American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-09-13
Ne. ClnY D,d snY ID.

Ihe Aouisflte Couf"0t, BeheIaily fe-
markably correct paper says:
"For some months past the Freesoil and
Anti-Slavery papers have been circulating
the following paragraph, asserting that il
contains sentiment once uttered BY Kan
tucky's greatest statesman, Henry Clay
1t purports to be the language used BY
him:
Il repeat it. sir. ] never can and never
will, aud no earthly power will make me
vote directly or indirectly to spread slavery
over any territory where it does not exist.
Never while reason has seat in my brain
-neret, while my heart sends tlie vital
fluid through my brain---neVer."
We do not believe that Henry Clay ever
used such language or ever uttered such &
sentiment We have carefully examined.
all the published speeches and addresses Of
that great man, and have industfio6sly in.
quired Of those who would probably rer.
member if he had ever expressed himself
in this manner, but we have been unable
to find any authority for attributing TO him
expressions so inconsistent with all his acts
and opinions, either recorded or remen-
| bered.
Nj. Clay, in his speech on the Compro'
mise Resolutions, Feb. 9th and 9th, 1850,
uttered the following sentiments, (see Con-
gressional Globe, Vol. s2, par. |, page
1885,:
Il have said that I never could vote for
it myself, and repeat that never can,
and never will vote. and no earthly pow
er will ever make me vote, to spread slave
ry over territory where it does not ex'
ISL"
The above appeared in the Cleveland
Herald of Wednesday. The extract given
by the Herald, from Mr.. Glars speech. is
conclusive, aud We think the Louisville
Journal will acknowledge the error into
which it has fallen. We think the senior
{ editor Of the paper must have been absent
when the article from which the above is an
extract appeared. for We cannot believe
that one SO well informed in regard 10 ME.
Glars opinions respecting slavery. would
have said that the extra,t purporling to be-
taken from one of his speecbes is "incon-
sistent Nth all his acts and opinions, either
recorded or remembered" We have read
Mr.. Glars speeches, and have studied his
life with care--we loved him while he liy-
ed, and cherish his memory with affection
ate regard now that he is dead--and We
were not at all surprised to see it stated
that Mr.. CLAY had spoken against Slavery
ex,enslon in the strong and emphatic
: words quoted as his; but we were suppris-
ed to find in the Louisville Journal state
ment that the sentiment they express "is
ali 1, .,-<I
: either recorded or rem .mbered." We
g could quote many pissage> from Mr.. CLAY 8
{ speeches TO shoy that the above ex raet is
in perfect "a, ordauce with his lnown SEN
timents. We could quote from no speech
he ever made word which would show
s that he ever would have vo.ed for the ex.
a tension of Slavery over free territory.
q We have before US the Biography Of
HENRY CLAY" written by GEORGE d,
PRENrIeE. Esq, the Distinguished editor ol
Q the JuasRGL was published in 1881
: in which. page 966 it is written:
It Slavery in the abstract Mr.. Clay views
a with unmingled abhorr9nce. He Justly
:. considers it monster of evil--a deadly
y vampire, drawing away the hfe-blood ol
the Republic. pr
Again, on page 27o. Mr.. PRESTrcE sas'
4 that Mr.. CLAY was opposed to slavery il
/. all its FORMS
Now. then, is it at all surprising tha
a great statesman like Mr.. CLAr, ~hc
h was Opposed to slavery in all its forms,
o who regarded it as "a vampire. drawing
:, away the life blood of the republics" wh'
:. considered il as "a monster of evil" |
thing which he "viewed with unminglet
abhorrence"- say. is it surprising tha
n he should say, in a speech, thar he woull
y never vote. directly or indirectly, to sprea'
" slavery over any territory where it doe
not exist?
Mr.. Clay was a man who looked at thi
y question with the eye Of great philan
pt thropc statesman. What he felthe spoke
in Neither the follies Of Abolition fanatics j
Of the North. nor the vaporings Of NuliGca
" ton fanatics in the South. could cause his
to swerve for a moment from the path Q
90 duty, or take devious tempofising course
Gin. GazeAe.
- ~, ,,,,n,.N. Avn IEFFERsoN --JosIs ii