Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-03-22
From the Lexington Observer.
LETTER FROM Mr.. CLAY.
Fayette, March 7th.
New ORLEANS, Feb. II, 1910.

LIZ l. Elk FhOM MIX. CLAY.
New ORLEANS, Feb. II, 1910.
! DEAR SIR: Prior to my departure
from home in December last. in behalf
of yourself and other friends, you OBJ
tanned from me promise 10 make a
published exposition Of my views and
opinion upon grave and importan,
question which, it was then anticipated,
would be much debated and consider.
ed by the people of Kentucky during
this year, in consequence of the ap-
preaching convention, summoned TO
amend their present constitution.
was not entirely well when l left home,
and, owing to that cause and my con.
finement several weeks during my so.
journ in this city from the effects of an
accident which befel me, have been
delayed in the ful6Iment ofmy promise,
which now proceed to execute.
The question TO which | allude is,
whether African slavery, as it now ex,
lists in Kentucky, shall be left to per.
petual or indefinite continuance, or some
provision shall be made in the new
constitution for its gradual and ultimate
ex,inctionl
A few general observations will suf.
gee my present purpose, without enter
ing on the whole subject of slavery un.
der all its bearings and in every aspec,
of it. | am aware that there are res.
pectable persons who believe that sla.
very is blessing, that the institution
ought TO exist in every well organized
society, and that it is even favorable &c
the preservation of liberty. Happily
the number who entertain these ex
travagant opinions is not very great
and the time would be uselessly occu
pied in an elaborate refutation of them
| would, however, remark that, if slave
ry be fraught with these alleged bene
fits, the principle on which it is main
tanned would require that one portion
3 of the white race should be reduced t
: bondage 10 serve another portion o
I the same race when black subjects o
3 slavery could not be obtained, and tina
e in Africa, where they may entertain a
2 great preference for their color as w
y do for ours, they would be justified il
: reducing the white race TO slavery il
: order to secure the blessings which tina
: state is said to dffuse.
# An argument in support Of reducing
+ the African race TO slavery is some
It times derived from their alleged intel
d lectual inferiority to the white race:
a but, if this argument be founded ii
l. fact (as it may be, but which shall nc
# now examineO it would prove entirel
J. too much. 1t would prove that an
,fI white nation which had made create
II advances in civilization, knowledg
wisdom, than another white natio
d would have tight to reduce the latte
Is to state of bondage. Nay, .furthe
E. if the principle of subjugation founde
Is upon intellectual superiority be tru
ID and be applicable to races and nation
r. what is to prevent its being applied
re individuals And then the wisest ma
lr in the world would have Alright to mai
nj slaves of all the rest of mankind
lis If, indeed we possess this intellectu
ne superiority, profoundly grateful al
a thankful TO Him who has bestowed
~ we ought to fulfil all the obligations al
is duties which it imposes, and the
go would require us not to subjugate
d. deal unjuslly by our fellow men WI
us are less blessed than we are, but to
tie struct, to improve. and to enlight
tie them.
re A vast majority Of the people of I
~ United States, in every section fthe
its ! believe, regret the introduction
= slavery into the colonies, under the