The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-02

South are not so base as your argument would
| make them They have not passed that last
| round in the descent 10 crime and infsmy, where
insehsibility TO shame aud public denunciafion
stupefes the villain Thsir whole etfert Us very
naturally, to make slavery just rs toierable ms
slavery can be made, consistent with its perIns-
nence. But the same causes which tend TO its
amelioration will accomplish its abolition at last
lf laws cannot be long better thah public opin-
ion-so they cannot long be worse thsn public
opinion. When slavery comes under the ban Of
a widespread public opinion, It viii perish in
spite Of obsolete laws and paper constitutions!
Complsisance, charity, compromise, sir, are the
supports of slavery! Easy virtue" in church
and state, consummates the ruin Of political
morals, debauches the nation, and makes slavery
very tolerable thing IA "patriarchal institu-
ton The praises of the Southern press ought
to remind you Of certain wise man Of antiquity,
"Titinius applauds-Pve said a foolish thing y
There is much to approve in what you say OF
5jspoiop
The liberty of the white race who are the ma
jority, is not to be jeopsrded for any contingent
possibility of thereby freeing the black race Far
less is the Union to be dissolved for the purpose
Of maintaining slavery! Three hundred thou
sand Shareholders are not the South as they will
find out, when they choose to put the fearful
issue" Slavery, or Disunionp w, III Seward,
nearly right in all his speech, is surely right in
this that the Shareholders are the last TO seek dis
union! It is Bullyism and Braggardism, and
nothing else They knew the tameness OF the
North, and calculated upon it, and succeeded |
do not therefore feel the eioquence Of your speech
just here-it seems but "mock-tragedy" at best !!
With sorrow be IL said, that even your virtues
lean to vices side The proposition to appro-
pirate money for the colonization Of free blacks
should when carried into a law, be entitled IA
bill for the encouragement Of crime ~ | am
Colonizationist, because | think free educated
black colony WILL perhaps, civilize Africa. But
colonization, with a view merely Of getting clear
Of a free colored class, who are ga thorn in the
Kings side" has none OF my sympathy
If you had said TO the South, give us the lib
erty Of all your bondmen, and we will give you
all our public revenue beyond the actual necess-
tiss OF Iacznsy gent even with colonization, you
would have said great, good, and sensible
thing wish for your own sake, much, and yet
more, for the sake of the Union, and of humanity
at large, that you had nerYed yourself to paint
slavery, as none but you could have painted it,
and then have come forward in good earnest with
protfer of the proceeds of the public lands and
all other available means, to assist in its final
eradication II is source Of regret to all lovers
of American genius, that you did not prove as
gloriously great, as you are unquestiQnably tai
ented That your aspirations were not for a
country JUST, as well as widespread" and pow
erful--an altar where the soul could pour out its
love, and prayers, as well as its admiration
"LIpeRrY and Union-one and inseparable, now,
and forever
have freely spoken, as an advocate Of liberty
not as your enemy. | shall not be Of those who
wish to put you down, or see you put down!
trust you may long live, and long be in the coun-
ellis of the nation-more earnestly and faithfully
to use, for the good of the nation and humanity,
those great powers with which Nature has so
signally marked you.
Believe me, truly and respectfully, your most
obedient servant, c. M CLAY.
Madison Co, Ky, April 3, 1850.