The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-27
c. M. CLAY, J. G. FEE, AND THE FREEDOM
MOVEMENT IN KENTUCKY.
KNOX COLLEGE, lAugusf 81. 1875

To the Editor f0e National Era:
1t is now some two weeks since | returned
from a short trip in Kentucky. / have been
willing that the agreeable impressions of per
sonal intercourse with good men should subside
little, that ! might write for your readers my
Judgment concerning men and things in that
interesting State
CAssIus NJ. CLAY, considered in his person
and fortunes, is altogether one of the most in
teresting men in this or any age cannot re.
sist the impression that God is reserving him
for important ends in this Republic A slave
holder and aristocrat by birth and fortune. his
relatives and those of Mrs. Clay still owning a
large share of the wealth and negroes of Ken
lucky, he seems to have chosen the principles
ofhuman freedom and justice, as a child chooses
toys, from simple spontaneous love of them
and he adheres to his principles, amid storms
ofproscription and vengeance, with the passion.
ate devotion of lover.
He was far enough from an Abolitionist when,
in his State Legislature, he began to resist the
repeal of the law which forbade bringing any
more slaves in Kentucky, but he simply threw
himself upon the advocacy of right, and it has
brought him where he is-at that point where
justice and liberty blend in the doctrine of equal
rights for all men,
At his entrance into political life, he was at
once the idol of the people and pride of the
aristocracy. He beat young Robert Wickliffe,
who seemed bound to success by the three. fold
cord of ability, family, and wealth and, from
this position of lofty PROMISE he descended by
steady graduatiOns, at any one of which he
might have recanted and changed his course.
until his old personal friends in Lexington fear
ed to take the paper which bore his hated and
dreaded name as editor. He has met in this
war of principle seven mobs, at three of which
weapons Of death, previously and carefully pre-
pared, were employed against his life. Once,
the ball fired hy, a hired bully from New Or
leans struck the hit of his dagger, the only
place on his body where his person was protect.
ed. At the miserable affair at Foxtown, where
T fell after thrusting his dagger quite into
the lungs of Mr.. Clay, the brother of T
burst three caps upon as many barrels of a re-
volver while holding the muzzle at the back of
Mr. Clay's head. 7 had loaded that re-
volver that morning for tho purpose of shooting
Mr.. Clay, and twanty-one armed men were on
the ground to aid him in his purpose This
was within one mile of Mr.. Clays door, and he
had gone to the speaking that day in unsuspect-
ing security, without a single known friend on
whom he could rely
Yet, though the governing and naughty Slave
Power sustained Governor Qwsley in his mean
attempt to keep Clay in the ranks as private
soldier in the Mexican war; though the Slave
Power has the courts and laws in its hands,
and, by a sort of arbitrary Contradiction, has
robbed him of thousands on thousands of dol
lars; still, he lives in elegant mansion on
the estates of his fathers, one of the fairest
spots of ground on the whole globe
Direct from his green pasture grounds, filled
with great, quiet cattle, | went by the mansion
of the most distinguished of the opponents of
Clay, and the idol and champion of the Slave
Power, 1t stands on the Lexington road, not
far from that city. The house already begins
to wear an aspect of premature desoation;
weeds deform the pasture lands; and even the
family burying ground has lost its palings, and
It's dense shade, cast by trees which affection
planted years ago makes it rendezvous for
an Indifferent flock of hungry sheep, who Craze
and stamp the green turf from the graves
Still the marks of despotic wealth linger
there, and some small negroes in mule-cart
were taking large quantity of provisions, in
some coarse, tub-lookiDg vessel, to the slave
Germ, moving slowly along the pasture road,
guided by creatures little more intelligent than
the cattle they Drove reminded one of gal
lows tumbril, carrying convicts and collins
The recent triumph of Freedom at Scaffold
Cane deserves distinct commemoration. Your
discerning and Just statement of the important
part enacted by Clay and Fee on that moral
(if not literal) ground of American Freedom,
found a response in thousands of your readers.
The Slavery men las power always treats
principle first affected to despise Mr. Clay, then
to crush him. When they found that some nat
ural errors and failings which
clean virtues side"
and which, whatever they are, but make him
more thoroughly Kentuckian, did not lose him
the confidence of the people, but that, like Jews
in Egypt his friends would grow" and multi
ply, until they already hold the balance of
power in his county of Madison, and even elect
their candidates in some precincts, the Slave
Power men were alarmed, and the Louisville
Courier last April counselled the violent sup
preston Of the labors of the Rev. Mr.. Fee,
knowing that Mr.. Clay stood behind him. They
deliberately resolved, to do what the Missouri
ans land indeed shareholders, wherever they
have the power are doing, viz: drive all free
thought and speech from the country, so far as
Slavery is concerned.
Following the advice of the Courier and its
country echoes, they took Mr.. Fee by force from
his appointment in Lincoln county, at Dripping
Spring. The Missouri game was to be played
over. Instantly the Rockastle shareholders met,
and resolved to sustain the men Of Lincoln, and
sent committee to Mr.. Clay, with their resolu-
tons to stop their speaking in Rockastle county
by force! Of course the parties must meet, and
one or the other give way. They did meet at
Scafold Cane; or, rather, the friends of Mr..
Clay met there unmolested, in the face of the
published resolution of the Slave party, that they
would compel them by force to I" desist from
speaking their sentiments in Rockcaste county"
Their representatives were said to have recon
noitered the ground, and reported that it would
not do to assail Mr.. Clay and his friends. And
the bloody proceedings at Louisville, following