Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-06-01

Win sworn anu Odls hDal tnluk YOU
of the decision Of the Supreme Court that
the black man has no rights which the
white man Is bound to respect? What
think you of their dicta that citizens of
the free States are not ~citizsns OF the Uni
ted Statess What think you Of the bred
Scott decision in its real purpose-tbat
slavery is the only sovereignty in these
States-in the language of the Kentucky
and Kansas laws-a mans right to his
slave, sis higher than all laws and con-
stitutions"? What think you of that sort
of a Higher Law? What think you
of the embryo political movement under
Democratic" auspices which will in
1860 cali upon you to invest Congress
with the power to put it into practice in
all the Territories, and then in all the
States? You can't see speculative opin-
ions-you know nothing of the logic of
principIes-you ignore cause and effect
by induction, making the past. future
historyl But you see your good and
true men now lying in prison You be-
gin to understand that thing You call
a convention on the cath inst. 1ou in
woke the couDtenance and aid of "every
true patriot and friend of freedom!"-
Very good You intend to "resolve," to
protest" to "denounce." Is that all?
Then 60 home and wear your chains!-
l say. are you ready to fight? Not to
fight the poor Judge at Cleveland-not to
fight the Marshal-not to fight the mis-
cradle packed Jury-not 10 fight the
tools of the Despots-but the Despots
themselves not TO violate the laws-not
TO make emeutes- MOTTO produce anarchy
but to maintain constitutional liberty
-peaceably if we can-orciJly if ire
mast! Are you ready for that? Ii not
give it up now! Don't 60 into a Ma
tional Convention to select a standard
bearer who is a ''submissiouistl" Don't
put up a .'compromiser !" DON'T look
out for a conservative !" They'll all
betray you. as they lave done? They
all do that which you expected and de-
siled them to do! They'll all sell US out
as We have been willing to be sold!-
1.-The Union will be again in dangerl"
l played prophet thirteen years agc-I'n
play the same part again.
Men do notlay down power voluntari-
ly; our masters, the sleveocracy, are not
going 'to 60 out like a snutf!' The
democracy" intend to rule The Union,
or ruin the Union! l don't intend, so far
as l can prevent-so far as | can control
or influence the Republican party, that
they shall be allowed to do either. l
want a man at the head of party, who
will be the platform of the party. l
want now no corn stalk general, but a
real general. l want a man whose ban
ners bear no uncertain sign. When 1
see slave p~ropsgandism on the banners of
the Democracy, | want to see, in legible
%colors, Herty,propogandism on the flag
of the Republicans. When l read
slavery is higher than all laws and all
constitutions" | want a scribe who will
write under it, and on it, in letters like
those of those of John Hancock, that Is a
iei When the slave holders say if you
elect a Republican President, we will
dissolve the Uuion, l don't want any one
TO put off the evil day which would follow
such event by saying ''let it slide!" but
some one who would stand by the tomb
of Andrew Jackson, and become infused
to such extent with the spirit Of that old
patriot and Hero-that he would be
ready to cry out in the f~ullness of inspira-
ton: by the Eternal-the Union shall
be preserved" l would have no man to
be precipitate-bandy no hard Words
be by no means 'lussy"--but standing
upon the great rocks of STATE Sovereignty
and National. Supremacy, l would DEFY
the canting traitors to Liberty, Law, Civ
ilizaton, and Humanity! That's what l
mean by asking you, are you ready to
EgAtl If you have got your sentiments
up to that manly pitch. l am with you
all through to the end But if not, I'll
have lone of your conventions-no more
%farcical campaigns; no more humbngs;
no more 4Ih of July oraiions-no more
Declarations of lndependence-no more
platitudes-no more glittering general
ties-no more rights of more
liberty. equality, and fraternity! 10 OBJ
scure places-ln silence, and humility. |
will crush out the aspirations of early and
better days-and attempt the dutilul but
hard task of forgetting that | was born
free!
Your Obedient Servant,
C. NJ. CLAY.
Messrs. S. o. GRIswoLD, etc., Com,
&C., Cleveland, Ohio.