Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-01-29
Speech of C. M. Clay.

4
Speech of C. M. Clay.
The following is the conc luding part of Cas-.
sius M. Clay's speech at the New York Tab
ernacle: Bal ...a> Io4a5 q. s."..-. ..
If the question were again askAd what
had the North to 60 with Slavery, he would
answer that they could destroy the monopoly
of Office and patronage so long enjoyed by
the slave power, and place the administration
of Government in the hands of those
who would WELD it in conformity to the
great principles of Liberty. On this point
he spoke with much emphasis, but we can
not follow him further.
There was another point of still greater
delicacy as pertaining to the peculiar duties
of the North. He alluded to the restriction
which the Free States might put upon the
Right of Suffrage. On this subject be call
ed upon the audience and the reporters for
the press to mark his language when he said
that on no subject was the South more SEN
sitive than upon this. If the North would
reach Slavery effectually, let her be just to
her own free black population by Civ
ing them their political rights. If she
would aid in freeing the South, she must
herself be free from all taint of oppression
He would not enter upon the question of the
Natural Equality of the Black with the
White race. When he considered the pro-
gress which the latter had made from state
of rude barbarism to their present compar-
atively high intellectual condition; when
he considered what England was in the time
of Elizabeth and what she is now, he would
not undertake to say what might yetbe done
to elevate the Blacks. 1t had been affirmed
by those wiser in such matters than himself
that the Arts and Sciences were receiv-
ed by the Romans from ancient EovntianS
who were negroes: anu ho could not tell
whether in the progress of events the Blacks
might not be elevated to the highest point
of civilization and refinement. On that
he would neither affirm nor deny any thing,
but leavei it to be settled by the developments
of time and the action OF Divine Providence.
That the Blacks in their present condition
were vastly behind the Whites he admitted,
| and he did not stand there to plead for ANAL
gamation or for entire social equality
| Hero was an important distinction which
he begged his audience to nete-that be-
tween equality of political rights. Suppose
he were to meet in the street a live Yankee,
| Sucker from Indiana, Corn-Cracker
from Kentucky, or even poor drunken vag-
abond. He might not prefer such men fol
associates, bit would he therefore knock
them down and rob them? Would he deprive
them of all political rights because ne die
not choose them for his cOmpanions3 NO
if he did not want to associate with them hi
would let them pass by in peace; but NJ
would say ia them, You shall be permitted
70 have . voice in making and admin ster
ing the laws by Witch you are to be gov
erned.' (Great applause.) He had enioye'
the privilege of taking Webster and Adam
and Everett by the hand; and he did no
feel that those men were degraded becaus
they came from a State where the coloret
man was allowed the Right Of Suffrage. {
no! And if unfortunately, the Union %er
to be severed into fragments by the struggl
between Slavery and Freedom, to what quar-
ter could he turn for safety, and where woul
the principles of Liberty be longest preserve
bnt in the land of Bunker Hill and Lexing
ton. where Justice is not outraged by de
: niaito the Blacks of their political rights |!
He was willing to let by-gones be by
pones. and wherever he saw any man labor
, Inc according 10 his best light in the caus
of Freedom. whether he were Garrisopian,
Liberty man, Wing, or SO called Demo
rrat he could not find it in his heart
: throw cold water upon his plans. No, Il
> him 90 On his own way, and God proSpt
!, the right. But as he had besought the Lii
ertv marty in the late Presidential campaig
y NOT Il, cast their votes in such a way as
promote the election of Polk and ensure
Annexation of Texas, SO he would now b
seech them not to throw their votes al
y their influence in such way as to dsie
the effort to extend to the Blacks OF Ney
. York the Right of Suffrage. The two gre
- parties were taking their ground on IN
: question, the one In favor and the otner
gainst this measure of Justice; let the Ii
erty men not sacrifice this object by t
. rigid adherence to abstract theories. I
had told them beforehand what would be Z
efect of the election of Polk upon the A
= nexation of Texas, but they were skeptic
70 and disregarded his admonitions. Tn
= fhad seen ali his predictions on that snD)e
g. verified. and ne would now warn them n
T. TO sacrifice in the same manner thls gre
D. question Of Suffrage. ~
81 MIR. CLAY concluded his speech as Il
: lows - torch bn.g frr saf E-2E .@t,
As for myself, though the cause has q
ct parently gone against me, and the Libel
ID of Speech and Of the Press, and the Right
4, Habeas Corpus have been struck down
ct my7person, I'm RESOLVED NOT 70 GIVE .
A. / may indeed be an enthusiast. "enst
CLAY; Calhoun, may better comprehend
destiny of this Republic than L; but 1 ca
,st not but give utterance to the conceptions
my own mind. 81.
he When look upon the special devel'
m ments of European CivilizatiOn-wheL
contemplate the growing freedom of the [
IN ;es and the Middle Class which had spru