The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-11-06
np c1.AY,S LETTER

|
HalIeyc, aud With The editor Of tha, pa
per, rcgre, tina, il is out Of our power e
civ, The whulo Of this very Interesting lei
tier. |, is worthy OF the best days oil alr'
CAY, and Is, in every part, like ~ The oh
er productions of lis greo, auth r. clear
forcibe aud emiuently patriotic:
The New York papers tring Us Tue lal
Ter of Ar Clay in reply 10 an invi'nilor
from a large body oil the most respeciabl,
land iniuenial citizens of New York, 10 Wis
| il tha, city, and address them on some Of ihs
public and exciting topics Of tho day. MI
Cla, regrets that the state Of his health re-
quires him 10 decline The invitation, Lest
The scenes Of excitement into which be
might lie thrown should be detrimental q
lhis health, which has been delicate ever
since the long session Of the last Congress
The committee ia their address to MI
Clay having alluded to tho compromis c
measures, he expresses his helef,ha, the
patriotic obligation Of oheying the Consil-
tuition and laws made directly or indirectly
by the people themselves, is now almost
universally recognized and admitted. lie
thinks there has been on this question, .
salatary change nj The North which auth.
orizes the confident anticipation that fea-
son and law will finally achieve noble
triumph. Every where North, South, Est
and West an immense majority Of the pee-
pie are satisfied with or acquiesce in the
Compromise. This, he SAYS, may be con.
fden,ly affirmed in regard To thirteen Of
The slave-holding States, and thirteen, il
not fourteen of the free States.
Mr. Clay thinks that the necessity q
maintaining and enforcing the Fugitive
Slave law, unrepealed, and without my
modification iha, would seriously impair its
efficiency, mus, be admitted BY The imparll-
al judgment Of all candid men. He thinks
nm abandonment Of the law would endan-
ger the Union; and that though abolition
lists and their par,isans deny and deride the
existence Of any such danger, tha, men
who will not perceive and own il. must be
blind 10 the signs of the times. as well as Il
the actual state Of feeling al The South.
The committee in their letter having al
udei 10 tho resolutions and addresses
adopted al conventions in which the qnes
ton oi adherence toihe Compromise is eva
ded or avoided, Mr.. Clay in his letter I'd
ministers iast rebnke 10 these bodies:
II wish TINT these respectable bodies
could have been less ambiguous, and more
explicit, in declaring their determination
10 acqniesce il. and abide by, n great meas.
ire 81 Peace and Compromise, which, form
ing an epoch in the progress Of our coan.
Ilry, was intended 10 reconcile and restor,
concord and traternal feelings among on
divided coan,rymea. There was no ne
leessiiy 10 reserve right 10 discuss, /,
modify aud 10 repeal the obnoxious law
Such RICH, existed aiihpn, any express
reservation, not only as 10 thai law. hni a
To all laws, and as TO the Constitution it
eel, which has Incorporated in i the RICH;
Iof amendment, and consequently that )
discussion. Bat there are occasions hci
a spirit Of moderation should prompt for
bearance 10 exercise that right. II more
we're intended than meets the eve, NOR
han to proclaim The thcoretic right q dis
cession, il'it were designed taannounce ,ht
right Of nnremitIed agitation, u coniina,
the distractions Of the country, and, final
Is, il possible, 10 repeal The Fugitive Slave
Law, patriotism md harmony must con
denim the unaise course. IS lranght viii
the most mischicvous and perilous conse
qIences."
!
The agitation 10 South Carolina is refer
red TO with regret, and the Modification
and Secession doctrines are treated in ;
manner thai must show their absrrdty I,
every mind. This portion of his letter VI
are obliged TO defer until next week.