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


DANIEL Uilmann, i. d Comm Rober, Smith,
and others.
LETTER FROM HON. HENRY CLAY.
ASHLAND, Friday, Oct 3, ISL.
GENTLEMEN: 7 have duly received your official
letter transmitting address numerously signed by
nv fellow citizens of New-York inviting me TO vsi,
that city, and address public meeting on some OF
che public and exciting topics of the day; and you
are pleased TO add an expression OF your own KIND
wishes, that would accept the invitation. should
be most happy, III felt myself IN condition to do SO
but for the assigned In my answer to the ad-
dress which is herewith forwarded, am very sorry
that il Is not In my power to accept 1t. hope thai
answer may be deemed satisfactory by you, and by
those whom you represent.
have the honor TO be- gentlemen, with high re-
spect, Your obedent servant, ii. CLAY.
AessIs Geo Guswold, stephen Whltney A c kingsand,
Chas. NJ. Lsupp and Jas ID p Ogden, &c nc
ASHLAND, Friday, Oct 3, 1851
GENTLEMEN: have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt, Yesterday, OF the address which
YOU transmitted TO me, from a number Of gentle
men IN the City " New-Iork. Emanatlng from
a source so highly respectable and imposing,
from friends and tellOw-cltlZens so numerousand
intelligent, and to whom am under such great
obligations. have perused IT with profound at
tention and Difference. After adVertlng TO the
present state of public affairs, TO the spirit adj
verse to the measures OF COMPROMISE adopted du-
ring the last Congress, which prevails IN certain
quarters TO the necessity OF unrcuh'ted eXertlons
10 preserve our glorious Union, and TO what has
been so seasonably and we'll done, with SO much
ability, sloquence and patriotism, by some OF our
eminent Countrymen YOU invite me TO leave, Tor
atlme, my quiet abode here, 10 appear IN yoar
great city and to address my feilov-cltlzens on
the actual condition, and menaclng danger of our
country.
feel, gentlemen, with the greatest interest
and the deepest sohCitude the full force OF all
that YOU have expressed, and would gladly
comply with your wishes, and even dedicate the
remnant OF a life, the largest and best part OF
which has been spent IN the public service, to
the cause of the Union. IT the state of my health
would allow me, and IT believed that any fresh
exeItiOns OF NINE would be useful. But ever
SINCE the long session OF the last Congress, during
which my arduous duties were greater than was
well able TO encounter, my health has been delicate,
aud II has renamed So throughout, The past summer
l hope that It Is improving, but II Sul requires the
most asslduouS care and entertain serious appre-
tensions that II were 10 accept your invitation,
and throw nyselt INTO the scenes of excitement IN
coent to II, my 9Th might FAM me, and my pre-
sen, debility might be much increased. There is no
place, | am fully aware where should Ind more
ardent and enthusiastic friends IN one party, and
courtesy and respect IN the other, than IN the
commercial metropolis OF the Union. While | am
constrained, With much regret respectfully to decline
the meeting YOU propose, avail myself OF tue oc
a.
public Affairs, and which trust may be received
substitute FOR any oral exhibition OF them which
could make before a large concourse Of my fellow
citizens IN New-Nork.
twas not supposed by the authors and supporters
Of the COMPROMISE. IN the last Congress, that the
adoption OF the series Of measures when composed
u, would secure the unanimous concurrence OF all
Their reasonable hopes were conuued 10 the great
majority OF the people OF the United States, and their
hopes have noi been Disappointed. Everywhere,
north, south, cas-; and west, an immense majority of
u q
Comprv mise. This may be confidently asserted IN
regard 10 thirteen oi the slave-holdng states, ami
Ia thirteen, II not fourteen Of the tree States In
few Of both classes Of the States and In some parlcu.
lar locaiues dissatisfaction exists exhibiting itself
occasionally IN words OF great violence and lntem-
lerance but tins ieelihg Is, trust, where II has
most prevailed, gradually welding 10 an enlightened
sense OF pubic duly. Will present Tapic survey
Of the actual state OF things, as II appears 10 me-
10Th THE North and The South, Beginning 1t the
former.
In all that region, there is but one OF the various
COMPROMISE measures thai Is seriously sSsallet and
that Is the law, made IN strict conformity with the
Constitution for the surrender OF tuglnves from law
ful service labor. But the law itself, with two
exceptions. has been everywhere enforced opposl-
ton 70 II IS constantly aealng and the pairiouc oo
eAtlons of ore,ipg the Constitution and the laws
made directly or indirectly oy the people them-
selves. is now almost universally recognized and
admitted H. IN the execution OF The law by The pub
iic authority. popular discomfort = sometimes mani
tested II has, with the exceptions mentioned. been
invariably represssd, or prevented from oosuucing
tte officers oil justice Ia the performance OF Their du-
lies. Ii am correctly informed, great and Sa!u-
Iy change has been made apd is vel progress. a,
the Moth which authorizes the conacen, sntlclpa-
ton that reason and law viii finally achieve noble
Triumph
The necessity OF maintaining ard enforcing ,ha,
Law. unrepsaltd, and without any modification thai
would seriously impair its efficiency, must De admit
ted ey the Impartial judgment Of al candid men.
Many of the slareheldmg States. ana many pubic
lungs OF The people Of them have deliberately de-
elare0 thai their adherence 10 the Union depended
upon the preservation ., that law and that lis abal
tonmsn, would De the signal the dissolution Of the
Union know that the AhohtlonIsis tsome of whom
openly ayow 4 desire 20 produce that calantous
event Sand their partssns deny and dcride the exist:
enee OF any such danger but men who Will not per-
eeye and own IT, must De blind 10 the signs et the
times TO the sectional s,rie which has unhapp,iy
ARISEN, tc the emei,iered feelings which have been
excited as well as the solemn resolutions OF cehoe
ra,iye assemblies, unanimously adopted Their DIS
regard Of the danger AN app'ehsasve, proceeds