Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-08-23
"Fairness in Controversy.v

The nerves of our amiable friend of the Pho
neer are awfully shocked because we will not put
the same construction on the speeches of Henry
Clay that he does, and this he calls 'unfairness'
on our part. Every reader of the Pioneer must
see that the conductors Of that sheet dislike the
quotation from the speech of Clay at the head of
our column, because there are some sold line,
Union Saving Wings" in this community whose
votes they are anxious to secure, and hence such
sentiments so much in unison with the Republic
cans, act as 6re-bran in their camp. They are
using every effort in their power to convince the
community, that HENRY CLAY was an advocate of
the principles embodied in the Nebraska bill and
that were he alive he would support the measure
earnestly as does the father of the mischievous
child or those who sanctioned its baptism. If
they can possibly cram this down the throats of
some of the timid ones who would rather vote for
the ghost of the dead patriot than a living man,
then their end is gained. Their only hope for
the election of Buchanan is the concentration of
the Clay-Whig votes upon him. Now if it can
be shown that CLAY was opposed to Slavery
(that has already been demonstrated) and that be
also been demonstrated) then how can those who
love the memory of the man, give in their adhesion
to a party who seeks to perpetuate slavery and to
extend its limits? The Pioneer sees and
knows this, and this the reason why such siren
uous efforts are being made on its part and by the
party of which it is the organ, to make it appear
that HENRY CLAY was the upholder and defender
of that infamous "popular sovereignty doctrine
which has excited the country and caused the
foundation of the Union to tremble. And for
sooth, because Ue wiH not admit that Clay was
in favor of the afor esaid doctrine, the Pioneer
thinks US ''unfair in controversy" and talks
about "meanness," Unreasonable denunciationt
of the Union," &c. Perhaps the editor has for.
gotten what Henry Clay did say-here it is:
81 have said that never would vote for it my.
self and | repeat that never can, and NEvKE
WILL vote, anu no earthly power will ever make
me vote to spread slavery over territory where i
does not exist"
While on this subject we would call the atten
ton of the Pioncert to the following extract from
aspeech of Henry Clay [see his Life and Speeche
vol. l, p. 2S4,] delivered in the house of Repre-
sentatives, Jan. 20, 1927. He is speaking of thu
Colonization Society - e.
"we are accused with doing mischief by tn,
agitation of this question. Collateral consequen
ces we are not responsible for. 1t is not this so.
ciety which has produced the great moral revolu.
tion which the age exhibits. What would they
who thus approach us, have done? If they woult
repress all tendencies towards liberty, and ulti
mate emancipation, they must do more than pu
down the benevolent efforts of this society,"
They must 60 back to the era ce our liberty and
independence, and muzxle the cannon which thun
ders its annual joyous return. They must reviv,
the slave trade and all it's attendant atrocities
They must suppress the workings of the Britisl
phlanthrophy seeking to meliorate the condition
OF the unfortunate vest India slave. They mus
arrest the career of South American deliverance
from thraldom. They must put out the mora
lights around us, and extinguish that great torch
of all which America presents to benightec
world, pointing the way to their rights, libeft
and happiness. And when they achieve all thes,
purposes, their work will be yet Incomplete
They must penetrate the human soul, and eradi.
cate the light Of reason and the love Of liberty
THEN, AND NOT TILL THEN, WHEN UNIVERSAL DARK.
NESS AND DESPAIR PREVAIL, CAN You PERPsTuArI
SLAVERY, AND REPREss ALL sYNPATHIxs, AND ALI
HUMANE AND BENEVOLENT EProRys AMONG FREINEN,
in BEHALF OF TIE UNHAPPY PORTION OF ouR RACE
DOOMED TO BONDAGE" .gea sssgi gau5E
We have .smore left of the same sort.s when
the Pioneer has dieestsd the above. RS ri q