Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-11-26
I HAwK.RYR AND TELEGRAPH.
Mr Clar,sL.scsnre

alsA Mr.. Clayss LeCfurc. 81
The Hon. Cassius NJ Clay, of Kentucky. gay
the opening lecture for the season 10 ! GRO wde
house here, on Monday night. His reputatio
A. one Of the first lecturers Of our country, cal
| ed together large audience, and however hig
may have been their expectations, We are cor
ddent In saying, none we're disappointed, or re
GREETED the opportunity Of hearing the grea
champion Of Freedom.
His subject, Labor ia the basis of ali pros
perity, and can neither be bought or soid.n wa
well illustrated and substantially proved, if i
can De said such doctrine calls for proof d.
adhered closely TO the principle that human Ia
Dor could not be bought or sold, that all had
the right TO their own labor, and that labor
formed the basis of individual prosperity. Per.
sonal property depended on the rights Of labor
THE well being of society, and the perpetuity
OF order and good government, deperded ON
this right. There was a higher law that gov.
erned and guided him on to happiness. That
'nis higher law was ever present through the
conscience, to approve or disapprove as man
was disposed to go right or wrong. This high
er law sanctioned the rights of labor and mans
right to himself, and equally positive in its con-
domination of bartering away the life and the
sinews of man.
He declared that there was no right to hold
man in bondage. That slavery was practically
and radically wrong; neither sanctioned by the
conscience of man, which was the higher law,
nor by the laws of the right Of property. 1t
had its right only in human laws and human
governments; was perpetuated by human inst-
buttons and the sel6shness Of man. 1t was a
selfish institution, having no sanction in the laws
OF God, or approval in the conscences of men,
Ancient nations practised this supposed right
to hold men in bondage, from various pretexts.
The difference of religion gave the right to con
quer, and that conquest the right to hold men
in slavery. Those nations were corrupt and
in this, as in others of their laws, and
where were they now? The more civilized ma
tons rejected that doctrine of enslavment of
man. Color was also made the pretext for sla. |
very, as showing an inferiority of race This !
nteriority of race he denied; there was no infe |
'iority of race; man was created equal - one
lesh, and one blood. Circumstances of birth,
position, or power might make them superiors,
tut that superiority soon passed away. The
Jews once the chosen of Gods people, were
catered over the world. The Greeks, once
he masters Of the sea and land, now a nation
If pirates and robbers. The Carthagenians, the
Romans, with their temporary superiority, where
re they now? AL nations pass away.
The supposed rights of conquest could not
confer on nlan the right to hold slaves, nor OF
property; it was wrong, aid by civilized nations
vas an exploded idea. The right of discovery
vas good right, but the right of labor was the
'nly good title, sanctioned by the laws Of God
nd man. Prejudice against color, said Mr.,
jlay, did not exist until slavery Of that class ex-
sted. Black was good color and carried no
dea with it Of inferiority, until the black man
became the slave. White men, when in slavery,
we're also despised, and the black was the aristo-
ratio color-the fashionable color with the
,roud old Spaniard, and even to this day, with
heir descendants in Mexico, there is no disre-
pect shown to the black on account of his
olor.
Slavery is sin, and no transfer can make
rood title in man. The simple taking of
mans labor is sin and crime against God
,eryitude implies consent to labor. American
lavery is not based on consent, and is without
he sanction Of any man that thinks Alright
He spoke forcibly of the unity of the human
ace as divine idea, and to which the order of
Kings and the condition of society was tending.
That idea was progressing rapidly-there was no
tanding still--all was progression. In nature
tself there was progress; all is moving. The
,arth, the seasons, the sun moves on-is not
ixed. All should move on-all should labor
There is no place for idlers. Idleness is crime
there is no place for slave holders; they are
dlers, taxing the sinews, the blood and sweat of
heir fellow men, which is great physical and
moral wrong"
This is but meagre sketch of this able lee
ure, replete as it was in conclusive argument
md sound logic; but will convey some faint idea
If the principles advanced, that every man has
he exclusive right to his own labor, and that it
a crime against God and nature, to rob a man,
De he black or white, of that right