The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-21
THE RRPUBLIcANIsM OF HENRY CLAY.

We DEFY any man, North or South, to read
the following extracts from Mr.. Clay's speeches,
and reconcile them with the ground taken in
the Buchanan or Fillmore Platforms and we
challenge them to point out any disagreement
between these views of Mr.. Clay, and those of
the Republican Party, as embraced in their
Platform, and in the letter of Col. Fremont, &C.
cepting the nomination.
The Republican Platform is Henry Clay
Platform. In proof of this proposition, we Sc
lect the following passages from Coltons "Last
Seven Years of the Life of Henry Clay"
"Sir," said Mr.. Clay, 81 have said that /
never could vote for it, and / repeat that I
never can and never will vote for it; and no
earthly power shall ever make me vote to plant
Slavery where Slavery does not exist.D-Paoe
3l8.
"And now, sir" said Mr.. CLAY, on another
occasion, coming from slave State, as do,
owe it to myself, owe it to truth, owe it to
the subject, to say, that no earthly power could
induce me to vote for specific measure for
the introduction of Slavery, where it had not
before existed, either south or north of that
line" 1.-THE line of go 3OI. Page 1856.
" shall not enlarge" said Mr.. Clay, on the
opinion which have already announced to the
Senate as being held by me, Ito wit: that Sla.
very had been abolished in Mexico, and conse.
quently did not exist in the territory acquired
from Mexico by the United States.) My opinion
of the variety of forms in which legislation can
take place-that is to say, by the edict of a Die
tator, by the Constitution of the people of Mex
leo, and by the test of the legislative authority
Of Mexico-by all these modes of legislation.
my opinion is, that Slavery has been abolished
thnrf.
to an amendment (of the Territorial bill for New
Mexico) which, in point of fact, assumes that
Slavery has an existence there at this time, and
which assumes, in point of law, that, under the
Constitution of the United States, there is a right
to carry slaves there. / cannot vote for either
proposition" Page $40. Again: "Whyn
said Mr.. Clay, "these United States consist of
thirty States. In fifteen of them there is Sla.
very, and in fifteen of them Slavery does not
exist. Well, how can it be argued that the
fifteen slave States, by the operation of the Con-
stitution of the United States, carry into the
ceded Territory their institution of Slavery,
any more than it can be argued, on the other
side, that, by the operation of the same Consti.
tuition, the fifteen free States carry into the
coded Territory, the principle of Freedom.
Can you come to any other conclusion
than that which / understand to be the conclu.
sion of the public law of the world. of reason.
and of justice, that the status of law, as IT
existed in the moment of conquest or acauisi.
ton, remains until it is altered by the CONQUER
ing or acquiring power? "-Page l3S.
AGAIN: There are gentlemen" said Mr..
Clay, " who maintain that, by virtue of the Con-
stltution. the right to carry slaves south of that
line 1862 800 already exists. If / had not
heard that opinion avowed, should have re-
gsrded 1t IS one of the most extraordinary as
sumptions, and the most indefensible position
that was ever taken by man. The Constitution
neither created nor does it continue Slavery.
Slavery existed independent of the Coustitu
| ton; and it was dependent, not upon the will
OF Congress, but upon the laws of the respect.
! I've states The Constitution is silent and
passive upon the subject of the institution of
Slavery; or, rather, it deals With the fact as If
exists in the States, without having created it.
or continued it, or being responsible for it in
the slightest degree. \ If slaves are
voluntarily carried into such jurisdiction,
lwhere Slavery does not exist, their chains in
SANITY drop Oh, and they become free, emanci.
pated, liberated from their bondage = y
Ii the Constitution possesses the paramount
authority attributed to it, THAT is, to protect
Slavery IL the Territories,) the laws even of
the free States of the Union would Weld to
that paramount authority. You can
not put your singer on the part of the Gonsti.
tuition which conveys the right or the power to
carry slaves from one of the States of the Union
TO any Territory of the United States"-Paqe
IJS. Again: II cannot agree that, under the
constitution ft the United States, there is a
right to carry slaves into New Nexico."-Page
a lsg. 4; AGAIN .s And now sir for the fret time
Florida, and Louisiana, have been made, and
have redounded to the benefit of the South
now, for the first time, when three Territories
California, Utah, and New Mexioo) are at
tsnptsd to be introduced without the institu.
ton of Slavery, ! put it to the hearts of nv
countrymen of the South, If i JIG right to press
matters to the disastrous conseq fences which
have been indicated no longer ago than this
J very moraing-eyen extending to dissolution