Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-03-31
CaSSiaS NJ. Clay

Is somewhat Of a riddle after all. lie once
drew down upon him the bitterest hatred Of
a pro-slavery community, and the vengeance
of a Lynch committee for his advocacy of
emancipation in kentucky. Then in the
twinkling of an eye, and with as much fa-
ciliiy as a conjurer plays his tricks, he came
forward in an entirely different character-a
volunteer bound for the American camp in
Mexico, booted and spurfed, armed and e.
quipped, and prepared to do battle for the
extension Of slavery. After a reasonable dis
play of patriotism within the stone walls Of
a Mexican prison, looking out from between
the bars of his cage like a captive Lion, he
returns to his home to be feted and praised
by the very men whose mobocratic violence
destroyed his press and endangered his life.
But there came another change--a change,
at least, in the estimation in which such hold
him.
Cassius, having visited Mexico, is dispo-
sed to talk some Of what he has seen there;
and it appears that the Mercantile Library
Association Of Baltimore invited him 10 give
If not his eXperience-tle result Of his o.
servations. Now Mexico is fruitful theme
for lecturers; a great deal can be said of its
climate, its people, its institutions, and its
Anglo-SaXon invaders. And as these things
don't all have to be said in the same way,
the character of a lecture on Mexico depends
very much upon the character Of the person
who gives it-Sam Houston, that froth oil
Texas rascality, would give a very different
discourse from what might be expected OIL
Henry G. Wright.
But to return to Cassius NJ. Clay's lecture
in Daltimore-the city where Charles Il
Torrey was murdered. The announcement
that he would speak, drew a la,ge and fash
ionable audience. Instead Of expatiaiing or
the rude barbarity of the Mexicans, their de
fciency in the knowledge of the arts, thei
political and religious enslavement, and the
need which existed for sending cavalry, ar
tillery, and infantry missionaries with bayo
nets and bibles, paxhians and prayer-books
revolvers and religion to c~ivilize and chris
tlanize them, he asserted that ''Alexico is il
advance of, or at least equal to, the slavehol
ding States Of America in the arts, agricul'
ture, freedom, civil rights and polished man
ners." This came like a peal of thunde
from a clear sky, and what could his audi
ence do but hissl And hiss they did 10 thei
own satisfaction; and as he repeated the sen
timent, and brought forward facts to prove it
the tumult increased, and some apprehendet
that a more decided mobocratic demonstra,
ton would ensue. AS soon as the noise ha,
subsidized, so that the speaker could be heard
he very significantly remarked, "ln Mexico
they do not have those mobs which are S
frequent in the South" Finding that h
would not be gagged, his audience permit
ted him to say his say, and make compari
sons between Mexico and the South very un
favorable to the latter, and even 10 declare
that taking all circumstances into considera
ton he was opposed to this Republic exten
ding its freedom there.
We understand that Cassius has been WI
ting ! book on Mexico, which is now i
press. 1t will doubtless have a large eli
culaiion, though if it contains sentiments a
heretical as his Baltimore speech, the Sout
will place it in the category of incendiar
publications.