The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-30
Ephraim Rejecting his Idols.

due North one morning, and South by Westthe
next. , .....a. ... o.. ...s..
Everybody recolects the amazement that in
spired the minds of men, when this whilome
champion of State rights, and the Resolutions
of '9s, after assailing the principles and policy
of HENRY CLAY for quarter of a century, sud
denly fell at his feet with the penitent humilia-
ton Of the prodigal son--and despatched him
as copiously with praise rs formerly with abuse.
Whether the Sage of Ashland" doubted the
sincerity of this sudden conversion on the part
of his lifelong enemy-whether he deemed his
plaudits more dangerous than his abuse--or
whether he considered either OF too little con-
sequence to care about at all-is difficult to de-
termine: but his reception of the awkward CO.
queries of the editor of the Union, has not, 1t
seems, proved satisfactory-for in his paper OF
Saturday he gives unmistakeable threats OF for
swearing his allegiance.
The air of pretended establishment, and viz
tuous indignation, with which the editor pro-
claims the utterance by Mr.. CLAY Of senti-
ment, which every one who paid any attention
10 HIS EepedlCu iaoe oSooiOh h'eos
have known he entertained which his arrogant
threat of coercing by the bayonet and the rope
the citizens of sovereign State, for proclaiming
that sovereignty, and giving it their first allegi-
ance, proved him to be ready to put in execu-
tion-this, we say, is the broadcast farce which
ever the editor of the Union has attempted to
enact Listen to the gravity and solemnity with
which he dilates on this great and wonderful
discovery this privileged peep through the eye
of the milestone, into so surprising phe-
nomenon, as HENRY CLAWS avowal, that he will
"Never! Never! NEvER!!! consent to dtsso-
luton of this Union y
1t is with some surprise and sincere regret that
we find the following in the Geographic report OF
Mr. Clay's late speech at Frankfort, In the Phll-
adelphia Bulletin. We cannot think it possible
that he used such expressions are ascribed to
him in the latter part of this extract We suspect
the telegraph, or rather its writer, IS mistaken
We shall wait until this morning for the copleton
of the speech in the New York Herald, and rer
serve our comments until we can weigh Its ex-
pressions. Should the report as given be confirm
ed by the full Speech shall feel it to be our duty
to enter the most emphatic protest against such
dangerous doctrines. We do not believe that
ten Southern men can be found who would not
Indignantly repudiate these sentiments
81 NAV be asked, as have been asked, when
would consent to a dissolution OF the UNION.
answer NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! because can con-
ceive of no possible contingency that would make
it for the interests and happiness of the people to
break up this glorious confederacy, and separate
into bleeding and belligerent parts.
would hold to it if Congress were to usurp power
which am sure 1t never wiIl--to aoolsh s,avesy
within the States for, in the contingency OF such
usurpation, we should be In better condition
as to slavery, bad as it would be, out Of the Union
than in the Union"
Let this Union stand, even if the powers that
have been given are so grossly abused as 70
"abclsh slavery within the States ~ 1t is impos-
sible that this distinguished statesman should
have uttered such sentiment. The South had
better lose forever every slave who escapes, than
that Congress should hberate all the other slaves,
and let loose such a wild population upon her,
and in fact, carry desolation and ruin to every
hearthstone in the South. The South can never
consent relinquish the control OF Its most DELI
cate domestic institutions to the Federal Govern
ment. Mr.. Clay disclaims, in the strongest TERMS
the supposition that Congress will usurp the power
to bolish slavery within the States; euch
suppositon ought not, therefore, to haye been
made and therefore we are impressed with the
belief that Mr.. Clay could not have made such
declaration
The foregoing article was prepared for our paper
Of yesterday, but excluded by press OF other
a copy of Mr.. Cay's speech in the New York
Herald and also find another version of it in the
Republic of yestsrday. The above sentence, to
which we take exception, is not the same IN the
Rep,.bHc, as will be observed and the Herald has
a totally different version from both. The editor
of the Herald suggests in the note that is appended
to this part of the speech, that there must be some
error in his report OF this paragraph but Is unable
to conjecture in what respect. eve do not agree
with the Herald The reader will see from Its
version of Mr.. Clay's speech, which we this morn
ing lay before our readers, that the sentence is
clear and complete in itself) We most cheerfally
give Mr.. Clay the benefit of the most favorable
constructions both account Of our feelings or mr.
Ciav, and on account Of the important error which
might be put forth, under the sanction OF his high
name. That construction is to suppose that the
Herald 3 report is substantially correct. We can
not believe that Mr.. Clay ood gice uerance 10 such
q mad and unn,anly sentiment as hiS-that II sla-
yery was abolished in the States without their
consent, the South would still or should cling to
the Union. Such q measure would be the death-
blow to her interests II 'coutd s,reep herja" betas
,cith the bosom of destruction it would convert the
blessings of the Union into a deep and bilshting
curse And is it to such state of things that Mr.
Clan mould bo,c in submission and incucate on the
South the same degenerate spirit Of acquteScence we
cannot believe it. We must aratt ny he rertsed re-
mort is printed We must see Mr.. Ciay's own en-
dursement of such monstrous proposition be1ore
we can belive he uttered this extravagant PROPOSE
ton The noble and patriotic tone OF this speech
makes us hope that this sentence is incorrectly
printed in the Republic and the Bulletin
We WELD to no American, not even to Mr.. Clay
himself, in devotion to the Union. But the great
rights of the States must not be sacrificed to 1t.
The South can never suffer the interference of
Congress with slavery in the States. The South
will never submit to any measure even short of
that nterposition, because usurpation insenslbly
slides from one part to another The snowfall
is constantly increasing it rolls and there
fore the South will demand that Congress should
not disturb the subject at all-meddie with 1t in
no form" touch not. taste not. handle not"
The people Of the South never will consent to
place their domestic institutions at the mercy of
strangers to those institutions who will be lgnor-
ant Of their interests their true condition IN this
respect-subject to all the fendish passions OF the
fanatics, and Of insdious politicians as bad as the
Abolitionists themselyes-and who are not, from
|postion or otherwise, TO be affected IN the same
manner Such state Of things wonld reduce the
|people Of the Southern States almost to as bad
Condition as the slaves themselves, # not worse
II would put every thing they hold dear, as well
life as property, at the control OF others; ana,
Judging Of the character Of the aggressors from
4 0f wOnld