New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-27
SKETCHES OF LECTURES
TIE POLITICAL DEsPoTlsM OF SLAVERY.


The Fifth Lecture Of the Neg-York An'i-Savory
Society's Second Annual Course was delivered last
evening in the Tabernacle by the Hon. Cassius N.
Clay, of Kentucky, on the above subject. Notwith-
standing the unfavorablc state of the weather the
bsilding was thropged. Mr.. Clay was loudly ap-
plauded on making his appearance.
In introducing air. Clay, OLIVER JOHNSON said he
had earned for himself right to be heard by his hay
ing liberated his own slaves, and on the soil Of
slave State asserted for himself the freedom of speech
and of the press. Loud and renewed applause
Mr.. CLAY said it was one of the characteristics OF
the present time that all opinions by whatever class
entertained, must be subjected to scrutiny and free
discussion. Those who feel that they have the
truth On their side, more especially, court this
discussion Of their opinions and principles, and
he presumed that il in 40 different spirit
that he had been invited to speak here tonight
He would have preferred 70 have been invited 10
sneak on a larger Observation-Disclosures that he
considered jeoparded by the same system wnich up
held Slavery. lie next drew melancholy picture
of the condition Of The three-Gnd halt millions of
American Slaves, to ameiorate which affords field
for the widest philanthropy but the true question
was stlI wider than that consideration. When, sew
eral years since. he was invited by portion 81 the
New.York Legislature, TO speak III tins STATE, he
made the exrsyagant assertion that the great quss-
tion Of this day il not whether the black races on
this continent shall be free slaves, but whether the
white is to remain free Il II not so BIT; Gay
drew this distinction between the slave ana Tree
States viz The former IRE, in ehect, an olIgarchy,
and they 90 so far as 10 congratulate themselves
on their freedom from the 6meuteS - which the Iree
States are liable And this oigarcby in the SOuthts
not merely confined TO a despOtisn over the black
race among the whites nseves there ara "a many
class distinctions in England, and even under the
government of she Car; the land owners use their
influence TO control politics ana the press AS an e'-
dence Of this he cited the case Of the election Tor mem
hers of the Constitutional Convention IN Kentucky
when not one member was returned 10 represent the
seven or eight hundred thousand MISUNDERSTANDING
population. Against this, h5 aud others protested.
Rnt the opposng idea was stated by member of that
Convention who talked of keeping over mechanics
and non. slav eholdpg citizens the wholesome iniiu-
ence of the landlord over the tenant "hat ne means
NAV be explained by telling you the state OF thogs
among that class On each large slavehOlders estate
are MISUNDERSTANDING, tauors, matters &c
who 60 the necessary work for The master OF lne
plantation and his slaves. They are told, when an
election is about TO take place to vote their own prn
ciples independently; but If they happen TO vote
against the wishes of the stakeholder who gives them
employment, they must pull up stakes ana De gone 70
some other place. That is what Is meant by TINS
wholesome influence, and more thah oVo,V'v ma''e
Americans are kept under such dependence mus Is
the principle OF majority governing aOrogated prSc
tcaiIy Yet YOU sympathize with those who nlke
our laws build our party platforms, ana hs9e
rublic opinion You are egregiously humbugsed
Are you not or do you begin TO unoeIstahu
This spirit does not stop there It goes mo inc Rvs
and on the statute books Of the State OF hentucky
Only two instances of equal tyranny ana p:urPauo.
of popular rights have occurred III 'he hs'o'y y.
,odern civilzs tion The one was the institution Oh
.ba Star Chamber in England and the other that OF
etres de Cachet in France. The attempt 10 sustain
ard carry on. the edcts OF the one prougni inc Po
eat of her monarchs to the block LEI me amer an
Sec Chamber has attempted TO estaousn such
nr;ncnie and 10 punish him who gives cup OF
Later or n crust of bread 10 feIOw'peihS'
In the City Of Louisville, when an attempt wa T
to assert the rights of the working classes Oh lh
.l. " i
monw cath of Kentucky, the men "nV niau1 80
atte,ont were met with the revolver ana Do"!eAuIe.
An attsmp. was made also to obtain the rsnt 10 VOC
Inv ballot not rra r0ce so that the oppression VI 49,
who fancy they have right |" contro, Votes s 800
avoided; but this also was denicd. NO VIC ...
q como ;nfpepce of the landlord over the tenant
-, no r,eserved and thousands have been driven
ayvav from their homes under shis pefsecutloii. -
tba Hress is shacked in the same Way shu oil! -
nj tie distinguished men who st upon W PVu in;,
20 stand m acs nat this despotsm. Even 'ns PlP.,
bnre II anywhere sefdeuis 81 should DC iornu, -
han,d NV the same law from Grace Church au9 iriuy
down 10 the log-cahin OF TIE Nes. - ga ~ -
When was 10 Boston tsaid Mr.. Gay hsaru SCI p
mon from Theodore Parker. l"retht o Pint and
a that he had vase of flowers on ms p1Pl' aH ,h
,Lnrcbt that the ornament was hty syihp0nvei ~ %
vieyy he takes Of the Proysence wno y we nssed
an the human race and whose boun'es ar, eAP,os
bv ali the beautiful sights in Nature; rev, -
10 sejf denial and religion OF the pulP', 80 ,ba,n-
'no CS;ner Strings and Orville De"eys pun uio.l
yyu, =; The same rank with the southern tiuls' e,
I'':I - would rather allow his own soui W ~ ~
who s1d ri S MV touch the Of Slavery ny r S
eu.n sycited Such soul should tn,un ~
s soTed to go .as5ss and s %so asy
There is too another Northern ynscspcs a. rest
ws .ss 20 greatly needed L.usSsts!
and applause He States that the tendencies asd
forts Of the slave States were tewaru oysmsnt
but that Northern agitation forced the Se men
bsck This l utterly deny, and cnaiiehso w ana
who assert il to the proof MIR. Clay wen. ,'; the
details to show that there never had been IN 'it