Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-12-14
Cincinnati Correspondence,
Library Lectures Census Of Cineinnati-- Pork
Trade IN Cincinnati.
H.. NJ.

CINCINNATI, Dec. 9th, 1850.
TO the Editor Of The Bugie;
Our State Constitutional Convention assem-
bled here on the I'd inst. Hon. VIM. Medill,
of Fairfield County, is President; VIM. H. Gill,
of Guernsey, Sccretary and J. V. Smith, of
ancc has been done as yet. A number of Pc
titions have been received and referred, one of
which was signed by $50 persons, asking for
some provision prohibiting colored persons from
emigrating into the State. This subject, in va
rious forms, has already been brought up sever
al tines and yesterday the subject of Common
Schools for the blacks, mixed or separate, was
discussed. In debate day or two since, Mr.
Sawyer said that the Fugitive Bill would prove
the greatest blessing erer conferred upon the State,
as it was driving the negroes to Canada, and the
sooner we were rid of them all, the better. DIR.
Townshend said that if any provision tending to
oppress the blacks shall be incorporated in our
new Constitution, his constituents would vote
against it.
resolution was adopted ordering a corres-
Secretary of the Interior, to obtain early copies
of the Census returns. The political complex
ion Of the Convention is decidedly Democratic
Among the members arc many men prominent
in the State as politicians and men of talent and
the body, as q whole, is more able and digni6ed
than our State Legislature.
The opening lecture of the season was doliv-
cred on Tuesday night before the Library As
sociation, by Cassius NJ. Clay. Attracted by
the celebrity of the speaker, an immense audi
ence assembled, every foot of the Hall and gall
lerics being occupied, while hundreds were com.
PEELED to 60 away unable even to approach the
door. Mr.. Clay was listened to for two hours
by two thousand people with great attention.
His address was extemporaneous, from notes =
his subject, "The Theory of Morals" After
stating the theories of the ancient Philosophers
the Platonists, the Epicurians, Stoics &C.,
and the modern systems of Hume, Bentham,
Paloy and others, he pointed out their errors
and maintained that in none Of them was per-
feet standard of ethics to be found. This was
yet to be set forth to the world. Even Christi
anity, though Of Divine origin, was defective,
owing to the imperfection of human language,
and the weakness of the human understanding,
and whether viewed abstractly or in the lives Of
its ministers and disciples, fell short Of the de-
sired completeness. All these points were elab-
GRATED with considerable ability, and the massa-
cres Of Protcstants by Catholics, the horrors OF
the Inquisition, Auto-da-fe, the prosecutions Of
Catholics by Protestants, and the intolerance Of
various sets to one another, were brought for
ward in array against the Bible as standard
of morals on account of tho different inter-
pretatons of it from which these acts sprung
He referred to the Copernican system of Astron.
omy, and modern investigations in Geology, a'
contradicting the Mosaic history, and to tho
doctrines of total deprarity, atonement as vica
rious sacrifice, and salration by faith, as dogma
of tho priests and the Church, and condemned
them in strong terms.
Mr.. Clay then attempted to give his theory
in which he exhibited, strikingly enough, to thu
satisfaction of most of his hearers, the truth O
the old saying, that it is much easier to pull
down an old edifce that to erect better. His
main idea is that BeneUOience, directed by tho in
tellectual powers as monitors and guides is q
sufficient teacher of human faith and conduct
leading men to carry out their two great duties
Love to God and Love to man. The absence
of all spirituality in his theory-the neglect to
recognise the necessity of Divine influence eth
er to create or encourage disposition to dc
right in the heart Of man-was fatal even to its
plausbility. The lecture as a whole was very
discursive, touching upon almost overy point in
theology, politics, social customs, and reform, ,on
which the minds of men are agitated, but was
regarded by all whom have heard speak of it,
as illogical, inconelusivo and unsatisfactory
Here and there it was relieved by some noble
truths and fine illustrations, and on the enor-
nous evils of slavery his remarks were just and
eloquent. 1t must be said that Mr.. Clay's en-
gaging in the Mexican war. after writing as he
had against it, and his laborod defense Of his