The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-03
From the Liberator.
The True American.

Our readers are aware that the True A.
merican is stopped. The reason given for
this sudden termination of its career is, that
Mr.. Clays attorney, who is also his brother
Is unwilling to meet its regular expenditures
The temporary editor seems to be as much
surprised as any one at the measure, which
he seems to think unnecessary we incline
to think, with the Pennsylvania Freeman, that
the action of the attorney is not without a
knowledge of the dispositions of the principal
and that this step is indicative of an inclina-
ton on the part of Mr.. Clay to withdraw him
self from the painful position in which hi:
anti-savery course had placed him In Ken
lucky.
We have all along believed that the ap
parent insanity of Mr. Clay in throwing away
the best chance for a reputation, and the most
splendid career, in America, for little gold
lace in possession, and the chance of being
knocked on the head in prospect, madness
not without method in it. We we're convinc-
cd from the beginning that Mr.. Clay wished
to escape from the weight Of the cross he had
taken up, and was willing to cover his retreat
back to The world underline guns Of the Mex
lean war. He WIS tdb0Oed by all Kentucky
of his condition and degree. He lived in an
atmosphere of real hatred and affected con-
tempt. He dwelt in the presence OF altered
friendships, and amidst the ruins of high So
cial position. He was called upon, for " the
testimony of truth" to endure
Universal reproach, far worse to bear
Than violence"
The call for volunteers was Godsend to
him. He saw in it way opened for his re-
turn to the condition Of life which he had for
feited. and chance for the recovery of the
lost esteem of Kentuckans of his class. Per-
haps he may have his reward. But it is at
the cost of his true honor and his lasting fame.
Men do not take such steps as that Of Mr..
Clay, in direct retrogression upon the path
they have been treading-they do not eat the
brave words they have been uttering with such
eager zest, and upon such provocation-
without a deeper change Of feeling than he
was willing to admit at the time Of his enlist
ment. A lying enactment of a rroAigate
Congress, calling an act of selfdefence on the
part of nation invaded by a piratical bandit,
to be an aggressive warfare, would not con-
vert an abolitionist into an armed plunderer
of land for the uses Of slavery, were there not
deeper cause for his conduct than his fears
for the safety of his country. Mr.. G. chang
ed his coat morally as we'll as literally, when
he DOTTED the weeds of peace for the uniform
of captain of cavalry. He was no longer
worthy Of confidence. He could not be trust
ed in an enterprise like that which aims at
the abolition Of slavery.
1t was for this reason that we advised Abo-
litionists to discontinue the True American
although we could not but allow that it was
better conducted paper, and more thoroughly
anti-slavery than it had ever been. But this
was happy accident" as the Emperor AL
exauder told Madam de Stael, it was that the
Russians had good master. As long as it
was Mr.. Clay's paper, its complexion at any
moment was likely to be changed, Its char
acter depended upon the caprices of a man,
who had, in the most favorable view of the
case, shown himself strangely capricious. 1t
was due to themselves to show that they felt
no confidence in such man.
For the same reasons we do not regret the
stopping Of the paper. The present editor
expresses his conviction, that "another paper
will be established in its place, pernaanentlgin
o few weeks" To such paper freed from
the incumbrance of Mr. Clay's control, and
conducted with the ability which has marked
the recent editorshp of the True American,