The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-31

any evils which emancipation IN the slsleI u
State may bring upon her.
The ST Louis Republican publishes the let Il
ter, with an allusion TO Mr. Clay sphilanthropy, n
but expresses no opinion as 10 its essential ner-
its.
The ST. Louis Union regards Mr.. Clay's plan
as Objectionable and impracticable.
The Richmond Va.l Examiner condemns MI
Clay as an abolitionlst, while the Richmond
Wing is much pleased with The letter, "as REAL
Timing doctrines and views held by Thomas Jei-
ferson, and some OF the best men in Virginia"
Thus speaks the Philadelphia North-Amencan;
ain the midst Of the glittering daysprng oil
new Administration, full of rich promises OF the
brightest felicity to the republic, there suddenly
flashes upon the Western horizon, and rises to
the zenith, not lost in the brightness OF dawn, an
auroral splendor which attracts the eyes of the
country, and will speedily attract those, as well
as the admiration, OF the world. II is the Zodia-
| cal light Of new and great act Of virtue on the
part of one, an old public servant, whose whole
caretr, long, and useful, and distinguished, mas
always been resplendent with such acts. It's
| the blaze, perhaps the last, but the greatest
blaze of the genius, the philanthropy, the states
man-like wisdom and patriotism Of Henry Clay
The phoenix dies, as il is reborn, in flames. The
patriot of Ashland, cannot sink away obscurely,
like common man, or one who has but CON-
mon love for justice, for hun anity, for his coon-
TRY. He ropses himself for one mole great effort
IN The cause OF his fellow-msn, and that effort IS
even greater and nober one than he has ever
made before. His last years are TO be as glori-
Gus as his inst"
The New York Evening Post speaks Of the
letter as follows: "Mr. Clay's Letter on the
! subject Of emancipating the slaves Of Kentucky
is one of the most remarkable documents Of the
time. We regard II as among the most con-
vincing Of the various Indications which meet
course Of public affairs. TINT the institution Of
slavery, which has grown 80 rankIy for many
, years past, and exerted so mighty an influence,
, has already begun to decline.
, 'Mr. Clay is not refOrmsr; he lisa politician;
he IL one of that class who sttentively observe
the state of public opinion, and who do not
. mean to put their own popularity to unnecessa-
\ ny hazard by the suggestion Of measures which
the people are likely 10 reject The letter is
written with abundant caution, in the most per-
suasive manner of one who has studied the art
Q Of persuasion, yet not without certain deci-
sion. Itproposes specific plan for the extin-
guishment Of slavery In Kentucky. Nobody
can object think, that this plan is an inprac.
ticable one, so remote Is its commencement, 50
gradually are all the steps taken, and such com.
9 plete provision Is made against giving any Of
u fence to inveterate prejudice. Even the mosi
violent part of the plan. and the part which
n will meet with the strongest objections In some
II quarters, that of Transporting to Africa the
slaves who shall become free by the effect Of the
d plan, seems to us perfectly practicable
l. The Pennsylvania Freeman after speaking o.
u the publication of Mr.. Clsy's letter as en- i'm.
9 portant incident in the progress Of the canse o.
freedom, as testimonial Of the advance which
that cause has made. thus continues:
s "Thus far We are gratifsd with Mr.. Clay,
: Letter, but no farther; and in justice to il, Il
q ourselves, and to our voicelsss clients, the vic
9 Tins Of his tyranny, we must now speak Of II,
; other features. Its spirit is that of unmixes
n selhshness, and the inhumanty of Its propose,
n remedy for slavery, is only surpassed by slavery
itself Such letter could never have emanates
z from q msgnanimous mind or generous heart
: How IL contrasts with the illusions 10 slavery
r by Jefferson, and Wythe, and Washington, anC
l. Patrick Henry, and Lee, and Pinckney, ans
e Luther Martin, and Rush, and Franklin, anC
9 Gerry, and Ellsworth, and some Of the early
8 statesmen Of his own State; with the spirit o
e Chatham, and GARRISON, and Buxton, and Viii
berforce; and with the political papers of Lamar
E tine. Ii contains no expression Of sympathy
toward the unhappy sufferers from slavery--o
= regard for their rights. Had it issued from th'
heart Of a stone instead Of human bosom i
could not have been more cold, or pltiess. j
: speaks of the hundred and ninety thousand col
, Ored people Of Kentucky as though they wer,
all subordinate TO the pleasure and the prejudi
, ces Of the whites. 1t proposes a scheme undel
, the name Of Emancipation. which is in fact bu
modified system Of slavery, and the cold heart
lessnsss with which it urges that measure
: makes one shudder TO read it,
The National Era, Washington, ID. c., speaks
at considerable length. Our space win permit
us to quote only the ensuing paragraphs:
There can he no doubt that the Letter sepa-
rates Mr.. Clay from the class of ultra savehold-
ers. and places him in the ranks Of Emancipa-
tionists. Its tone is very different from that Of
has unfortunate speech in the Senate, 1899, when
he declared that the legislation Of two hundred
years had sanctioned and sanctified negro slave
~. The spirit Of that speech essentially
pro-slavery; the spirit Of this Letter Is snt.sa-
very. We do not therefore agree with those
who think that he stands precisely the same
groun d now, that he occupied nine yean ago.
aft must be remembered, too, that this dem
onstrai lion Is made in disregard of the policy Of
his own political friends, and Of the action Of
both he great parties of his State. The pro-
slavery tactics of the Democrats had driven the
Wings to take ground against all agitation of
the gu estion Of Emancipation. Even the Lou
sisuilte Journal. always devoted to the interests
of Mr. Clay, had arraysd itselfagainst the Emsn-
esp>sor-- Tire Legislature, under the influence
Of party reasons. had unanimously condemned
ell projects Of Emancipation. In the face of
these strong indications Of the will Of the domi-
nant lowers in Kentucky, Mr.. Clay deliberate
ly takes his stand against Slavery, and In favor
of Emancipation. thus throwing the whole
waichf of HE Influenza In fay,r Of the Emsu.