Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-07-31
Letter from CussIus n. Clay.
WBIrE HALL r. o, I
MADISON Co, Ky, Juiu 5. 1859. {

MY DEAR SIN: My nnme has been by
somc friends suggested ms n candidate for
President mud by more for Vice President of
tho United States on the Free Democratic
ticket Allow me TO say that | linye ia all
my conversations aud letters, discouraged
any such procedure. ! now decline alto
geihcr having my name used in the Pitts
burgl Convention. In doing SO, I do not
fail TO appreciate the very distinguished
honor which, were successful in such NOM
ination, would be conferred upon mems
much more honorable than a Whig aud
Democratic nomination would be, as Free
dom Is more glorious than Slavery. Neither
am Influenced by the prospect OF toinporn-
ry deieat for IL is in my view far more
honorable TO Seseyrs success than to win IL!
But though nn old soldier in the cause Of
American Repubcansn, am a new conner
~ the Free Democratic organization and |
deem u but just that the compliment OF
siandard-beurer should bc conferred upon
those whose advanced age viii not allow
them TO rcnp any Of the fruits Of their luI-
ors IN the achievement Of victory and power.
J think the chances are in favor OF my liv-
ing TO see bothl have yet fnih that the
declarations of '76 are not ohly true, but dcs-
tined to accomplishment that not IN vain
were the aspirations Of those great-heurted
patriots, who died that we might be FREQ
that these events which have illustrated tho
last half century are not TO lie dimnied ly
confirmed despotisn that il can hardly bc
that the mission of America is to hunt down
n fugitive slave! Over the skies of my ys-
ion no such clouds of despair lower! My
spirit is not narrcd in all It's possible happi.
ness Ivy any such event THIS, not only the
eternal course of Destiny declares, but tho
late Conventions at Baltimore attest Lib
eriy, alter nll, Is not so low in the reverence
OF lis blnsplcncrs, when upon the shrine of
her Precipitation Is poured ont the blood ~
Cnss, Buchanan, u Fillmore, aud
Wehstcrl No; Our cause is one lpoD
which the ideal builds the heaven of its
happiness, and the practical rests its great
dcvclopmcnt-ihe cause of Humanity aud of
God! The Free Democracy ni,ist ut last
and soon control the desiinics of this Re-
public. Sacred be the mcmory of our faith
ers! Their principles shall hc ,ihdicatcd,
their avowas made good; tile devil Of our
| great woo shall hc cnSt out; Slavery shnl
| perish! True Rrpublicanisin sl,all bc es-
lablishcd--America shall bc free. Our al
lance with foreign dcspoiisms shall be dis
solved; the great pressure Of our aposfnry
shall lie lifted of finn the crushed henrfs
OF Tie Democracy everywhere we shah bs
not only the hope but tie help of the nations,
till their destiny be accomplished! A Sold
ier, then in the ranks, the nominees of the
Pittsburgh Convention shall receive my ur-
reserved support. shall not disionor my
self by associating with parties who despise
me, or vindlcaie political cree,ls which in
the same breath ! denouncc! "Can't or
can he elected" never IVES or never shall bo
in my political vocabulary nsk myself
"Am right" Aud ever, amid the tlin,lers
of the battle, my war cry shall be, "Don't
give up the slip!"
have the honor to be your friend aud
obedient servant, &. NJ. CLAY.
G. Bailey Esq.