The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-28
LETTER OF CAssIUs H. CLAY TO THE REPUB-
LICAN ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON.
FEBRUARY 8. /

FEBRUARY 3, 1896.
GENTLEMEN: Your favor of the 25th Deem
Der ult. was duly received, but, under the pres
sure of business, have not been able sooner to
give you an answer. Allow me to say that |
approve of your central organization of the
"National Republican Association" the expe-
diency of its establishment, and the patriotism
of its purposes.
regret that the causes which have so long
delayed my answer, will not allow me to accept
your Hattering invitation to address your society
during the present session of Congress.
Presuming, however, upon the language of
your letter, that my "position as Southern
man" and "the circumstances of the present
time," would enable me to do "the cause more
good than any other man in the nation" / ven
ture to make some remarks, which my devo-
ton and long selfsacri6ce to the cause of lib
eral principles, will entitle to more considera-
ton than any ability l shall be able to bring to
the task.
l enclose you my speech delivered some
years ago, at Lexington, Kentucky. In that
you will find all have to say of African Slave
ry and emancipation as "Southern man."
I think have there shown that Slavery is con-
sistent only with a state of semi.barbarism.
And before the friends of Liberty in the South
can be driven from the field of successful logic,
our opponents must denounce civilization itself.
l have there proven that all material develop
ment is retarded by Slavery. Not only, by q
priOri reasoning, as much as Slavery debases
labor and makes it ignorant, that therefore it
saps the foundation of its eficiency-but that
the experiment of free and slave labor in these
States, in agriculture, in manufactures, in
mining, and in commerce, confirm the conclu-
sion.
The census, though necessarily imperfect,
no doubt, has driven the intelligent men of the
South to acknowledge, that the North excels
but that the South is second even in agricul-
ture; where, before the stubborn battery OF
figures was brought to bear, she once success
fully entrenched herself for defence.
"Cotton is no longer "kng," but gives way
| to eight articles of staple production-lndian
corn, wheat, hay and fodder, pasturage, cattle,
horses and mules, slaughtered animals, and
swnel The value of horned cattle is put down at
$42O, 200, 900, whilst cotton is only 900.
The great cities-the opponents Of the pro-
ductive and consumptive powers of States-the
canals, the railroads, the ships, of the North,
had to the philosophical mind, determined the
result. long before statistics came in to silence
| debate. Massachusetts, itself is said to contain
one eighth part of all the capital of the nation
| With a poor soil and a harsh climate, she has
subjected the forces of nature, instead of her
fellow-man, to her will "Free schools" have
| allowed her workmen to avail themselves of the
mechanical powers, of chemistry, of electricity,
| of the winds, Of the waters, and of steam. In
Maine, in Vermont, in New Hampshire, in
Connecticut, in Massachusetts, wherever manu-
featuring towns spring up, you will find Boston
capital. Her railroads extend into every land,
and her ships sail on every sea. All the South,
with her superior climate, quality and extent
of soil, variety of productions, and facility for