Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-02-09
THE ANTI-SLAvERY BUGLE,

4. District Of Columbia. Mr.. Clay proposes
to keep slavery itself alive at the National Capi-
tai, but to prohibit the slave trade. The latter,
he tells us, is an 'abomination,' which shocks
the scnsibilities of our nature Indeed Our
Kentucky moralist is getting fastidious If the
trade in slaves is an 'abomination,' what is the |
character of the institution on which that trade
is foundeds What would be thought of the
man who should affect to be shocked at the |
idea Of selling horse or a COW, and still con-
tcnd that they might be rightfully held as pro-
pertyi
8. Figitirs Slaves. These Mr.. Clay would
have the North bind herself by now obligations
to send back to their prison house In this he
reveals the cold -blooded vilany that turks in his
heart. The man who would propose to send
back into slavery the flying refugee from the
South Is capable Of any crime from the pcrpe-
tration Of which he is not restrained by the fear
of public opinion or some other accidental mo-
tive. On this point, happily, we entertain no
fears. The Representatives Of tho North,
whatever they may do in relation to the Terri
tories, dare not provide now guarantees for tho
return of runaway slaves Tho People of the
this subject, and they will not permit those laws
to be made worse. Mr.. Clay may set this down
as q fixed fact, The catching of runaway slaves,
in spite of all the enactmcnts of Congress, is to
be henccforth an undertaking as difficult as 1t is
infamous, We only wish we could be equally
certain of the exclusion of slavery from the
, Territories
O, The Inter- State Stare Trade, In regard to
this Mr.. Clay proposes nothing beyond the
, adoption of his own resolution that Congress
has no power to prohibit IL. Hero he stands
c upon the decision of the Supreme Court.
MFR. Clay, having explained the several
Q parts of his Scheme, coolly remarked that its
a adoption involved mo sacrifice of any principle
c by either party III With the North it was
G only ian abstraction "a sentiment, II you
. please, of humanity and philanthropy yes,
= that ,cas aRl-it did not touch their pockets,
but only demanded sacrifice Of their humans
| ty and philanthropy they would not become
Y poorer, but only bascr in consequence! a fresh
Q bargain TO make the whole North hunting
. ground for kidnappcrs, and solemn contract to
allow Slavery to oycrrun the Territories requir-
! ing mo sacrifice of principle Mr.. Clay must
! have meant that the North had already sunk so
, low that she had neither character nor princi-
q pie to lose. We hope she may appreciate the
compliment. '
r Mr.. Clay gives an affecting picture of the con-
. dition of the South. Property, he tells us, and
even life is at hazard. He sots forth the perils
d which surround them under the figure of d
C house in flames, rafers falling, women and chill
dren flying from the calamitous scene, and with
It their shricks and lamentations mploring the
n aid Of high ucavcn And this house was set
" on fire by tho North-not Intentionally he gra-
d ciously admits, but in fact Could there be q
,t deeper insult than this. We tell the arch Com
r house in the diabolical attempt to burn down
y the Temple of Liberty and extend the curse o
&c Human Bondage over territory wrcstcd by rob-
r bcr hands from feeble nation. The idea thai
lt the exclusion of Slavery from the Territories
20 and its abolition in the District of Columbii
will peril the lives Of the people of the South i
to so utterly prcpostorous and oven silly, that w
j. wonder the Senate did not burst with laughter
ID Tcndcr-hcOrtcd souls They had witnessed al
IS the horrors of the slave trade for years wthou
j. shedding tear, but now, with this imaginar,
r, conhagration C) before them, what sympathcti
RS gushings! what a sentimental display Of whit
at handkcrchefs Well, there is flesh in man
Id obduratc heart after all These Senatorial
Id tears arc our witnesses.
nc Tho introduction of Mr.. Clay's Scheme
ly was followed by a scene which he probably di'
c. not anticipate. He had done his utmos
or to mako an impression, and winding up as h
y did by exhibiting fragment of Washington
Ic coffin @ which he held up as a warning voic
at coming from the grave bidding Congress t.
in beware to pause and reflect he doubtless an
he ticipatcd that no word of reply would be offer
i'll cd But Senators Foote and Davis of Missis
lis sippi, Rusk, Mason, King and Downs disturbed
ct the mock solemnity of the occasion by avowini
SC their opposition to his views. Ho had no
be gone far enough in his demands upon tho Nortl
CO to suit them. Davis would accept nothing les
r. than the Missouri Compromise line, and dircc
is sanction of Slavery by Congress South of it,
= In reply to this Mr. Clay made this emphatic
is declaration:
d "Now, Sir, coming from Slave State as
10 do, owe il TO myself, lowe il to truth, owe j
u, to the subject, to say that no earthly powe
could induce me to vote for the positive intro
III duction of Slavery South or North of that line
D. Applause in the galleries, Immediately checked
If by tho officers of the Senate.l 1t is solemn
M deliberate, long-maturcd declaration--no earth
Z" ly power shall ever compel me to vote for tn
~ positive introduction of Slavery either south o
north of that line. No, Sir No We re
O. proach-justly roproach-our British ancestor
for the introduction Of that institution in thi
J" country. / am not for laying the groundwork
IL Of an institution for which the posterity G
ei California--perhaps the present inhabitants G
II California and New Moxico-shall rcproach u
for doing toward them what We rcproach Grea