The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-04-17
Repubiicanism in Kentucky.

The Newport News of yesterday has {
long report af a Republican Mass Meeting
held few days since. at the county seat o
Madison county, Kentucky. The call fol
the meeting stated that the objec. would be
TO nominate deleges 10 the National Republi
can Convention called at Philadelphia on the
18th of June. and to form a County republi
can Association. The meeting was held Al
the Court House. and was quite large. The
Republicans organized By calling VIM Stepp
Esq to the Chair. C. NJ. Clay then read q
document styled the "Conssitution of the
Madison County Republican Association.
which was on motion adopted. Its second
and important article is as follows:
"AHr. 2. SEC /. This Society affiliates
itself with the National Republican AsSocia.
ton al Washington. upon the same voluntary
principle by which its mem bsrship is constI-
Pittsburg Convention of Republicans Of
the e2 of February. 1856. until changed by
regular party usages.
SIC. 2. This Society disclaims any right
to interfere except by moral influence, with
slavery in the local sovereignties of South
Carolina. or Missouri Mississippi. or any 9th
er State North or South. but avows the right
and intention of using all political and mora
means. for the overthrow of Slavery in Ken
tucky and the Union--which the Constitu
ton Of Kentucky and the United States--tt
which we owe alleg gisnce-allow
SEC. 8. They hold that without law, there
is NO liberty. and therefore they will resist al
viol nee and indirection, either for the over
throw or defence of slavery.
The following officers of the association
were then elected:
Presiden.-Wiliam Stepp; Vice President.
Jonathan Heathman, John B. Bogie, John
Burnam. T. j. Renfro. VIM H. Branston
Recording Secretary. Rev. John G. Free
Berea p. o., Madison county. Ky, Cores
ponding Secretary. Jno. H. Rowlings
Treasurer.
Resolutions were passed. among which wa
the following:
Resolved, Tha. since the oligarchy ha
overthrown the Missouri Compromise by tn,
most fragrant breach of faith and total disre
gard Of the wishes and interests of the labor
ing freemen of these S ates, that therefore, W,
are in favor of the o.al prohibition of SLAYER,
in any territories Of the United States, now
existing or hereafter TO be acquired.
Cassius NJ. Clay, after the business has
thus far progressed, made long speech
which was listened to with the closest atten
ton Rev J. G. Fee was called on for I
the Methodist Episcopal Church. made pro
the News. when it appeared that he was op
posed to the Republicans, he was not allowed
to proceed until Mr.. Clay interposed. The
News reporter says:
lie made very elaborate defence Of tlt
American party against the assaults of Mr.
Clay, and among other denunciations Of Re
pubicanisn, boasted of the mob by which
Mr.. Brady was driven from Lexington. The
highest excitement prevailed amidst 'that'>
right. pitch into them" by Johns friends, and
the suppressed murmurs of his opponents.
When he closed, Mr.. Clay arose and press
ed the Reverend gentleman closely upon
the avowal of mob law. that he disavowed
any endorsement of that act; but said he
merely mentioned the facts.
The Rev. Fee then took his brother Johns
in hand and seated him. While this was in
progress another preacher handed Johns a
copy of the New York Herald, in which Clay
was denounced for being compelled through
his assignees to sell his life estate in trust
slaves. and Johns read it. Great excitement
followed. All parties sprang to their feet
The report of Clay remarks. given BY the
News, and the conclusion of business by the
meeting, We quote:
gentlemen had fel. compelled to show so lit
tie nagnanlmity as to allude to his personal
misfortunes He considered it poor cause
which descended from reason and facts, to
personal insinuaion. TINS people knew him.
Such argument might be used in Charleston.
or New Orleans, but not HERE Not by pc
cuniary interest. certainly was he Influenced
His father, next TO Z. Wlcklife, had been the
largest Shareholder in Ken ntucky. his interests
were on that side. Not BY political election
certainly. He lad beaten all his most pow
erful opp nents. both in that and the Faye:te
district. The road 10 fame and Office was
open 70 him. When he returned from the
Mexican war. he was asked to give up Iii.
opposition TO slavery. and he was told no post
in the nation was too high for him. Now
after he Lad sacrificed all, IN this cause-tine
and money. and family, and friends, and
fame. and almost life-here in his own home
these ungenerous taunts were brought a. aims
him. He had liberated all the slaves he held
in his own right. Had he carried those trus
slaves to Ohio and liberated them-he woulc
have violated the rights Of his heirs-anc
been denounced as a violator Of law, and
negro thief" Now since his misfortune g.
had caused them 10 be sold by assignees. b,
was calumniated for the efficacy of laws
which he tad so much Struggled 20 overthrow
and which his accusers had against his will
kept upon the statute book
Here the sympathy aud indignation of III,
crowd seemed SO great tha. even Mr. john
shr>nk under it. He arose and said be die
not intend TO cast any inputa;ion upon Mr.
Clay's motives hr. Clay quickly retorted
~ es, understand the gsn,lsman-a pries
is never wanted in ndirec.ion' the gentlemar
INDUCES in malignant personal attack and
then shrinks from the odium Of it, By disdan
ing personalities. The mans fool who see
any, hing else but personality in that article
against the reader of it-against the man whe
handed it to nin-agains. the party who in