The daily union., 1852-12-30
From the Baltimore Sun
Extract from speech Of Henry Clay.

Extract from q Speech Of Henry Clay.
We published the other day communication relative
to the Lennon in New York, the manuscript OF
which was appended extract from speech made BY
Mr.. Clay years since. That extract is subolned,
and will at this day, well as when il was delivered,
amply requite careful perusal:
Mr. President. do think that the whole class OF
legislation, beginning IN the northern States and extend
ing TO of the western States, by which distractions
and impedmenis have been thrown in the way of the
recovery OF fugitive slaves, is unconstitutional, and
has originated in spirit which trust will correct iise
when those States come calmly 10 consider the nature
and extent of their federal obligations OF all the States
in this Union unless it be Virginia, the State OF which
am resident suffers most by the escape OF their slaves
10 adjoining States have very ltiIe doubt indeed,
sequence of the escape OF her slaves greater at least
in proportion TO the total number of slaves which
held within that Commonwealth, even Than IN Virginia.
know full well, and does the honorable senator
from Ohio know that 1t s a, the utmost hazard and In.
security 10 life ITSELF that kentucklan can cross the
river and go into the interior 10 lake back his fugitive
slave to the place from whence he fed. Recently an
example occurred even in the city of Cincinnati, an
spect to one OF most respectable citizens. Not hav
ing visited Ohio al all, but Covington on the opposite
aide OF the rve little slave of his escaped Cn
einnati He pursued he found in the house in which
concealed he took It out, and il rescued by
the violence and force of negro mob from bis posses
son. the police OF the city standing by and either unw
ling or unable 10 afford the assistance which requ
site 10 unable him 10 recover his property.
Upon this subject do think that we have just and
serious cause OF complaint against the free States 4
think they fail in fulfilling great obligation, and the
failure precisely upon OF those subjects which in
It's nature is the most irritating and nhamlng 10 those
who live in The slave States
Now sir Think il is mark OF no good nsghborAood
Of 10 kindness, Of courtesy, that living in slave
Stale cannot with any sort OF safety, travel in the free
States with his seryanis, although he has no purpose
whatever OF stopping there longer than short lime
And on this whole subject sir, how has the legislation OF
the free States altered Tor The within the OF
the last twenty or thirty years Why, sir most OF those
States. until within period Of the last twenty or thirty
years had for the benefit OF soourners they
called, passing through abiding for the moment in the
free States with their servants Sir, recoect case
that occurred during the Myfrend Mr. Cheyes, OF
South Carolina, instead OF going home IN the vacation
went TO Philadelphia taking his family servants with
him. SoGe OF the abolitionists OF that city took out
habeIs corpus, seized ikc slaves and the question
brought before the supreme court oil the State OF Penn
sylvania, where IL argued for days. II neces-
sary during the progress OF the argument, 10 refer TO
great variety oil statutes passed from time TO time
BY the legislature Of Pennsylvania, on behalf OF
the soourner, guaraniYing and securing to him The
possession OF his property during his temporary
passage or abode within the limits OF that Common
wealth Finally, the court gave their opinion .serfa
fim each Judge his separate opinion, until il 10
Judge Breckenridge 10 deliver hs, who the youngest
Judge, think, the bench During the progress Of the
delivery Of as opinions m ,pey ~ naS
and each Of The judges who preceded Mr., Breckenridge
always pronounced the yord sudgonets" When II
said al agree in all hsi my learned brethren have pro
nouneed upon this OCCASION except IN The pronunciation
Of The word sojouner. They pronounced i .sudgeneIi
bSt call j 'sol9umeri Laaghierl Wen now m ~,
free States swept away except believe, in the Stale
OF Rhode Island.
MIR. Dayton. md New Jersey.
MIR Clay Aye, and in New Jersey I am happy TO
hear il but in most OF the large Staies-in most II not
ALL OF the New England Stses-these laws have been
shot,shed showing the progressive tendency OF bad
neghbohood and unknd action the part OF the free
States towards the sayeholding States.
Dir President, do not 10 contest the ground;
am not going argue the question whether, II
carries his slave voluntarily into the free States and he
fugitive whether that slave, by the voluntary ac
lion al the MASTER does does not become instantly
Titled 10 his freedom am not going to argue that
question. / know what the decision has been at The
North But mean TO ssy that j is unkind, il is
neishborly II is not 10 the spirit Of fseTna cosnexion
which exists between the members OF this confedeSscy
TO execute strict legal principle in the way suggested
sysn supposng il TO be rghAso 10 do. Bot where there
il no atpope of permanent abode intention OF
tlng finally and exclusively, and planting his slaves
within the Commonwealth, il 10 but right and proof
OF good neghborhood and kind and friendly feeling, TO
allow the OF the slave TO pass with his property
Unmoested through your State
Allow ms 10 say upon this subject though il is per
haps going further lEo data than is necessary, that OF
all the exercise OF power o those who attempt TO Sc
duce from their their slaves there b no instance
In which it s exercised njurousy TO the objects Of
their charity and benevolence in the OF the Sc
ducon OF family slaves from the service Of their
The slaves in family treated with all the kindness
thai The children OF The family receive. Everything
which they want for their comIoft s given them with the
most liberal indulgence; and, sir, hsye known more
instances than where BY this practice of the sedve
ton OF the family servants from their owners they have
been rendered wretehed and snhappy in the Tree States
ans in my own issiig, slave who had been seduced
away addressed her mistress, ssG begged and mpored
Of her The means OF getting back from The sie Of free
dom to which she had been seducsd 70 the stale Of sis
very, in which she wss 50 much more happy; and in
The case 10 which have referred he means afforded
her, and she returned TO her mistress