Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-09-03
che Rapu iicani.rn of Henry CLAY.


ders. .s
khe Rapu iicanisln of Henry Clay.
We defy any man, North or South, to re,d
the following extracts from Mr. Claws speeches
ana reconcile them with the ground taken in the
buchanan or Fillmore Platforms; and we chal.
lenge them 10 point out any disagreement he.
tween the views OF Mr.. Clay and those OF the
Republican Party, as embraced in their Platform.
and in the letter OF Col. Fremont, ACCEPTING the
nomination.
The Republican Platform is Henry CLAW
Platform. In proof OF this proposition, we Sc.
lect the following passages from Coton's s.Lasy
Seven y ears of the Life OF Henry CLAW"
SIR, said Mr.. Clay, II have said that never
could vote for it, and repeat that never can
ana never Will vote for it; and no earthly power
shall ever make me vote TO plant Slavery where
Slavery does not cxist."-Pagc SIS.
And now, sir" said Mr. Clay on another oc
casion, coming irolh slave State, as do.
owe 1t to myself, owe it to truth owe it to
the subject, 10 say, that no earthly power could
induce me TO vote for a specific measure for the
introduction OF Slavery, where i, had not befor,
existed, either north or south of that line" 1.-THE
line OF 36 degrees 30 minutes Page 355
81 shall not enlarge said Mr.. Clay. con the
opinion which have already announced to the
Senate as being held by me, ito wit: that Sl,
very had been abolished in Mexico, and conse-
quently did not exist i'll the territory ACQUIRED
from Mexico by the United Statcs) Nv opin.
ION OF the variety of forms in which lenisIal on
can take piacc-tHat is TO say, by the cdict of a
Dictator by the Constitution of rho ncon,. n,
Mexico, and by the test of the legislative an.
| thority of Mexico-by all these modes of leris.
Iation, my opinion Is, that Slavery has been
abolished there. Page 36l. Again: Il can.
not agree to an amendment (of tie Territorial
bill tor New Mexico) which, in point of fact.
assumes that Slavery has ali existence there at
this time, and which assumes, in point of law.
that, under the Constitution OF the United States
there Is right to carry Slaves there cannot
vote for either proposition. Page $40. Again:
why said Mr.. Clay, 'thcSe United States con.
sist OF thirty States In fifteen of them there IS
Slavery, and in fifteen OF tAcm Slavery does not
exist. Well, how cah it be argued that the fiji
teen slave States, by the operation of the Con-
stItuton OF the United States, carry into the
coded Territory their institution of, Slavery, any
more than it can be argued, on the other side,
that, by the operation of the same Constitution,
the fifteen free States carry into the ceded Ter.
rlory, the principle of Freedom e
Can you come to any other conclusion than
that which l understand to he the conclusion OF
the public law of the world, OF reason and OF
Justice, that the Statue OF law, as it existed in
tt!e moment OF conquest or acquisition, remains
until il is altered by ;hc conquerng or acour-
ing pow rs'-Pa-c 1873.
Again: There are gentlemen said Mr. Clay
who maintain that, by virtuc.ot The ConSiitt..
ton, the right 10 carry slaves Sogtlot that line
Go deg. 80 mn) ".rcady exists. 1t had not
heard mat opinion avowcd, | should have re-
gardcu 1t as one OF the most extraordinary as
SYMPTOMS, and the most ndefensible position
that WAS ever taken by man. The Constitution
neither created nor does it continue Slavery
Slavery existed independent of the Constitution.
and 1t was dependent, not upon the will OF Com
sress, but upon the laws OF the respective
States The Constitution is silent ana passive
upon the subject OF the institution of Slavery;
or, rather IT deals with the fact as it exists in
the States, without having created it, or contin-
ued 1t, or being respo siblc for it in the slirbt
est degree. = Ii slaves are voluntarily
carried INTO such Jurisdiction (where slavery
does not eyist,) their chains Instantly drop off
and they become free, enlancpated liberated
from their bondage. II the Cons,i-
tuition possesScs the paramount authority attr,b-
ated 10 IL THAT Is, TO protect Slavery in the Ter
fitorles} the laws even of the free States OF the
Union would yield to'that paramount authority.
lou cannot put your finger on the
part OF the Constitution which, conveys the right
or the power to carry slaves from one of the
States OF the Union to any Territory OF the Uni.
TED States. Page 10. Again.. Il cannot
agree that, under the Consti1uiiou of the United
States, there Is right to carry slaves into New
Mexico. Page 100. Again: '.And now, sir,
Tor the iirst time after the three great acquis-
tons OF Texas, Florida. and Louisiana, have
been made, and have redounded to the benefit
OF the Sodth-now, for the first time, when three
Territories (CaiI ornia, Utah, and New Mexicol
are attempted to be introduced without the in
s'isa'ioh OF slavery, pat it to the hearts of nay
eonn'ryineh Q, tue South, If 1t is right TO press
siave been Indicated no longer ago than this ve-
ry mofnins-esen extending to a ttissolutiop of
the Union! Mr. President, | cannot believe
il. n-Pau,. 40