Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-04-06

OF such a system would meet with II very
different solution from each moiety res
pectively. But, if the system be wicked,
and Improbable because that is one nee
essary condition of wickedness, the
chances Of prolonged debate are greatly
lessened.
Even after taking it for granted that
emancipation is for the interest Of Ken
lucky, Mr.. Clay huinbly concludes by
saying that ifthe majority decide against
him, he shall submit. The majority of
the people Of the United States has sew
eral times decided against Mr.. Clay, and
yet he has shown no bashful reluctance
10 being again a candidate. "Pick your
flint and try again." was his motto Il few
years ago. Is a question which concerns
an entire race TO be given up more readi-
! y than the shadow of dream ola chance
tor the presidency If the majority be
thus absolute in deciding what things are
right and what wrong, what Office would
insure the Threats of the masters in any
State where the slaves became numeri.
caliy superior ?
The truth is that Mr.. Clay's letter is
disgracefuI to the community in which it
is written. We admit that deliberation
will necessarily, without, any %precaution
OF ours. characterize the movement of
large masses of men living under a long
established social system, provided they
are begun early enough, and are made in
accordance with the spirit of the age
For, example. ifthe slaves Of Kentucky
were liberated and relieved
from every political disability. the ques-
ton of their position in the social order
would settle itself by the slow and grad
ual operation of natural causes. A soci-
al wrong. based originally upon brute
force, and %perpeluated by it, may be
reached and remedied by legislation, and
the sooner the better. Why wait for the
rust to eat handouts asunder, when there
is a key ready to unlock them? We
concede TO Mr.. Clay that deliberation
should characterize Statesmen no less
than States. The rudder which deter.
mines the direction Of the intellectual or
ethical advancement Of any age may be
behind it, as in a vessel. But the steers.
man at the wheel is in front, and with a
| clear outlook forward. Mr.. Claws no.
ton Of the duty of the man at the helm
seems 10 be that he should he keeping
his balance astride Of an empty cask, our
of sight, in The rear of The ship
We shall not trouble ourselves with an
analysis of a document which all our
readers will probably read for themselves.
The spirit Of barbarism which dislin.
cuisines it, would alone be a sufficient ar
gument in condemnation of a system
which could so blunt the sensibiliiies OF
an originally fine nature, and obscure
the perceptions of a keen and quick in
%tellect.
The Letter is valuable chiefly as a
curiosity and as a sign Of the times. il
is the unwilling creaking Of a rusty polili.
cal wealhercock which begins to feel the
first indications of wind from a new quar-.
ter. One thing is very certain. 1t is
not of such material that reforms are
made. Here is compromise outcomprom.
ised, and terms offered TO the devil such
as he would not have dared to ask. Here
is wrong TO be treated on the principle Of
SimiliG SimitbuS curantu, but with no
homeopathic dose. The poor slave if
he escape being sold out of the State,
and if he survive The thirty-nine years
administration Of hairs of the dog that
bit him prescribed by Mr.. Clay. is 10 be
transported to a fever mandatory at
his W expense.
A man is drowning and DR.. Clay is
called in. The following is his pres
cripiion :--"Take Of water IF distilled,
the better) enough to submerge the pa
tient. Keep him carefully sunk therein
thirty nine hours, or more in proportion
TO The length Of time he has already been
under mater. Then raise him carefully,
attach aGfiy-sir pound weight 10 each an
Gle, transport him to The middle Of the
atlantic ocean Cat his oWn erpense) and
there drop him overheard. / think he
'ciH nerer be liable TO a recurrence Of
the complaiht,"-- ~. R. L.