Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-03-28
F.o-, The R,eAa.oaa Va Eram,nsr loo
or MR. CLAY'S LETTER

]
/ F'.o-1 the Rleha.ona (Yll Erdm,nsr Loco.
! OPINIONS or MR. CLAY'S LETTER
Henry Claws Abolitiouis, Letter is to b
/ found in another column Of this paper. Th
napo Of the man. the subject before hin
aud bis long maintained position Of embo
dmcnt aud mouth piece to the Wing party
will give it an interest which neither ih
eloquenco Of on arcbangcl nor he pen Of
poet could fasten upon that number Of sen
fences
Henry Clay's true character now stand
revealed. The man is an aboltionist III
takes position with Gidjings and with Hale
These are the sentiments long ago express
ed by all the organs of abolition That il
the spirit which breathcs in all their writ
ings and in all their spcakings Aud thai
letter has been received With rapturous APP
plause by all tho sbolilionist newspaper
and by all the abolitouist people in th,
United States
Henry Clay Of ls40 is the Henry Clay
OF 1880. The man is changed, not his
opinions lie saws he held these notions
from the beginning of his li!c and we have
no reason whatever to doubt that Indeed
tho m ost celebrated acts OF his early poliii-
cal career are in exact accordance with the
words uttered by him this day lie de-
cared them and no acted on them consist.
emily aud invariably. BE it then rccollect.
ed by the people OF the United States that
the Wing party have been urging on them
this Aboltionist year after year. as a pro
per Presidential candidate for their suffragcs
BE this remembered, when they remember
the Wing partys votes on the Wilmot Pro
yiso in the Halls Of Congress.
This species Of abuse will fall harm
less at the feet Of the Kentucky Pa
trlot. The letter which has called il
forth will constitute the noblest monu
ment Of his evenlful life. Many great
acts bear the impress Of his name, but
not one can compare with this IN all
the elements of real greatness. 1t does
not reveal the Statesman merely, but
the fearless Patriot and Christian.
Mr. Clay could not bnvc kno wn that
the position he has assumed in this
Letter, would call down upon HIM the
wrath and vlndicllve vituperation oil
all who look upon Slavery as a divine
institution and all interference with il
as sacrlege To advocate Emancipa
ton is TO array himself against the
prejudces of the whole Sonth.-It is q
doctrine which that section of the Re.
public has uniformly condemned and
the advocacy Of which has bcea pro
nounced the objectionable Sln lie
knew this, but this knowledge did
not cause him to shrink from u great
duty. That was an suspicious mo
ment in which this Letter was pennec
--auSplclous for its author and for the
cause of Human Freedom 1t reQur
ed but this to present Henry Clay be
fore the world as the perfect model of,
man, and 10 give 10 the cause of Eman
cipatlon an impetus which no human
power can check. il may be many
years before the victory is accomplish
ed. Slavery may bear sway even il
Kentucky, through another generation
II is an institution too gigantic TO b,
overthrown IN a day But the axe i
land at the root of the tree. A blow
has been struck bya strong arm, anC
It's stunning power will be seen m III,
ultimate downfall of tins overshadow
ing curse.
We are not disposed TO give undu,
influence to human agency in the ulti
mate accomplishment of Emancipation
But Providence works by means. nnC
ITS own Instruments for the accom-
pllshment Gifts own ends 1t was No
ses, educated MS an Egyptian, who. I'm
der Providence, led the Children Of Is
roel out Of bondage. May it not b,
that Henry Clay himself STAKEHOLDER
has been reserved, by the same power
10 open mp a way OF escape for III,
three millions now held IN worse thar
Egyptian bondage IN on. own landl
II Gas we hope this Letter IS but IN,
beginning Of general movement a
The South IN favor Of Emancipation
II ITS author IS 10 become a leader Of ,
host OF champions for Freedom IN N,
Slave SlotcS-theSe tlppant ratings. d
not forgotten, will but add TO the fu
tnre glory Of the Patriot ogalnstwhou
they are uttered There may be- re-
proach m the eplthet 'aboIuonlst. buI
better bear that reproach than the
St!ngS OF an accusing conscience. TIL,
Jealous prosecution Of the prlncip,,
marked ont m tins letter, may cause ep
cry cur Of Slavery IN the Union TO snar
at the heels Of us author. bnt It will en-
shrine him IN the heart Of every trpe
man IN Chustendom. Henry Cl,c
having put his hand 10 the Emancrno.
ton Plough, IS not the man 10 looL
back The seed which he has sowu
may not rlpen m his day. bat In duq
time It viii brng fory/an hnnd,rd
Told 'AlbNnvEvc JeyrnsD J