Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-03-16
Henry Clay'S Letter on Slavery.

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1t is even so the dead politician Henry
Clay has been m~oved-though not by the
Holy Ghost-to write a letter upon slavery.
The Wings are of course delighted with it,
and shower enough compliments upon the
author TO make him almost forget he was not
the nominee Of the Philadelphia convention.
What especial merit belongs to the letter we
are unable to perceive, except that the wrL-
Ting of it is some evidence of the growing
power of the anti-slavery sentiment. Were
it Garrison-like or Calhoun-like we could
more respect the writer; for there is a bold
ness, a sincerity and a directness about the
productions Of both Garrison and Calhoun
that commend them to every one who adj
mires manliness. But Clay has won, and
worthily wears the title of The GREAT CON-
PRoMIsER, and his letter on slavery will not
injuriously affect his reputation as such. He
is highly commended for avoiding extremes
for being neither ultra prc-slavery nor ultra
anti-slavery ; his position, we presume, much
resembling that of the Independent Irish cam
uluhhOi "iOy uIAlOu W oCCulC III NOt0o VI
the moderate Of both parties, declared his
determination to go to extremes with neither,
but 10 steer a middle course between right
and wrong.
The missive is addressed TO the editor Of
the - Cincinnati Chronicle and was writ
ten in reply to a question as to what he re-
garded the proper action to be taken by the
approaching Convention in Kentucky, in re-
lalion to the abolition Of slavery in that
State. In the commencement Of the letter
he says,
am aware that there are respectable
persons who believe that slavery is a
blessing that the institution ought TO ex-
list in every well organized society. and
that it is even favorable 10 the preserva-
ton of liberty. Happily, the number
who entertain these extravagant opinions
is not very great, and the time would be
usclessly occupied in an elaborate refuia-
ton ofthem. | would, however, remark,
that if slavery be fraught with these al
legged benefits, the principle on which it
is maintained, would require that one
portion of the white race should be re-
duced to bondage TO serve another por-
lion Of The same race, when black sub
jects of slavery could not be obtained,
and that in Africa, where they may en-
terrain as great a preference for their
color as we do for ours, they would be
justified in reducing the white race to
slavery, in order TO secure the blessings
which that state is said to diffuse.
An argument in favor oc reducing the
African race to slavery, is sometimes de-
rived from their alleged intellectual infe-
riorily TO the white races; but i. this ar
gument be founded in fact, las it may be.
but which | shall not now eXamine,) it
would prove entirely too much. 1t would
!, prove that any white nation which had
made greater advances in civilization,
knowledge and wisdom than another
white nation, would have a right to re-
duce the latter to a state of bondage
Nay, further, if the principle of subiuga-
ton founded upon intellectual superiori-
~ be true, and be applicable 10 races and
nations, what is TO prevent its being APP
piled 10 individuals! And then the wi
sest man in the world would have a right
TO make slaves Of all the rest Of man
kind
If, indeed, we possess this intellectual
superiority, profoundly grateful and
thankful 10 HIM who has bestowed il,
we ought to fulfil all the obligations and
duties which it imposes and these would
require us not to subjugate or deal UNI
Justly by our fellow men who are less
blessed than we are, but TO instruct, 10
t improve and 10 enlighten them.
. Does Henry Clay mean what he here de-
> claresl He intimates that the doctrine Of
the Calhoun school, that slavery is a bles-
{ sing and favorable TO the preservation of lib.
> erty, is eXtravagant and unsound. And yet
: Sdpery eriSts al ashland! Is it there a bles.
sing or a curse? Is its tendency there to
. preserve liberty or to destroy it! If Henry
u Clay believes slavery to be a curse, then is
: he knowingly, Intentionally cursing himself,
Kentucky and the nation. II he believes il
Y to be destructive to liberty, then is he a trail
!, tor to freedom. He is practising the doc
i trines of the Calhoun school, while pretend
: ing to oppose them and the plan of prospec-
tive emancipation he proposes, and which
d could not possibly effect the condition of his
g own slaves until the hand which locked the
o letters upon their limbs is cold in death,
6 ought not to cause a single one to forget thai
he holds, and designs to hold as long as he
lives, some sixty of his equal brothers. II
is the present enslavsd generation whose fet