The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-08-09
Prophecy of Henry CLAY,

Both Clay and Calhoun foresaw the la.
mentable conclusion which parties in this
country have now reached, and predicted
disunion as the inevitable result of such
state of affairs.
Mr.. Clay, in his speech in the Senate,
February Z, 1889, thus daguerreotyped the
very aspect of affairs in 1856
"Slr," said Mr.. Clay, 81 am not in the
habit of speaking Lightly of the possibility Oh
dissolvinS this happy Union. The Senate
know that | have deprecated illusions, on
ordinary occasions, to that dreful event.
The country will testify that, if there be
anything in the history of my public career
worthy of recollection, it is the truth and
sincerity of my ardent devotion to its lasting
preservation. But we should be false in our
allegiance to it, if VIC did not discriminate
between the imaginary ard real hangers by
which 1t may be a.sssaled Abolitionism
should no .ongcr be regarded as an imag inary
danger. The abolitionists, let me suppose,
succeed in theiI present aim of uniting the
inhabitants Of the free States as one man,
against the inhabitants of the Slave States.
Union on the one side will begct union on
the other And this process of reciprocal
consolidation will be attended with all the
violent prejudiccs, emb:ttered passions. and
iuplacablc animo,itieS which ever degraded
or delorIncd human nature. Il rirtUdt dts-
sokutt0n Of tie THtted .Stntes 1riU hare MEeh
ltace. 0hIe tie firms Of It's ertstcRcc re-
mann.
The most valuable element of union,
mutual kindness, the feelings OF sympathy,
the fraternai bonds, which now happily
unite Us, viii have been cXtlnguISncd tore
Yer. O.e section will stand in InenacIng and
hostile array against the other. The COLI
sion OF opinion will be quickly followed by
the clash of arms. will not attempt TO dc
SCI DC scenes which now happily he conceal
"a from our view Aboiitionlsts thcms,lvc,
would shrink back III dismay and horror at
the contemplation of desOlatc fields, coniia-
grated cities, murdered inhabitants and the
overthrow OF the fairest fabric of human 90
vcrnment that ever rose u animate the
hopes of civilized man. Nor should these
abo.itiOnis;s tiattcr themselves that, II they
should succeed in their object OF uniting the
people of the free States, they will enter the
contest with numerical superiority that must
ensure victory. All history and experience
proves the hazard and uncertainty of war.
And we are admoni>hed by holy writ that
the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to
strong. But If they were to conquer, whom
would they conquer: \ foreign fac-"nc
wuu had inSutsd our tia invaded our
shores, ANA AZ. ou uGu-y "a~,r:
No, sir; no, sit / would he a conquest
without !aurcl~, without .ory-a sell, sui
cldal conqJ.>t-A CoSQUE>T or BROTHERS
OVER BROTHERS, ACHIEVED BY one OVER ANO-
TIER PORTION OF THE DESCENDANTS OF COMMON
ANCESTORS, who, nobly pledgine their lives,
theiY fortunes, and their sacred honor, had
fought and blcd, side by side, in many
hard battle on land and ocean, severed our
country from the British crown, and estab-
lishcd our national independence.
The inhabitants Of the slave States are
sometimes accused by their northern broth
rem with displaying too much rashness and
scusibiliy L the operations and proceedings
OF Abolitioni>tS. But, before they can be
rightly Judged. there should bc J. rcyerSa! Of
conditions. Let me suppose that the people
of the slave States were TO form societies,
subsdlze presses, make large pecuniary
contributions, send for numerous m!Ssiona-
rieS throughout all their own borders, and
enter into Vaccinations to burn their beauti-
ful capitals, destroy the productive manu-
factories, and sink in the ocean the gallant
ships Of the northern States. Would these
iHceudiary proceedings be regarded as
rei.hJory and friendly, and consistent with
the fraternal sentiments which should ever
be cherished by one portion Of the Union to-
wards another: Would they excite no
emotion: Occasion no manifestations Cf
dissatisfaction, nor lead to any acts of retail
atory violence: But the supposed case falls
far short Of the actual one III I most essen
tial circumstance.
Ia 10 contingency could these capitals,
manufactures, and ships, rise IN rebellion
and massacre the inhabitants Of the northern
States"