Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-09-09
Senator Clay on the English 3

Senator Clay on the English Bill.
Senate. Clay. of Alabama, has written a
long letter to his constituents, in the course
of which be shows that the conference
measure was better for the South than the
original Lecompton bill of the Senate. His
remarks are worthy of particular attention
in this latitude. We quote the following
passages:
LKcoMProN not SUBMITTED.
"There 10 nothing in the language or
spirit of that act to warrant the assertion
that it submitted the Lecompton Conssitn-
ton to vote of the people, but much to con-
trsdict the assertion; for ii acknowledged
that Cosstiistssm to Be tie act Of the people Of
Kansas, TO Be RePsbliean in form, and to be
aecepte5ls to Congress, but declared that the
terms of admission demanded by Kansas
were Unacceptable, proposed other terms
and submitted them 10 q vote Of the people.
1t is tue that the people might vote against
the terms proposed, not because they were
unacceptable to them, but because the Le-
compton Constitution was unacceptable te
them. But what had Congress to do with
the motives of the people of Kansas!
could not legislste reasons for their acts into
or oft of their heads"
BETTER FOR THE SOUTH THAN LEcoMPToN
"Hesce, i repeat, there is no objection to th'
Conference bill that does not obtain agcins
The Senate bill. There are objections to the
Senate bill that do not obtain against the Con
ference biH. The Senate bill, by the Green
Pugh smendment, declared the right Of III,
people of Kansas ''at all times to alter, re
form or abolish their form of government
in such manner as they may think proper
Congress hereby disclaimiug any authorit.
to interfere" &c.-which truism seemet
like an apology to Black Republicans, il
and out of Kansas, for admitting her unde
the Lecompton Constitution, and sugges
tion to them to come in, and i'm
medistely thereafter to change their Con
stitution-a policy which some of them ad
yocsted. Again, the Senate bill made n
provision about Kansas in case of her re
| fussl to come into the Union under the lie
compton Constitution. The Conferenc
bill is free from the Green -Pugh amendme'
and declares, if Kansas refuse the term
therein proposed, she shall not be admitie
into the Union till ait is ascertained by
census, duly and legally taken. that the pc
pulation OF said territory equals or exceed
the ratio of representation required for
member of the House of Representative
of the Congress of the United States
declaration by las of sound general principl
which may tend to suppress those frequen
conveptions that have destroyed all peac
in K Kansas and in Congress, and may be
her Territory for many gears, ,Daere, unds
the Nebroska-Kansas act and the Dred SEQ
decision, ,Southerners haze right to carry an
hold slotss."
This is the beautiful English bill, whic
the Democracy of Ohio have deliberatel
resolved to acquiesce in, and to sustain as
test of party fidelity. This is the gran
issue to be passed upon by the people of thi
State at the coming election. Souther
Democrats have frank, manly way {
speaking, which their Northern allies are q
scrupulous to avoid. The latter dodge, an
quibble, and fb, to cheat the people -bu
Senator Clay gives the plain English of1fh
whole business. Let every hon est vote
carefully read his expositisn of the Con
ference bill. and see the effect of his vot
for Democratic Congressman. 4
But this is not all. Mr. Clay candid
owns that the bill offered "strong induce
ments" to the people of Kansas to come i
as Slave State. Hear him:
THE BlLL CONTAINED BRIBE AND A THREAT
81 think nothing was lost by the Sennt
in the Conference Kansas act, either in tn
abstract or the concrete, in principle o
practical results. II maintained the rrgh
of the people to form slavebolding Stat
in Territory North of sc deg. 80 min, pro
posed to admit such State on equal term
with other new States, and offered her stron,
| Inducements to come into the Union by declar
ing if she did not accept tie terms proposed
she should stay ost till she attained the popula
tion thai scOuH entiAe her TO one representa-
| tire"
This, then, was "leaving the people per
fsctly free to choose or reject slavery, was it
WHAT THE SOUTH HAS GAINED.
"Our rights have, at least, Federal law t,
sustain them in Territory, which 10 mos
non-slaveholding States has been, and il
Kansae, if admitted as State, would soor
have been, nullified by State legislation. Ir
that event we, who voted for any act b,
which she entered the Union, would have
been censured as much, and with equa
justice, for ADMITTING AN ABOLITION COM
MUNITY OF BUT 10000 PEOPLE, when, By
law, SO, ,420 were requisite to entitle Stat'
to one member of the House Of Represen
tatives."
These are few Of the many rich thing
in this letter Of Mr.. Chy-wii5iu bears dut.
August 10, 1858, and is published at lenetl
in The Mobile Advertiser of August aad.--
There are many other points in this letter
on other political matters, quite worthy o
notice, and we lay by the balance of it, fo
future consideration. If ",he Democrac,
is unit" it is lucky thing to come across
one of its leaders, occasionally, who is can
did and conmun:c stive like Mr.. Clay. H,