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

.. MIR Clay on the Union.
In his letter to the great Union meeting in
Philadelphia, Mr.. CLAY makes the following dec
laration
sThe question before the nation is, Git would
be folly to blink or disguise IT'D whether agita-
ton against slavery shall put down the URion,
or the Union shall be preserved, and that agita-
ton be put down. There is no other alterna-
tive. And is there any patriot that can doubt or
hesitate on such an issue!"
If these are the alternatives-the end of agi-
tation or of the Union--it requires no prophets
inspiration to foresee which end will come; and
Mr.. CLAY has presented the issue in terms that
bring him quite suddenly to the disunion side.
For who expects that agitation will cease? Is
there any hope of it! But day or two before
his letter appeared, the New York Tribune, the
leading paper of his own victor party in the
largest State of the Union, pronounced emphati-
cally for continued discussion of slavery, and
derided all threats and entreaties to end it. The
same paper contains the following extract from
the speech of GEORGE THOMPSON, the British
Abolitionist, who, more favored at Boston than
the Georgia claimants, was, after being once pre-
vented from making speech, permitted to adj
dress the next meeting he attended in that city:
"a voice has spoken in the ear of this mighty
nation, and has said
Sleep no more!
Slavery has murdered sleep. 1t is unneces-
sary for me to enter upon historical details
Most, if not all, of you have been living wit
nesses of the progress of the cause. Some of
you have been conspicuous actors in the sublime
drama which is still unfolding its scenes-deep-
ening in interest as they advance in the stage of
the civilized world.
The question is up-the contest is begun
the combat thickens-the battle becomes grand
it will be grander still-it will be the greatest
and grandest ever fought on earth, and its con-
sequences the most momentOus and far-reaching
of any that have ever followed from war of
principles since the world began.
Slavery! it is the theme of every newspaper.
1t is the topic of debate in every Legislative hail.
1t lengthens the sittings of Congress. 1t allows
your Senators but two hours rest at night. 1t
mixes with your SOIL 1t determines your boun-
dairy lines. 1t is that word in every new con-
stitution which causes the mightiest ntellects in
the land to grapple with each other in passion
ate and unyielding conflict. Iii the pivot upon
which every election turns 1t decides the COM
plexion of every ticket placed in the ballot-box.
1t is the test of membership in churches. 1t is
the cause of divisions in communities. ltleads
to new combinations of political parties. 1t
makes and unmakes Bishops. Itphanges Wings
into Democrats, and both into Free sellers. 1t
is the Interpreter of the tables Of stone given
to Moses, and of the precepts to brotherly love
uttered by Jesus. 1t meets the priest on the
steps of the altar-the preacher on the stairs of
the pulpit-the merchant on the busy Exchange
and the New England farmer; when hungry,
naked wanderer asks in the name of it and hui
mainly shelter for the night.
Is it nothing, my friends, that all this has been
brought to pass in twenty years! ls it nothing,
that an obsolete and buried Christianity has been
exhumed, and sent forth, like a refining fire, to
purify this land from the curse of slavery"
GEORGE THOMPSON was chased away from
Boston for his aboltionism fifteen years ago
He returned to be welcomed with honors and
congratulations and to see claimants of slaves
chased away. The abolition agitation had then
begun. The prophetic eye of Mr.. CALHOUN
foresaw the consequences, and he proclaimed
them. lie was then told by Mr.. WEBSTER that
Abolitonists were contemplate in numbers and
character, and were impotent. Mr.. CALHOUN
told him that the day would come when he would
be compelled either to adopt their views or be
driren from the public councils. Fifteen years
only have elapsed, and not year has passed
since the grave closed over Mr.. CALHOUN, and
Mr.. WEBSTER is repudiated by Massachusetts, ;
and in his place British raven croaks. He
comes, and proclaims universal emancipation,
and who does not see that the nert issue, real
and practical, between North and South, will
be that