Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-08-09

otto Casius NJ. Clay, who, regardless of all
threats, recently attained a complete triumph
for free discussion in getting up, and carrying
ont with impugnity, an anti-Slayery, meeting
in populous part of the State. 1t was on
the eve Of this convention, when the storm of
opposition, and menace of pro-Slavery mobbing
II the meeting was persisted in, ran highest,
that G, M. Clay wrote the bold and spirited
letter which We subjoin, together with an ac-
count of the result Of the meeting to which
he refers'ieb bai .bs~ 5ai l.si4ys
t.t...i r. From the Cincinnati Gazette, July 10th.
LIBERTY OR DEsPOTIsM.
A LETTER FROM CAsIUs NJ. CLAY.
EDS. GAZETTE Tomorrow | go to the
field Of contest, to determine whether the
liberty Of speech and religions freedom is
longer possible in Slave State In this
unequal struggle, as the result cannot be FORE
seen, 1 deem it due my own character and the
great issues pending to say parting word
through a press where suppression is impossi-
bic Born and bred in Slave State, every
hour of my experience compels me to avow
that the world has not yet begun to conceive
the consistent Jesuitism and unfathomable
atrocity Of the slave propaganda! They
who stand at the cradle, ignoring the holy
sentiments which consecrate the pledges Of
devoted and mutual love to catechise Gods
noblest work. and to stihe the immortal aspi-
rations of human soul are not the men to
show magnanimity, or indulge in the weak
ness of justice, mercy and truth !! .....
1t is their vocation to dominate over the
human mind, and to subject brute power to
the superior forces of intellect: Gentle, pol
ished, and winning; stern, bullying, and re-
morselessly cruel-appealug at one time to
the sentiments, now to the passions, and then
to the fears of men--they must be +" cunning
in fence" indeed, who can stand up under such
odds. No wonder then that they have taken
possession of the press, the pulpit, and the
government; and that the boasted Liberties of
the American people lie crushed and bleeding
under their iron heel But despotsm is,
under whatever name, everywhere the same; ;
and its chief and last resort is farce. 10 that
has the slave-power now come. Its organs
threaten to drive out the new Congress with
arms--renewed violence swels on westward,
and cannon, and the rifle, and the bowieknite,
overthrow the civil power; and despotism
rules supreme in places of Wanted popular
sovercignty'-in the great prairies SO often
solemnly pledged to Liberty, to Civilization
and Christianity.
When Gov. Reeder is threatened with a
halter, and assaulted with intent to kill, the
representative Of the American sovereignty
FRANKLIN Pierce, who was very manly in sum.
moning the nations power to the re-capture
of poor trembling fugitive from slavery
repudates his own government and punges
the sword of justice into the heart of his own
standard bearer, it cannot be expected that ]
should advance, unopposed, the vanguard Of
the Republican army in the midst Of its
enemies. | see now-1 have long seen the
meshes gathering around me. Let no man
therefore, too harshly reprove me if the in
etincts Of selfpreservation have caused me tt
cry out too wildly for the composed ears of 0
selfdeluding nation. against the ever-onward
march of Despotism When Douglass 4 Co.
repealed the Missouri Compromise, how coulc
| refrain from denounciug them as worthy o
death ? Not from me-not for me comes thu
imprecation. | and mine will be forgotten il
the great issues of this crime, and my voic'
will be silenced amid the tears--the blood
the woe which follow in its wake, and thu
lamentations of the widows and the orphan
which it will have made! No, to all Americ,
the time has come-Liberty or Despotism!
The Courier of Louisville found us quietl
at our work. 1t called upon its myrmidon
to initiate the deeds of Atchson and Doug
lass and Stringfellow. Ready with pistol an
bowleknlie, they silence John G. Fee, tn
fearless martyr spirit of our party, in religion
Ii lie had not followed fast in the iootstep
OF this execution, this had not been the Ian
rot slavery! He is falsely accused of distrit
utng tracts to Slaves, and exciting insured
ton Mr.. Fee sends his denial to the Courie
with the programme of his action, laid dow
in the annual report of the American Mi
sionary Society. Did he retract his calumny
did he publish its refutation No, thu
would not have been like the mercenary to,
:. of despotism. upheardh he is co ndemned an
silenced? ''. 3tAl i'' NJ
come to the rescue of my friend, the d,
fender of my cause. Now once more again
me, also, unheard, the Courier publishes
libelous letter, and Jesuitiealiy invokes bloot
shed The resolutions passed at the Jess,
mine meeting and published in the Cincinna
GaStte, were read at the assemblies at Brus
+. Greek and Scaffold Cave, that there might
no question about our motives and actions.
; ; knew too well the scoundrelism of that par,
70 trus. myself to their magnanimity.
q Halter myself tina, my name is placed beyor
, the sphere Of calumny, and all nv past hist
ry gives assurance that my friends may ha,
cause to mourn my fate, but never my prime
pies. a.a-9 'frs ...Iagr.
~ call your attention once more to my lett
to the New York Tribune, after the Nebra
y ka crime | ask you the favor of its re.pu
: lieation. am cheered that | find myself
7. sympathy with the great minds and hero
hearts OF the Nation. Thank God for tn
foretaste of "the good time coming!" A
hail, Ohio all hail, the North all ha
the REPUBLICAN PARTY t4 :,
. Go on, then, with the sentim ,nts of the ]
Of July inscribed on your banners-July Ii
Alb. and July the 18th; may they both
eras to be ever remembered among lner
When the aspiration Of the great Jefferso
, shall be fulfilled, and the revolution begun
rs shall commence being completed in s.