The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-03-15
HENRY CLAY's LETTER.

To say that we were deeply disappointed at
portions of this letter, is but confirming the bare
truth. We, therefore, the more readily give
room to the following remarks thereon, by one
who has been great admirer of the Western
Statesman, the editor OF the Boston Mail:
We must confess to great disappointment in
Mr.. Clay's letter. For great many years he
has been our model OF Statesman on every
question except that of Slavery; and we could
readily pardon his heterodoxy on that, in consid-
Grafton OF the powerful influences and preiudices
of his position A bred and nurtured In a
Slave State can hardly be expected to see so
clearly the evil effects of Slavery, as one without
the reach of such malign influences. But when
a man like Mr.. Clay does profess to see and feel
those evils effects, when he reasons so powerfully
against Slavery in the abstract-we cannot help
feeling of bitter disappointment when he prac-
hcally gives the lie to all his professions.
Mr. Clay's letter is written with remarkable
caution, yet his argument against the principle
OF Slavery is put forth with strength that de-
nolishes at blow everything ever said in favor
OF the spariarchal institution. This part of his
letter Is brief and so much to the point that we
give it entire.
Here, the extract we have already published
is copied
Now we submit to our readers whether such
language this does not give US a right to ex-
pect that any plan Of emancipation suggested by
its author, would contain at least few leading
elements Of justice. What then is our disap-
pointment, as we proceed with Mr.. Ciay's plan,
that he contemplates only that such colored per-
sons as are born in entucky after the year 1856
or 1860, shall become free al the age OF 25, only
they TO be hired out for three years longer to
pay the expenses Of their expatriaticn from their
native State In other words, they are to give
up all the best portion of their lives for the poor
boon of being sent perhaps to worse place -
And this is not all for he holds that the legal
rights OF the Shareholders should not be impaired
or restricted. and that they should have the
fright to devise, sell, and remove their slaves
from the State, without their offspring being en-
titled to the benefit of emancipation for which the
system provides 20 This, as we understand IT,
completely knocks in the head everything like
actual emancipation of the slave, except in Ken>
lucky. 1t merely changes the habitation of the
slave, without breaking his fetter. When the
slave has worked to his oath year, in the hope of
being apprentced at 25 and liberated at 28. his
master has only to sell him to a Mississippi plan
ter, and he is again slave tor lite We have
not yet seen enough OF virtue among shareholders,
to lead US to suppose that any large portion OF
them would forego the advantage of Mississippi
prices, and give freedom to their slaves, when
they could obtain high price for them We
repeat, therefore, that Mr. Clay's plan does not
provide for the certain emancipation of single
slave, however remotely. 1t is simply plan for
Kidding Kentucky OF slavery without cost to her
people, and increasing the number OF slaves in
the other States 1t is selfish plan altog
and unworthy the name and the fame of Henry
Clay.
10 say that we regret that Mr.. CLAY has put
forth this letter, would be saying too much. 1t
asserts good principles of liberty, even if it does
hot propose to carry them out into practice. Its
influence will be felt against Slavery to perhaps
as great degree as though it had recommended
immediate and unconditional emancipation. Its
an entering wedge which, with good manv
hard knocks, to aid its progress will yet reach and
separate the vtas of that tell power which is
such areProach to this nation. 1t will strength.
en- the ''outside pressure" which is now bearing
before it the old landmarks, and hemmng in the
Wrong by the eternal power of the Right. As
such we hail it among the bright omens of our
''day and generation