New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-11-24
MIR. CIay's speech.

Mr.. CIay's speech.
"A great genius. says Waldo Emerson IS one
who gives back to US our own thoughts There are
tens Of thousands who will read Mr.. Clay speech
At Lexington herewith presented and wonder how
i. can be esteemed so great since il IS only PLAN
aud iorcible expression Of their own sentiments
They have long thought as Mr.. Clay does they
would have expressed themselves Just so II they
hsd possessed the faculty Of ready and cogent ex'
preston. They do not always realize that herein
consists the true greatness Of Henry Clay. His
Speeches are all applications Of common sense and
the most simple, obvious truth to the matter under
consiaeration-to the actual and prospective condi'
ton Of the Country. His greatness has nothing Of
tragedy strut or mystical fog about t-you are quite
welcome to forget while you read that he IS one oil
the most gifted among orators and ilustrious among
living Statesmen who addresses you-but you can
not be unconscious though you try never so hard
to be 80, that sincere devoted patriot Is nttering
from the depths OF generous and iervld soul
counsals which no deems most essential to the
safety and well being Of his beloved Country You
nav or may not be conscious that those counsels
are the fruits Of half a century's observation aud
experience and Of forty years eminent public
service bot you cannot doubt that they are spoken
from the fulness OF patriotic aud generous heart
As to Mr.. clay's killing himself or injurng the
Wing party, by this Speech, there never was
more nonsensical jsrgon utteredby downright luna
tics Let this Speech be read by or TO the whole
population of the United States, and let vote be
taken thereon Of all who are not casehardened,
thick and thin partssns readyto praise or execrate
as the psry cue shall indicate, and we confidently
bslieye-nay. we feel moral certainty-thatnlRe-
.enhs of the whole would give hearty Amen TO
i,s general scope and purport On incidental
points there would be some differences Of course.
We. for instance DO not think the obstacles TO the
immediate extinction Of Slavery anything like 50
formidable as they appear to Mr.. Clay we think
the experiment now thorough Of British Yves,
India Emancipation, among a population more
dense in greater proportion African and enslsved,
and if possible more degraded and i'll treated than
ours has forever established the position that the
danger evil and difficulty are involved in the
Continuance of Slavery and by no means in its
abolition. We are sure that Kentucky, Nir
sinia, or even South Carolina might instantly de
cree the utter abrogation Of all laws recognizing
aud egslizing Slavery, without the least peril OF a
Black instruction or turmoil The change would
doubtless have its Inconvenience and difficulties
many slaves would be personally the worse for
their freedom, being enabled thereby to indulge
those propensities for idleness, dissipation and
vice which are now repressed by their masters
authority; but the great mass would keep quietly
at work. receiving wages from their present mas
Lat,w
might as well apprehend danger from mountain
rock tina, had found rest on level plain as f,om
slaves bereft by emancipation OF every motive or
pre,ext for hating or hsr'ning those who were
once their masters
As to the Abolition party, ito movements and
Nominations have doubtless had the evil effect Oh
served by Mr.. Clay Of irritating and alarming the
masters generally, and rendering most Of them
impervious to the arguments for Emancipation.
But the other hand their efforts have served to
aw aiken and fix public attention and. though
their immediate influence has been unfavorable, We
are not sure that the existence Of Slavery has
been protrscted by their lsbors as q whole. Ii is
not yet time for decisive Judgment on this point
We think Mr.. Clsy's view of the course OF those
Federalists who opposed the last War with Great
Britain open to revisloa. The opponents OF that
War did not generally deny that Great Britain had
inflicted grievoas wrongs upon US bat they oonsid
cred that some excuse had been given therefor by
toe notorious and effective sympathy Of our People
and Government with the enemy OF Britain in her
pronacted and desperate struggle they believed
that redress for the injuries had suffered at her
hands might have been peacefully obtained had
the best course been taken TO procure il and they
could not perceive the wisdom or justice or ssugh
tering Canadian Militia or burning peaceful mer.
chsntmen on the Ocean because our commerce had
been shsckled BY upus,6able Orders in Council and
some Of our seamen shamefully impressed to serve
ia British vessels There was very much said aud
done by each party during our Last War that were
lar better LETT unssid and undone but the time
,snnot be distant when the greater number IN eve
" Christian nation will realize that there are bet
er ways Of redressing wrongs or sverting evils
han BY resorting to offensive War.
These, however are incidental points, which
ave little bearing on the main question. To say
hat Mr.. Clay's views of the War and the grea;
uestions connected Herewith are sound and just
vould be feebly expressing the truth. We believe
hey make the true course so plain that those who
andidIy read can hardly fail TO concur whatever
heir former prepossessions. How those who pro
essed to esteem and con6de in Silas Wright can
object We cannot imagine, for there 10 an almost
,xacs conformity with the recorded sentiments Of