The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-12-07
THE GALAXY.
MIDDLEBURY,VT.
Tuesday, Dec, 7, l847.
MR.. CLAY ON SLAVERY.

of the resolutions which we published last
week, showing distinctively the position he
has taken in the present crisis of our affairs,
we regret that oil paper has SO far progress
ed, that we cannot give it in full, this week
nor next, when the Presidents Message must
occupy about line whole, unless MIR. Polk
shall be much more merciul to the press and
the people than heretofore. But we could
not deny to our readers the following extract
from il which relates 10 the agitating subject
OF slavery.
10 no respect have the opinions Of Mr..
Clay been SO grossly misrepresenled by his
slanderers, than upon the subject Of slavery
Aud yet he has never uttered any language
which is not consistent with that contained
in this speech. Every act Of his political life
shows tina; tits the strongest desire of his
heart. that not slave should breathe in the
air Of this union. He has ever stood forth
the jealous advocate OF all practicable plans
for eradicating an evil, which former genera
lions have enIailed upon the country. In
this speech he illustrates The path Of duty
which every good man and patriot should
pursue, in relation 10 this difficult subject, at
| the present crisis. II is that of moderation Il
iurbearance the very antipodes of the i'm
patient and violent course ofthat fanatic par
| ty, who seem 10 regard The eradication OF this
deep rooted evil as the work of a day, and
| 10, L.
would drive the car Of abolition over all the
civil and religious institutions Of the country.
| On the subject Of one of the resolutions
which we publi-hed last week in opposition
to the acquisition fany foreign territory, for
the purpose of propagaiing slavery Mr.. C.
went on 10 say.
Among the resolutions, which it is my
intention to present for your consideration,
at the conclusion Of this address, one pro-
poses, in your behalf and mine. to disa-
VOW, in the most positive manner, any de
sire, on our part, to acquire any foreign
territory whatever, for the purpose of i'll
Producing slavery into it. | do not know
that any citizen of the United States en-
tertains such wish.-But such motive
has often been imputed to the Slave States,
and therefore think it necessary to notice
it on this occasion. My opinions on the
subject of Slavery are well known. They
have this merit, if it be one, Of consisten-
cy, uniformity, and long duration. l have
ever regerded Slavery ps great evil, a
wrong, for the present, fear, an IRENE
diable wrong, TO its unfortunate victims.
[ should be rejoiced if not single slave
breathed the air or was within the limits
of our country. But here they are, to be
dealt with as well as we can, with due
consideration of all circumstances affect
ing the security, safety and happines Of
both races Every State has the supreme,
uncontrolled and exclusive power to decide
for itself whether slavery shall cease or
continue within its limits, without any ex-
terror Intervention from any quarter. In
States, where the slaves outnumber the
whites, as is the case with several, the
blacks could not be emancipated and in
vested with all the rights Of freemen, with
out becoming the governing race in those
States. Collisions and conflicts, between
the two races, would be inevitable, and al.
ter shocking scenes of rapine and car
mage, the extinction of the blacks would
certainly take place. in the state of Ken
lucky, near fifty years ago, thought the
proportion of slaves, in comparison with
the whites, was SO inconsiderable that we
might safely adopt system of gradual E.
Emancipation that would ultimately eradi-
cate this evil in our own State. That
system was totally different from the i'm
mediate abolition of slavery for which the
party Of the Abolitionists Of the present
day coutend. Whether they have inten-
ded it or not, it is my calm and deliberate
belief, that they have done incalculabe
mischief to the very cause which they es-
poused, to say nothing of the discord
which has been produced between differ
ent parts of the Union. According TO
the system we attempted, near the close
of the last century, all slaves in being
were TO remain such; but, all who might
be born subsequent to a specified day,
were to become free at the age of TWEEN
ty-eight, and during their service, were
taught to read, write and CIPHER. Thus,
instead If being thrown upon the commu-
nifty, ignorant and unprepared, as would
be the case by immediate emancipation,
they would have entered upon the posses
sion of their freedom, capable in some de-
gree, of ENJOYING it. After hard strug-
gle, the system was defeated. and regret
it extremely, as, if it had been then a
dopted, our State would be now entirely
rid Of that reproaeh.
Since that epoch, scheme Of unmixed
benevolence has sprung up. which, if it
had existed at that time, would have OBJ
waited one of the greatest objections,
which was made to gradual emancipation,
which was the continuance Of the eman-
cipated slaves to remain among us. That
scheme is the American Coloniz alton So