Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-11-06
A Great Union Letter from the Hon.
Henry Clay.
ASHLAND, Sd October, 1851.

ASHLAND, Sd October, 1851.
GENTLEMEN: / have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt, yesterday, of the
address which you transmitted to me, from
a number of gentlemen in the city of New
York. Emanating from source so highly
respectable and imposing, from friends and
fellow citizens SO numerous and intelligent,
and to whom l am under such great obliga-
tions, have perused it with profound at
tention and Difference. After adverting to
the present state of public affairs, to the
spirit adverse to the measures of compro-
mise adopted during the last Congress,
which prevails in certain quarters, to the
necessity of unremitting exertions to pre-
serve our glorious Union, and to what has
been so seasonably and well done, with so
much ability eloquence, and patriotism, by
some Of eminent countrymen, you invite me
to leave, for time, my quiet abode here, to
appear in your great city, and to address
my fellow citizens on the actual condition
and menacing dangers of our country.
feel, gentlemen, with the greatest inter-
est and the deepest solicitude, the full force
of all that you have expressed; and l would
gladly comply with your wishes, and even
dedicate the remnant of a life, the largest
and best pert of which has been spent in the
public service, to the cause oflhe Union, il
the state of my health would allow me, and
ifI believed that any fresh exertions of mine
would be useful. But ever since the long
session of the last Congress, during which
my arduous duties were greater than was
able to encounter, my health has been deli
cate, and it has remained so throughout the
past summer. hope that it is improving
but it still requires the most assiduous care
and l entertain serious apprehensions that il
were accept your invitation, and throw
myself into the scenes of excitement Incl
dent to it, my strength might fail me, ane
my present debility might be much increas
ed. There is no place, | am fully aware
where | should find more ardent and enthu
siastic friends in one party, and more courte
sy and respect in the other, than in the com
mercial metropolis of the Union. Whilst
am constrained, with much regret, respect
fully to decline the meeting you propose,
avail myself of the occasion TO present som
views which | have taken Of public affairs
and which thrust may be received as sub
situte for nv oral exhibition Of them, whic
could make before large concourse c
my fellow citizens in New York.
/ was not supposed by the authors an
supporters OF the compromise, in the las
Congress, that the adoption of the series
measures which composed 1t would secur
the unanimous concurrence of all. Thel
reasonable hopes were confined 10 the gre'
majority of the people Of the United State
and their hopes have not been disappolnee'
Everywhere, north, south, east and west, a
immense majority of the people are satisfe
with, or acquiesce in, the compromise
This may be confidently asserted in regai
to thirteen of the slaveholding states, and
thirteen, if not fourteen, of the free State
In a few of both classes Of the States, and
some particular localities, dissatisfaction e.
fists exhibiting itself occasionally in words
violence and intemperance; but this ieelll
is, ] trust, where it has most prevahe
gradually yielding to an enlightad sense
public duty. / will present rapid sufy
of the actual state of things, as it appears
me, both at the North and toe South begi
ming at the former
/ all that region there is but one Of the
rious compromise measures that is serior
w assailed, and that is the law, made
strict conformity with the Constitution
r the surrender of fugitives from lawful ST
vice or labor. But the law itself, with t.
exceptions, hos been everywhere enforce
opposition to it is constantly abating, a
the patriotic obligations ofobeying the u
stitution and the laws, made directly or
d;rsctlv by the people themselves, is now