The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-10
"COL. G. M. CLAWS SPEECH.

"Colonel Cassius M Clay, candidate for Gov
ernor, has arrived in this city, and will address
our low-citizens to night at early gaslight, at
the Court House. He will doubtless have large
crowd to hear him, but he will find there is but
little sympathy with his movement in Louisvillen
Neither of our other city papers noticed the
arrival of Mr.. Clay, and would doubtless have
been much pleased to have had him greeted with
a spiritess and meager audience.
At an early hour the People began to pour into
the spacious hall of the Court House, and at the
appointed time for speaking the house was filled
so that large numbers had to stand How many
of the audience were attracted by motives of mere
curiosity, and how many came together from
sympathy with the aims and objects of the speak.
err, cannot be told but this much may be said
the audience was much larger than usually meets
for the purpose Of listening to a mere political
speech. MIR. Clay was listened to with the most
respectful attention for two and half hours, de-
livered sound anti-slsvery speech and was fire..
quently enthusiastically cheered. | confess my.
self most agreeably disappointed. All of our
party papers were opposed TO the movement The
Emancipationists' paper generally considered his
present course an ill-advised one. Politicians
were up in arms against him yet, in spite of all
he was greeted with a large and enthusiastic au.
dienoe, disarmed the prejudices of his opposers,
dissipated the fears Of his timid friends and CON-
manded the respect II hot the good wishes of all
Such is the power Of Truth, when proclaimed BY
man in earnest.
am by no means an indiscriminate admirer OF
Cassius Clay. On the contrary, have thought
some of his movements rash and premature, and
have sometimes feared his course was calculated
to retard the progress of the cause he has sincere
ly at heart. | had even thought the present
movement of his not wel-consdered, and went to
the meeting with my mind pretty we'll made up
not to vote at all at our coming election but
came away with the determination to vote for
Cassius Clay If he does not get another vote in
the State. Others may do as they please, but |
intend to vote my sentiments when an opportuni.
ty offers not vote at all This is the best plan.
and indeed sometimes the only plan whereby a
citizen can bear witness for the truth.
am happy to add that am not alone in my
impressions az to the effect Of this address have
heard several of our most substantial citizens both
Wing and Democratic speak Of IL in terms of
high proe; and really begin to hope that Mr..
Clay may yet get respectable vote Ia this city,
especially il he will speak few nights q short
time previous to the election.
You and your readers are already familiar with
the strong political, social, and economical anti.
slavery arguments brought forward by Mr. Clay,
and will only meption point or two which
thought were put very forcibly;
"We are told, said he, "that this is the wrong
time to agitate this question. Well, gentlemen,
when will be the yigh time for the abettors and
upholders Of slavery We were told, year or
two since, that this exciting and sgitatiug subject
ought not to be discussed when we were framing
anew our organic law. Then we needed calm de-
liberation, aud the slavery question ought not to
be permitted to interfere. Politicians then told
us it was TOO soon to discuss this great question
"Well, gentlemen, our organic law Is framed,
and the new Constitution is adopted as the su.
preme law Of the land. And now, when we come
forward and propose to discuss this great ques-
tion calmly and deliberately these same pre-. sla-
very politicians turn around and coolly tell us
IS TOO late; this thing Is fixed in the Constitu-
ton. Gentlemen, II you wait until 1t is convent
ent for the politicians and proslavery men to dis
cuss and act upon this question Of slavery, 1t will
be about the time that the celebrated Charles Fox
fixed for the payment Of his creditors-ihe Day of
JUDGMENT. Their convenient season will never
Gomez
Mr.. Clay showed very conclusiveIy that there
is really no great national issue now existing be-
tween the Wing and Democratic parties, except |
il be struggle for the cmoluments Of Office, and
that the smancipatiba S~sst,on was far more inn
portant TO us, as ciiizess Of Kentucky, than any
other possibly could be.
He also spoke out boldly both against the I'M
and impolicy Of the Fugitive
Slave Law, and showed conolusively that until ii
is repealed or modified, 1t will tend to increase
instead Of allay agitation in the free States thus
ultimately rendering slave property more insecure
than before.
In conclusion, he pronounced glowing and ell
oquent eulogy on the Union, which was warmly
responded to by the audience.
To characterize the speech in a few words,
may say, 1t was manly, sensible, and earnest APP
peal TO the judgment and common sense Of the
audience, and but little was said at which even an
opponent could take offence
A CITIZEN OF KENTUCKY.