Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-08-02

Of speech and the press, but they will not, NJ
all hazards, permit men, under the mantle Of
freedom Of speech, 10 scatter among them FIRE.
brands and death.
Very respectfully,
JOHN ADAMS, sr.,
NJ. J. MILLER,
Joplin,
R.G. WILLIAMS,
At a meeting Of the citizens Of Rockcaslle,
July IIth:
Resolved, That DR.. Joplin, R. G. Williams,
JnO. Adams, and NJ. J. Miller be appointed a
committee 10 inform Mr.. @. NJ. Clay, John G.
Fee aud other abolition speakers and preach
ers. that they must desist from speaking or
preaching in The county Of Rcckcastle, under
the penalty Of being dealt with as justice and
the law requires.
Clay replied in letter dated, 'Berea, Mad
ison Co., July 49, In that document be
says:
Ny speeches at Brush Greek and ScafFold
Cave are alleged against me as revolutionary
an invocation to assail by force. by the free
States, the institution of slavery in the South-I
and call upon the slaves TO insurrecton To
obtain their freedom Now, say it not in
terms Of insult, but simple fact, these allega-
tons in their whole extent are untrue. What
are the circumstances? The Rev. Jno. G, Fee,
a native Kentuckian, and an American citizen,
though guaranteed in the full freedom of reli-
g;ous opinion and the untrammeled utteranee
Of the same, by the State and national consti.
tutions, and by the law Of nature, was. by an
illegal and revolutionary body OF the slave
party of Lincoln, deprived BY force Of these
'inalenable rights We appealed 10 the laws
of the cOuntrV-proved fully our grievances,
but we're denied redress, as alleged by the
grand jury upon the ground Of fear Of excite
ment.' Here was an established despotism
over US as effectualy as If the Car had ruled
over US! Did we take the law into our own
hands, and 90 and assassinate Messrs. Mont
gomery d Co.? mol but great forbearance,
we suffered unreVeDgGd the wrongs Of the past,
and we determined in the future to rely upon
our own constitutional right of self.deience -
the great first law of nature The platform
Of our action was laid down fully in the Jessa-
mine resolutions, published in the Observer
and Reporter, and Kentucky Statesman, the
organs of the Wing and Democratic parties Of
the State. These resolutions, against which no
press in the Common wealth has ventured to
raise its voice Of dissent were so published
that the responsibility of possible civil war and
/ bloodsheG should not rest upon US and ours in
the disturbed future. These resolutions were
read at the meeting at Scaffold Cave and Brush
Creek, as the unquestionable basis ofour whole
action; and neither the testimony OF w. II.
Kirtley nor all the shareholders Of Rockcaste
can change the letter or the spirit! In those
speeches proposed to arouse the people to a
sense Of their threatened servitude. and to in
volve peaceable settlement of this vital ques-
ton of slavery, not by the cartridge box. but
by the ballot box.
He concludes his letter by saying:
Ths Rev. John G. Fee and l will address
the people OF Rockcastle at ScaffOld Cave on
Saturday next. We invite you to share with
us the freedom of opinion and speech; and may
God defend the right. l ask that YOU will lay
this letter before your meeting as before as
sembled, and that you will have the magnani-
nifty to do me justice, whatever it be, which l
deserve.
Previousto leaving on this mission, Mr.. Clay
wrote letter to the Cincinnati Gazette, which
showed very evidently that he was excited, and
bound to see the matter through at any and ev.
cry haz,rd. BY the following, which we find
in the Gazette of Monday, we see that he has
triumphed over his enemies aud vindicated free
speech 10. S Journal.
'CAssIUs NJ. CLAY TRIUMPHANTl-The citi-
zens of Rockcastle county, at a meeting held
on the ilth of July, resolved, as our readers
are already aware, that Cassius M. Clay,
John Ct. Fee, and all other Abolition speakers,
must desist from speaking in that county G.
M. C!ay's answer to the committee who were
appointed to give him notice of that resolution.
was that he aud Mr.. Fee should both speak al
Scaffold Cave, in that county, on Saturday
last.
They kept that appointment aud were heard,
There was some difficulty about getting the
church, as there was an appointment for ser.
mon by the Baptist clergyman in the morning.
1t was, however, surrendered to Mr.. Clay at
the close of the service, and at l2 o'clock John
G. Fee commenced speaking. He concluded
his remarks without interruption, and was fol.
lowed by AIR Clay, Both speakers were lis
tened to attentivelys and no violence was Of
fered or talked Of
The object of all these threats, is seems now
difficult to conceive. The people of Rockcastle
county certainly knew Mr.. Clay too well to sup
pose they could intimidate him. The only con
cusion we can come to is, that they meant al
the time the threats were made to keep them
but have yielded to the physical and mora
courage Of Mr.. Clay.
But Mr.. Clay is achieving greater results
than mere triumphs over physical force. HI
is effectiDg slowly, but surely, change in pop
ular opinion in Kentucky. There is an intense
excitement on this question throughout all tha
part of the State. Excitement begets debate
I and debate elcits thought; and all help on the
, cause of truth. Free speech lrumphed on Sat
urday; may it ever triumph in Kentucky, and
all the world besidei'
EE- The Central Committee of the Repub
lican party of Stark county, have called thei'
county Convention 10 meet in Canton, on Sat
urday, September LIST, for the purpose of put