The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-21

iney don't mean to let the first step be taken,
because they don't mean to lay down their power.
The three-6fths vote that they get by it is
thing they won't part with. They'll die first.
Why, Just look at it'll There is a least twenty.
four millions of property held in this way. What
90 you suppose these men care about the poor
whites, and the ruin of the State, and all
that? The poor whites may 90 the devil, for
all them; and as for the ruin of the State, it
won't come in their day and after us the del
uge,' you know. That's the talk These men
are our masters; they are yours; they are mine;
they are masters of everybody in these United
States. They can crack their whips over the
head OF any statesman or clergyman, from Maine
to New Orleans, that disputes their will. They
govern the country. Army, navy, treasury,
church, state, everything is theirs; and who
ever is going to get mp must go up on their lad.
der. There isn't any other ladder. There isn't
an interest, not body of men, in these whole
United States, that they can't control and l
tell you, Clayton, you might as well throw ashes
into the teeth of the north wind, as undertake
to fight their influence. Now, if there was any
hope of doing any good by this, if there was the
with you; but there isn't. The thing is a fixed
fact, and why shouldn't climb up on it, as well
as everybody else?"
Nothing is 6xed," said Clayton, "that isn't
fixed in right. God and nature fight against
evil"
They do, suppose; but it's long cam
paign," said Frank, "and must be on the side
that will win while Pm alive. Now, Clayton,
to you always speak the truth; l won't hum
bug you. worship success. l am of Frederick
the Greats creed, that Providence goes with
the strongest battalions.'
81 wasn't made for defeat. I must have
power. The preservation of this system, whole
and entire, is to be the policy of the leaders of
this generation. The fact is, they stand where
it must be their policy. They mast spread it
over the whole territory. They must get the
balance of power in the country, to build them
selves up against the public opinion of mankind.
why, Clayton, moral sentiment, as you call
it, is humbngl The whole world acquiesces
in achat goes-they always have. There is a
great cutlery about Slavery now but let it sac
coed, and there won't be. When they can out.
vote the Northern States, they Il put them down.
They have kept them subservient by intrigue
so far, and by and by they'll have the strength
to put them down by force. England makes
fuss now; but let them only succeed, and she'll
be as civil as sheep. Of course, men always
make fuss about injustice, when they have
nothing to gain by holding their tongues but
England's mouth will be stopped with cotton
you'll see it. They love trade, and hate war.
And 80 the fuss of Anti-Slavery will die out in
the world. Now, when you see what poor
hoax human nature is, what's the useof bother
ing? The whole race together aren't worth
button, Clayton, and selfsacrifce for such fools
is a humbug. That's my programmed"
"Well, Frank, you have made a clean breast;
30 will l. The human race, as you say, may be
humbug, but it's every mans duty to know
g. IL M h,
not worship success, and soiU not. And if
cause is q right and honorable one, / will labor
in it till die, whether there is any chance of
succeeding or not"
"Well, now" said Frank Russell, 81 dare
say it's so. respect your sort of folks; you
form an agreeable heroic poem, with which one
can amuse the tediousness of life. l suppose
it won't do you any good to tell you that you
are getting immensely unpopular, with what you
are doing"
"No," said Clayton, ait won't"
al am really afraid, " said Russell, "that they'll
mob you, some of these bright days"
"Very well" said Clayton.
go, of course, knew it would be very we'll !;
but say, Clayton, what do you want to get up a
petition on that point for7 Why don't you get
up one to prevent the separation of familes2
There's been such muss made about that in
3
the fashion to move about that a little. Poll.
ticians like to appear to intend to begin to do
something about it. 1t has pleasing effect,
and gives the Northern editors and ministers
something to say, as an apology for our sins.
Besides, there are good many simplehearted
folks, who don't see very deep into things, that
really think it possible to do something effective
on this subject. If you get up petition for
that, you might take the tide with you; and I'd
do something about it, myself"
"You know very well, Frank, for told you,
that it's no use to pass laws for that, without
giving the slaves power to sue or give evidence,
in case of violation. The improvement pro-
pose touches the root of the matter"
"That's the fact-it surely does |" said Rus
sci. "And, for that very reason, you'll never
carry it. Now, Clayton, just want to ask you
one question. Can you fight? VIII you fight?
Will you wear q bowie-knife and pistol, and
shoot every fellow down that comes ct you 2"
"Why, no, of course, Frank You know that
never was a fighting man. Such brute ways
are not to my taste"
"Then, my dear sir, you shouldn't set up for
a reformer in Southern States. Now, I'll tell
you one thing, Clayton, that I've heard. You
made some remarks at public meeting, up at
E., that have started a mad-dog cry, which /
suppose came from Tom Gordon. See here
have you noticed this article in the Trumpet of
Libertye" said he, looking over confused
stack of papers on his table. "Where's the
article? 0, here it is"
At the same time he handed Clayton sheet
bearing the motto "Liberty and Union, now
and forever, one and inseparable," and pointed
to an article headed
Covert Abolitionism Citizens, Besoare =
We we're present, a few evenings ago, at the
closing speech delivered before the Washington
Agricultural Society, in the course of which the
speaker, Mr.. Edward Clayton, gratuitously wan.
dered away from his subject, to make inAamma
tory and seditious comments on the state of the
laws which regulate our negro population. 1t
is time for the friends of our institutions to be
awake. Such remarks, dropped in the ear of
q restless and ignorant population, will be
fruitful source of sedtion and instruction. This
young man is supposed to be infected with the
virus of Northern Abolitionists. We cannot too
narrowly watch the course of such individuals
for the only price at which we can maintain
liberty is eternal vigilance. Mr.. Clayton be-
longs to one of our oldest and most respected
families, which makes his conduct the more in
excqsable."
Clayton perused this with quiet smile, which
was usual with him.
"The hand of Joab is in that thing" said
Frank Russell.
"Tm sure said very little" said CLAYTON.
az was only showing the advantage to our agri-
culture of higher tone Of moral feeling among
our laborers, which of course led me to speak of
the state of the law regulating them, ] said
nothing but what everybody knows
"But, don't you know, Clayton said Russell,
that if a fellow has an enemy-anybody bear.
ing him the least ILL will-that he puts tremen.
dous power in his hands by making such re-