New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-10-18

but no y ortn. nencefOrth there E0ulG De
Norfh-men who have not deemed them
selves agitators nor disturbers though they
have appeared steadily to resist the agrees
sions of the Slave Power We find there
also the names of men who went to Buffalo
in lS4S to lay there the platform of new
party, distinguished by the thoroughness Of
its hostility to any Extension of Slavery, to
the admission of new Slave States, &c, &c.
Now they are denouncing the utterance of
these identical sentiments as semi- treason
able and calculated to break up the Union
Well; We must exercise patience with re-
gard to many sad vagaries and selfish tol-
lies.
-Messrs. e.. Griswold, c. VI. Connolly.
Mickle & Co. tell Mr. Clay that "unremitted
efforts in favor of Union sometimes are ne
cessary to resist the current of error and Sc
cure the maintenance of sound principles of
attachment to the Constitution" &c. The
reference is here plainly to Northern Terror"
and Northern deficiency of attachment to
Union sentiments" and to "the Constitu-
ton. We repel the accusation. The t'u-
gitive Slave Law may accord with the Con-
Stitution, Though we deny that 1t does; but
it certainly is not itself the Constitution. nor
is one in hundred of those whose con-
science condemn that law opposed to either
the Union or the Constitution. 1t would be
as sensible to identify Mr.. Clay with his
snuff box. and hold all who decline taking
snuff Mr.. Claws enemies, as to accuse all
who dislike and revolt at the provisions of
the Fugitive Slave Law enemies of the
Constitution and the Union.
Mr.. Clay's answer gently but decidedly
rebukes this uncharitable Judgment He
very properly suggests that the fierce pas
sions aroused BY the vehement contest of
1880 with regard to the legalizaton or
Introduction of Slavery in the New Terri
tories must be allowed time to cool, and
that the demonstrations of acquiescence in
the Compromise measures, both at the
North and at the South, have been quite as
prompt and as general as could reasonably
have been expected. He thinks the ten
dency towards such acquiescence has not
yet exhausted its momentum, and that the
feeling of repugnance at the North to some
of the provisions of the Fugitive Slave
Law, and to their execution, " is gradually
Welding to an enlightened sense of public
duty" All that Mr.. Clay so forcibly says
under this head is quiet but most signifi-
cant rebuke to the Union and Safety opera
tons for which our City has been so con-
spicuous. Holding public meetings to de-
nounce and repress agitation is like drink
inc Yourself drunk for fear some companion
NAV take glass too much if the liquor Is
not put out of his way. If you would soothe
agitation you must stop agitating. The
failure of the protracted Congressional at
tempts to put down Abolition by rejecting all
ti-Slavery memorials without a hearing
ought to be conclusive on this head. MIR.
Clay, therefore, in declining to come to this
City to make speeches against Slavery Agl-
tation, has shown that he understands the
case, and desires peace for the country
rather than notoriety or personal advantage
to himself. He has no dry-goOds to sell
and no newspaper to commend to the favor
of those who have.
But Mr. Clay undertakes the force, be-
cause he does not fully appreciate the char
acter, of Northern repugnance to some pro-
visions of the Fugitive Slave Law. He
does not realize that large majority of
those with whom this repugnanee is deep
est are among the best of our CITIZENSHIP
telligent moral, and law-loving-and that
they shrink from the enforcement of the Flu
gitive Slave Law as it is because that law
weighs upon their understandings and con-
sciences as standing in direct and emphatic
antagonism to the great Law Of Love which
they must not, dare not disobey. "WhatSo-
ever We would that men should do unto you,
dove even so unto them such is the COM
mandment, of no doubtful import and OF uni
versal obligation, which they cannot recon-
Gle with the demand made on them by this
law for direct, efficient, personal aid in eff
fecting the capture and return into bondage
of those whom this Fugitive Slave Law
marks out as its victims Can there be any
doubt that their embarrassment has real
foundation Let us suppose clergyman
PRAYING in the midst of his congregation for
the speedy coming of the Divinely promised
kingdom of universal righteousness and
Justice, the breaking of every yoke and the