Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-02-12
Mr.. Claws Speech

Mr.. CIay'S Speech
In support Of his resolutions was delivered
on Tuesday and Wednesday last. Ne
like il to almost every dot and comma,
Save only the power Of Congress to leg
slate respecting Slavery in Territory
though we perceive it is less apPlauded'
as whole, than Mr.. Clay's speeches were
wont to be. Perhaps it is no derogatlon
of Mr.. Clay's effort that it does not run
parallel with any--of course it could not
with aH--the excited views of the uItraI'ts
Of the North or South.
1t was not to please either that it was
spoken, but to point out middle way, a
safe way, and we assert TO the top OF our
voice, a Constitutional way. The very
air and spirit of the Constitution envelope
this address. AS the Constitution is no!
sectional or dogmatic, but Catholic in lis
aims and scope, so is Mr.. Clay's speech,
and yet it supplies clear and practical
modes of action, that it will be wise not
to disregard. The following is its pero-
ration, and when read in connection with
the certainty of is authors entire sinceIi-
ty, and deep feeling on this occasion, can
not fail to add new confirmation to the
patriotic Staesman's well-earhed fame.
"Will disunion be any remedy for evils
Of which the South complains {! The e1-
clusion of slavery from the Territories,
the abolition Of slavery in this District,
and the refusal to surrender fugitive sla-
YES, are the grounds upon which the dis
solution of the Union is to depend. If
the Union be dissolved can slavery be car
ried into the Territories 1t cannot. If
abolished in this District, will the disso-
luton of the Union restore slavery 10 the
District? 1t would not. Would there
be any better chance of recapturing your
fugitive slaves after dissolution of Union !
Certainly not.
After dissolution, all redress is at an
end. Will the South be more secure in
their slaves within their own States after
dissolution than they are now! Then
the slaves will find that their escape will
be far easier.
lie denied the right of any one or more
States to secede. The Union was to be
forever and for all posterity. Dissolution
Of the Union and war were inseparable.-I
TO dissolve the Union there must be a
given or actual war. The con-
sent would not be given, and war was the
only mode left. Even if the consent could
be obtained, in less than sixty days there
must be a war between the empiracies.- -
Slaves will escape from Kentucky across
the river into free States; they will be pur-
sued, the pursuers will be repulsed, and
then comes a war; and in less than six
~ days the whole country will be in the
blaze Of war.
In case of dissolution Of the Union
there must be three empiracies-the nor
thern free States, the Atlantic States, and
The confederacy Of the great Mississippi
valley. Those who reside at the head |
waters and tributaries Of that river will
never consent that the mouth Of that river
shall ever be held BY foreign power.
There will be O:her divisions bu, the
dark veil which overhangs the future is
TOO thick to be penetrated by mortal eyes. |
He was for staying in The Union. He
would not allow himself to be driven out
Of it. He was for remaining where he |
was, and for fighting for his rights there. |
In the Union he now was, and there he
meant TO die. Th:re was a better opporlu-
nifty Of maintaining his rights in the Union,
han there was of getting them out Of the
Union.
The union of these States was for all
7osterity. Itwas like the marriage Tels-
ion, there was no power to Dissolve the
lie. And he would comure the northern
States and the southern States to saw 10
each other as husband and wife We both
have faults there is nothing human with
out errors let us, for the future, forget
each others faults, and live peacefully /
and happy together.
Disunion would be succeeded BY a war