Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-26

Letter from Cassius NJ. Clay.
GENTLEMEN Your favor Of the 10th is re-
ceived too late to accept it on my part deep
ly sympalhise with you in your movement
against he advances of "slavery and despot
ism" The scenes which are now being enact
ed in Clevel nd, where men are fined and i'm.
prsoned for the exercise of the highest in
stincts OF Heather Philanthropy and Christian
Morality in violation of the sacred principles of
our government and the utter overthrow of
our much vaunted Constitution, are well calcu-
lated to arouse a sluggish people TO action, and
awake the sleepest from their fatal sumbcrs
| always hated and denounced the Fugitive
Slave Law-not only because it violated the U.
5 Constitution-lhe return ot iugilives from la
Dor being a duty imposed upon the States only
according to ihe unbought dicta OF the "Ex
FOUNDER Of The Constitution" Daniel Webster,
aud denied to COngress-but because it viola
ted all the safeguards Of freedom jeoparded
the life, liberty, and happiness, not only of the
humble and hated African, but of every proud
Saxon in the land and made justice a mockery
in all its forms, but because it humiiiatsd and
degraded our manhood, and fitted US TO be our
selves slaves, which our masters long since de-
signed.
Gentlemen, allow me to be little egoiisti-
u
Legislature dated Jan 0, 1886, moro that thir.
teen years ago, used these words "This is
no longer question about Alricaus-whether
they be beasts or men--a debate about mad
in philanthropy but lohether we, the eighteen
millions Of white men OF these States, shall be
Tree men or slaves ~
These sentiments and utterauces were de-
nounced as the most atrocious aud lanattcal all
over the North; and what little reputation l
had for common sense was for long years lost!
What say you now, men of OhOl Whatthink
you of the expulsion of the Representatives. of
Massachusetts seeking legal redress of wrongs
in the courts Ofthe United States from Charles.
iOn and New Orleans What think you of the
army aud navy present in Boston to enforce
an Unconstitutional law What think you Of
the trials of American citizens for their lives
for Constructive treason! What think You of
the selling Northern citizens into Southern
slavery What think you of the Govern
mental murders in Kansas! What think you
of the military dictatorship there What think
you of the armed overthrow of the ballot by the
national bayonets What think you of the po
litlcal attempts TO vote "a minority constitution
over the heads of the freemen OF Kansas, aud to
drive 1t down their throats with sword and balll
WuuJ Juiuk you OF TIE ueCislUu VI INC tJupuUuU
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 citizens of the United States2
What think you of the Dred Scott decision in
its real purpOSe-that slavery is the only sove-
reignty in these States-in the language of the
Kentucky and Kansas laws---a mans right TO
his slave, sis higher than all laws and consti-
tutionsM What think you Of that sort of
"Higher Law! What think you of the Cm.
bryo political movement undcr democratic %
auspices which will in 1860 call upun you TO
invest Congress with tue power TO put it into
practice in all the Territories, and then in all
the Statesl You can'ts speculative opinions
you know nothing of the logic of principles
you ignore cause aud effect by induction maxi
ing the past, future historyl But YOU see
your good and true men now lying in prison
You begin 70 understand that thing You
call convention on the lthinst You invoke
the cOuntenance and aid of "every true patriot
and friend of freedom!" Very good You in
tend tO "resOlye," TO protest" TO "depounee' -
Ia that all Then 20 home and wear your
chains | say, are you ready 10 fight? Not TO
fight the poor Judge at Clevelaud--not TO fight
the Marshal--not to fight tie miserable packed
Jury-not to fight the tools of the Despots--
but the Despots themselves not TO violate the
laws-nOt to make emeutes-nOt to produce
anarchy-but to maintain constitutional liberty
-peaceably II ioe an--tOrclbly If JVs mHst -
Any you ready Tor that II not give it up nOw
Don't 60 into a National Convention to select
a standard bearer who is 'submissionist -
Don put up a "compromiser !" Don't look out
fora conservative !" They'll all brtIay you,
as they have done They all do that hich
you expected and desired them to do They'll
all sell us out as we have been willing to be
sold The Union will be again in danger -
played prophet thirteen years ago-IIl play
the same part again.
Men do not lay down power voluntarily; nu
mast ers, the slaveOcracy are not going "to 10
out like a snuff" The democracy" intend 10
rule The Union, or run the Union! 1 don't in
& nd, so far as | can p -ent-so far as l 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. | want now no cor-
stalk general, but real general want man
whose banners bear no uncertain sign When
see sldDe prOPagandism on the banners of the
DemoCraey, | want TO see, in legible colurs,
bsrty-Propagandism on the flag OF the Repub-
llcans. When / read "Slavery is higher than
all laws aud all constitutions want a scribe
who will write under lt, and on it, in letters
like those Of John Hancock, that IS a he! When
the slave holders say II you elect Republican
President, we will dissolve the Union, don't
want any one to put of the eyllday which would
follow such event by saying "et It slideg' but
some one who would stand by the tomb OF
Andrew Jackson, aud become infused to such
extent with the spirit Of that old patriot
aud Hero-that he would be ready TO cry
out in the fuilness of inspiration "By the
EternRl-the Union shall be preserved %
would have no man to be precip ipitale-bandy no
hard words-be by no means lussy but
standing upon the great rocks of State Sope-
Teigniy and NdtiCRal Supremacy, l would DEFY
the canting traitors TO Lberty, Law, Civiliza.
tion, ana Humahity That's what mean by
asking you, are you ready 20 fght IfyOu have
got your sentiments up TO that manly pitch,
am with you all through to the end But il not.
lllhave none ofy your rconYentons-nO more far
ccal campaigns no more humbugs; no more 4th
OF July oratiOns-nomore Declarations of Inde.
pendenoe-no more platitudes-nO more Gilt.
tering generalities--no more rights of man-no
more liberty, equality and fraternity In OBJ
seure places-ln silence, and humility, L will
crush out the aspirations OF earlier and better
days-and attempt the dutlul but hard task of
forgetting that was born free
Your Obedient Servant
@. M CLAY
Msssrs 8. o, GRlswoLD, etc, Com &c
Cleveland Ohio.