Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1856-08-13
webster and Gle, ON slavery


said Of Slavery 10 his famous Marshfcld
speech. in ioi7:
Il say. as | said the other day. that
have made up M mind. for one, that un.
der 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 Rep.
resenigtlses.
And two years later. ia the hca, Of the
Compromise controversy:
"Sir. wherever there Is n particular
good TO be donc--whereycr there is a foot
of land to be s,aid back from becoming
slave territory-I am ready 10 assert the
principle of the exclusion ofslavery"
Henry Clay was Southern man. but,
he spoke thus Of Slavery. in his speech at
Lexington. Ky. in Nov. l3s7:
my opinions on the subject Of Slavery
are well known. They have the merit.
III II be one. of consistency. uniformity.
and long duration. have everregarded
slavery as great evil. wrong. for the
present fen, an irremediable wrong. 10
the victims. | should rejoice il not a sin
gle slave breaihed the air or was within
the lirlIts Of our country. But here they
are, TO be delt with AS well as we can.
with due consideration Of all circumsian.
ces affecting the security safety. and
happiness of both races Every State
has the supreme and exclusive power to
decide for itself whether Slavery shall
cease or continue within its limits, with.
cut any exterior Intervention from any
Iquar'er. 10 States where slaves ouinum.
Der The whites. as is the case with sever
al. the blacks could not be emahcipaled
and invested with all the rights Of free
men. without becoming the governing race
IN those States. Collisions aud conflicts.
between the two races. would be ine,iia.
ble and. after shocking scenes OF rapiue
and carnage. the extinction or expulsion
Of the blacks would certainly take place.
In the State of Kentucky near fifty years
+ ago. thought the proportion of slaves "a
Ieonparlson with the whnes. WAS 50 in.
considerable that we might safely adopia
system ofgradual emancipation thai VI uld
ultimately eradicate this evil in our State
That system WAS totally different from N,
Immediate abolition OF Slavery for whicl
he party Of the Aboi,ionis,s Of the pres
eni day contend. Whether they have in.
Tended 1t or not. IL my calm and delib
lerate belief that they have done incalcul
able mischief even TO the very cau>,
which they espoused. to say nothing o
, the dIscoTd which has beer produced be-
tween different parts OF the Union Ac
cordIng TO the system We attempted, neal
the close ofthe last century. all slaves IL
being were TO remain such; but all VII,
might be born subsequent 10 a specific,
> day. were to remain free AT The aye O
: twenty eight. and during ,hcir scryic,
were TO be taught 10 read. write. and cy
pher Thus. instead Of being thrown up
on the community, ignorant and umpire
pared as would be tic case by immediate
emancipation. they would have epterei
= upon the possession OF their freedom. ca
. pable in some degree Of enjoying i. At
+ ter hard struggle the system was Dc
. feated. and lregrot il extremely. as. il
had been adopted. our 81 &c would b
now nearly nd Of that reproach.
! Il, seems 10 me that i, is the duty G
our country. as well On the score of mod
, GRAFTON and magnauimily. as with tn
view Of avoiding discord AMI discomfort a
!. home. to abstain from seeking to conque
AMI annex 10 tn, Unitcd States. Mrxic,
or any part of il. and. especially. TO disa
/ buse the public mind in any quarter O
the Union OF The impression. II it any
. where exists. that desire for conquest i
cherished Tor the purpose OF propaganda,
i or extending slavery"
4 resolution framed IN accordance viii
:, these views found place with others re
ported by Mr. Clay. AMI read as follows
Resoirca. That we do positively an,
emphatically disclaim and disavow IA.
wish or desire. on our part. t. acquire an,
foreign territory whatever. foi the purpos'
Of propaga,ing slavery. ~ Of introducin;
. slaves from the United States, into sucl
foreign territory.
Add to this bis declaration Ia the com
promise debate in 1853;
Il have said that never could volt
for Il myself, and | repeat, never eau
and never viii vote. and no earthly powc
will make me vote 20 spread slavery owe
territory where It does not exist
Thus spake the father Of the Who
Party.