Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-07-24
Mr. Clay's Will.

Some Of the papers have endeavored to man
ufacture any amount of Indignation against Mr..
0iddings and Mr.. Garrison and others, who
have ventured to suggest that Henry Clay was
not altogether the more than saint-the Divin-
ity, which his eulogists have been pleased to
represent him. II any defence Of their course 10
needed, 1t is to be found, without search, in the
fact, that shareholders north and south-his
political friends and enemies have all united to
represent him as the divine apostle Of liberty
When the fact is, that no man who has figured
in our national history has done as much to
render slavery irradcablo from our soil, no man
has done as much to extend its area and to COM
bine the government and all the people in it's
existence and support. Whatever else he may
have done, this has rendered his advent and ex-
istence among us a calamity and curse to tho
nation-as 1t has also been to tho slaves whom
he has personally held in bondage and be-
queathed with their chains to his posterity. A
iie, the mightcst efforts Of which, were devoted
to this accurscd object, is now represented ar
resplendent with virtue, and crowned with
martyr-like devotion to freedom. BY thus fall
styling history, deceiving and corruptng our
people, and teaching the hearts Of our youth to
peat with love and veneration for the apostle of
slavery. as the demigod of liberty, they hope by
his death to more effectually establish tyranny,
than ever no has done by his long life of dcvo-
ton to its interest In view of all this il does
not become the friends of truth and freedom 10
be silent. To be silent at such a time il to bo
false to truth, to freedom, to man and to God.
Mr.. Clay died as he lived, a slave holder.
claiming the right OF ownership Of human be-
ing', and exercising that ownership, over, we
Know not how many, men, women and chill
dren. The most stupcndous crime which man
can pcrpctratc. Some years ago his slaves werc
said to number sixty souls. Whether they
have increased or diminished we do not know.
Doubtless they have increased unless the slave
trade may have prevented. He has died with
no act or word to mark his penitcnce or recret.
But on the contrary has lett will bcqueathing
the crime to his posterity.
On Monday the l2th inst, this will, was pro.
presented in court for record. 1t is dated July
10Th, 1850. In regard to his slaves il bcoueaths
nlI born before 1850 unconditionally to his fam
NY. 1t also provides that the children of his
slaves born after the first OF January, 1850 shall
be liberated and sent TO Liberia. The males at
the age OF rs years, and the females at the ago
OF 20. Three years earnings prior to their
emancipation, to be reserved for their benefit,
Tor the purpose of fitting them out; aud prior to
their removal, they arc to DO taught to read,
write and cypher.
This last provision, will doubtless be repre-
Sen'ed as pcnitcnce and philanthrophy suffi-
cient to obliteratc all past guilt OF slave holding
and slave extending. But what is iti Only
this that all the infants born of his slave moth
crs within II months previous to his death shall
be emancipated in the vigor of their life in order
to be exiled from their friends and their native
land Such tender mercies are the refinement
OF cruelty.