of various habits an
temperaments, in The quick blood of youl
and all conquering passion, and there wa
not found in all the city, so far as the put
i. lie were aware, single woman so falle
as to demand less price for her love tina
honorable marriage. A gray hare
Judge OF seventy years and more, in Ii