Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-09-13
cHAsE's SUPPORTERS.
the rRADUcERs OF HENRY CLAY.

Journals OF the State attempt 70 identity
the opinions, policy, and position Of
Mr.. Chase, on the Slavery question,
with those of the late high-minded, in
corruptible, and national statesman,
Henry Clay. The man whose god and
idol is ambition, and who has bartered
everything he professed to hold sacred
for place and power, is attempted to be
played off upon us as the embodiment Of
those political virtues, and the repre-
sentative of those national and conser-
vative principles, which were so ably
and eloquentIy advocated by Henry
Clay. The revered name of this great
statesman is made use of, and impiously
coupled with that of demagogue, for
the unworthy purpose of catching vOtes.
Men and Journals whose inconsistency
is only equalled by their effrontery. call
upon "Henry Clay Wings" and the
"Apostles of Henry Clay" to come up
to the support of their Abolition Can
didate, who stands, they tell us, "pre-
cisely where Henry Clay stood"
Were this illustrious man now living
others would not be called upon to de-
fend his character, or warn his friends
against the righteousness of such at
tempts. He would himself spurn, con-
temptuousIy, the charge of fellowship
with one whose principles he abhorred,
and whose conduct he frequently and
without reserve condemned. But the
grave has silenced his rebuke. The
stormy battles and brilliant triumphs OF
his career are ended, and he has gone
from us crowned with bonors and
bearing with him the affections of an
admiring and grateful people. They,
therefore, who loved and honored him
in life, must not permit his principles to
be misrepresented, or his memory to be
blackened with this foul reproach. Let
them denounce, rather, IN season and
out of season if need be) the great un-
truths that many Chase presses unfairly
charge against him. Let them take the
record and say to every man who repeats
them-"Here, sir, is the repository of
Mr.. Clay's political opinions, sentiments
and convictions. and not one word is
there in it to sustain you" This is a
measure of justice to his memory, easy
land it should be gratifying) to be done.
His friends have only to exhibit his SEN
timents and opinions as delivered by
himself, to prove how separated and
distinctly in contradiction. was his po-
sition from that of Mr.. Chase. 1t is no
answer, either, that they applied to Abb
olitionists only, and that Mr.. Chase is
not one. We have evidence conclusive
and incontrovertible on that point also.
In 1851, Mr.. Clay, in answer to an in
terrogatory propounded in the Senate
by Mr.. Chase, replied,-"Upon my
word, if the Senator Mr.. Chase) does
not know what ABoL1TIoNIsT means,
when he has practiced the dOctrinsfor so
many gears, am sure l am unable to
instruct or inform him. No argument
can add carelessness to the direct and
pointed bearing of this reply. 1t is a
distinctive charge of Abolitionism against
Mr.. Chase, and neither he nor his
friends can maneuvre out of it. Let
us examine, then, Mr.. Clay's sentiments
towards the subject of it, and his opin-
ions of the party be represents in gen
eral.
In the Senate, Feb. 7, 1889, Mr..
Clay in speech on Abolition Petitions,
said
"With them (the Abolitionists) CIVIL
WAR and DISSOLUTION OF TIE UNION
ARE NOTHING. A single idea has TAKEN
POSSESSION OF THEIR MINDS, and on
ward they pursue it, overlooking all
barriers, reckless and regardless of all
consequences. The prohibition of the
removal of slaves from State to State,
and the refusal to admit it in any new
State, comprising the institution of do
mestic slavery, are but so many means
conducting to the accomplishment of the
ultimate but perilous end at which they
aim Jm so many short stages in the long
and bloody road to the distant good at
which they would finally arrive. Their
purpose is abolition, universal abolition,
peaceably if it can, forcibly if it must.
Unfortunately
they are not the only means. Another
and MUCH MORE LAMEETABLE. ONE, is
that of arranging one portion against
another portion of tie Union in their
leading prints and publications depicting
tie alleged horrors Of slaUery in the
most glowing and exaggerated colors, to
stimulate the rage of the people of the
slave States. The SLAVE holder is held
up and represented as The most atrocious
of hunsGn beings. ADVERTISEMENTS OF
FUGITIVE SLAVES and of slaves TO be
sold, are carefully collected and ,blazoned
forth, to intuse spirit Of hatred and
detestation against one entire and the
largest portion of the Union.
Sir, am notin the hab-
it of speaking lightly of the possibility
of dissolying this happy Union. The
Senate knows that l have deprecated
illusions, on ordinary occasions, to that
direct event. But we should be false in
our allegiance to it, if we did not dis
criminate between the imaginary and
real dangers by which itmay be assailed.
1A5olition should no longer be regarded as
an imaginary danger"
In all truthfulness, are not Mr.. Chase
a,d fba man ond fria1dc