The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-08-21
Webster and Clay on Slavery.

The following is what Daniel Webster said
of Slavery in his famous Marshtield speech,
in 1847:
Il say. as I said the other day. that L have
made up my mind, for ona, that under no
circumstances will | consent to the extension
of the area Of Slavery in the United States, or
the further increase of slave representation IN
the House Of Representatives"
And two years later, in the heat of the
Compromise controversy:
"Sir, wherever there is a particular good to
be wherever there Is a foot OF land 10
be staid back from becoming slave territory
am ready to assert the principle OF the ex-
clusion OF slavery.
Henry CLAW was = Southern man, but he
spoke thus Of Slavery in his speech a. LeSing-
ton. Ky, in November, I847.
MY opinions on the subject of slavery are
well known. They have the merit, if it he
one, OF consistency, uniformity and long du-
ration. | have ever reg srdeI slavery as a
great evil, ? wreag. for the present, | fear an
i.rema liable wrong, 70 the victims. | should
rejoice if not q single slave breathed the air,
or was within the limits Of our country. Bat
here ;hev are to be dealt with As well as We
can. with a due consideration of all circum-
stances aif4c.u- the security, safety and hap
piuess of both races. Every Sac has the >u-
preme and exclusive power 70 decide Tor !tsei
whether Slavery shall cease or continue with
iu is limits. without any exterior Intervention
from any quarter. IN States where slaves
outuumbcr the wal-eS. rs Is thc case W.ta sew
eraI. the blacks caa'd not be emancira.ad Al I
invested viii all he ri .hss af f7eeme9. with
out becoming the governing race IN tsozc
: afes Collisions and conflicts b~,Weea she
we races woull be laeyia.b2e. and af-er sh 7ek-
- ..-ues ot r4viaa and esrna-s, the kline
l,a .- expulsion % the blacks w3a,l cer-a.a-
il, .ak..tl.ce In the S>t- ot k-u.aeay near
Ghy years a-p. | 'hou-ht the proportion 4
+ slaves in proper ian 70 ae wal-z> Wa 50 an
considerable .ha- We ,ht sa:c3T alnp- n sy :
tenn ot era III Il emaucipa ion hat w'nld a5.r
mafelv eradicate tins EVIL IN ouv S-s'e- Tua
stem WAS To a.iy different from tae imme IL
ase abol ion of Slavery, }or wHich the party o
the Abo.ijiouiS.S of ;he present day contend
Vine, her they have intended Il or not. |; i my
cain and deil5rrae belief tha. they have doat
incalcuable mischief even 10 the very cauSt
which they e>pouSsi. TO say nothing OF tht
di~rord which has been prodleet betweeE
different parts Of the Union. According, Il
, the system we adop'ed a the close # the las
century, all slaves in being were 10 remalr
, such, but all who might be born sabSequen
10 a specified dav. were to remain free a. th.
! aye of twenty -eis CHI. and during their >eryic,
, were 10 be taught 10 read, write and cipher
! Thus instead 81 being thrown on the comm
nifty. ignorant. and unprepared would b,
the case BY immediate emancipation, they
4 would have entered upon the possession O
e their freedom. capable in some degree OF en-
: loving it. After hard struggle the svsteu
was defeated and | regret It extremely, as
il had been adopted. our State would be nov
/ nearly rid of thas reprcach.
\ 1T seems to me that Ii is the duty Of on
/. country, as well on the score OF moderation
: and magnsuimity. as with the view ofavoidin:
/, dlseord aud discomfort; 81 home, % abstain
: from seeking to conquer and annex % =
: United States, Mexico, or any part Of Il, an
especially TO disobuse the public mind n sn,