Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-08-02
corresp ndsnes OF the Cincinnati Gazette.
LETTER FROM CASSIUS M. CLAY.
Liberty or Despotism.

July, ~ 1893.
EDS GAzETTE:-To-morow go to the field
of contest, to determine whether the liberty OF
speech and religious freedom is longer possible
in slave STATED In this unequal struggle, as
the result can be foreseen / deem it due my own
character and the great issues pending, to say a
parting word through press where suppression
is impossible. Born and bred in slave State,
every hour of my experience compcls me TO avoW
that the world has not yet begun TO conceive the
consistent Jesuitisin and unfathomable atroclty
of the slave propaganda! They who stand at the
cradle, ignoring the holy sentiments which con-
secrate the pledges of devoted and mutual love,
to catechise Gods noblest work. and to stitie the
immortal aspirations of human soul, are not the
men to show magnanimity, or indulge in the
weakness of justice, mercy and truth
1t is their vocation to dominate over the hui
man mind, and to subject brute power to the SUI
perior force of intellect. Gentle, polished, and
winning, stern bullying, and most remorselessly
cruel-appealing 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; ana that the boast
ed Liberties of the American people lie crushed
and bleeding under their iron heel! But despo-
tsm is, under whatever name, everywhere the
same; and its chief and last resort is force. To
that has the slave power now come. Its organs
threaten to drive out the new Congress with arms
renewed violence swells on westward and can
non and the rifle, and the bowie-knife, overthrow
the civil power; and despotsm rules supreme in
places of vaunted popular Sovereignty in the
great pYairics so often soemny pledged to Lib
ertv to Civilization aud Christianity.
When Governor Reeder is threatened with a
halter and assaulted with intent to Kill, the rep
resentative of the American sovereignty, FRANK
lin Pierce, who was very manly III sulnmonlng
the nations power to the re-capture of poor
trembling fugitive from slavery, repudlates his
own government and plunges the sword OF justice
into the heart of his own standard bearer, a cam
not be expected that should advance, unoppos-
ed, the vanguard of the Republican" army in
the midst of its enemies. / see now-I have long
seen the meshes gathering around me- Let no
man, therefore, too harshly reprove me it the IN
stncts of self-preseryat have caused me TO cry
out too wildly, for the composed ears OF a self
deuding nation, against the ever onward march
of Despotism When Douglas q Co. repealed
the Missouri Compromise, how could 1 refrain
from denouncing them as ,corthy Of death! Not
from me-not for me comes the imprecation.
and mine will be forgotten in the greater issues
of this crime, aud my voice will be siienccd amid
the tears-the blood-the woe which follows IN
its wake and the lamentations of the widows and
the orphans, which it will have made. No, IL
all America the time has comc-Liberty or DeS'
| potsm!
The Courier of Louisville found us quietly al
| our work-it called upon its myrmidons to mn
tate the deeds of Atchison and Douglas and String
fellow; ready with pistol and bowie-knife, they
silenced John G. Fee, the fearless martyr spiri
of our party, in Religion If lie had not have
followed fast in the footsteps of this execution
this had not been the land of slavery. lie is false
" accused of distributing tracts to slaves, ant
exciting insurrecton Mr.. Fee sends his denIa
to the Courier with the programme of his action
laid down in the annual report of the Amercai
Missionary Society. Did ii rctract It's calumny
did ii publish its refutation. No, it would have
been unlike the mereenary tool OF despotism-
! Unheard he is condemned and sllenced.
/ / come to the rescue of my friend, the detende
of my cause; resist men who, once more agains
me, also, unheard, publish llbe loas letter, ant
Jesuiticallv invoke bloodshed.
The resolutions passed at the Jassamine mee'
I ing and published in the Cincinnati Gazette wen
read Al the assemblies at Bush Creek and Seaffol
Cave, that there might be no question about GU
motives and actions know too well the scoui
dresm of that party to trust myself to their mag
: nanmity. / tiatter myself that my name Is p4aee
, beyond the sphere of cslumny, and all my pas
history gives assurance that my friends ma
have cause TO mourn my fate, but never my pm
ciples.
E I call vour attention once more to my letter
, the New York Tribune after the Nebraska crime
: | ask of YOU the favor of its republication
am cheere,l that 1 find myself in sympathy VII
5 the great minds and heroic hearts OF the Nation
a Thank God for this foretaste of the coed Inn
, coming" All hail, ohio--all hail. the 'Nor'h'
all hail, the REPUBLICAN PARTY
; Go ON. then. with the sentiments of the l3t
4 of July inscribed on your banners-Jaly the Al
: and July the 18th; may they both be eras to
ever remembered among men'-When the asp
rations of thu great Jefferson shall De tuihiie'
and the revolution begun in 70 shan coiniaenc
: being completed in 50.
But we shah not have peaceful triumph.-
Deity yindicates and expatiates the violation
His eternal laws Blood conseerates ever tn
remorSe of great wrong. Standing here undt
D the acknowledged responsibilities OF home an
i country, which no man can at viii put ON, or pI
off, calmly look destiny, wherever ii be, IN u
face. bat living or dying, my aspirations shall 3
inimortal-may our country yet be tree.
o Your obedient servent.
b. G.. N. CLAY.