Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-06-04
LETTER FROM CAssIUs m. CLAY TO TIE
CLEVELAND MASS MEETING.

'ooia'e 10 acceptu on my part, ldeepiy sympa-
lhtse with you in your movement against the ed.
RANGES Of slavery and despotism." The scenes
which are now being enacted In Cleveland, where
men are lined and i'm Imprisoned for the exercise Of
the highest instincts of Heather Philanthropy and
Christian Morality in violation of the sacred prn-
ciplcs Of our government and the utter overthrow
of our much Wanted Constitution, are well calcu-
dated to arouse a sluggish people to action, and
awake the ~sleepiest from their fatal slumbers ! !
always hated and denounced the Fugitive Slave
Lsw-not only because it violated the U. S. Con-
stitution-the return Of f~ugitivos from labor bcitg
n duty imposed upon the States only, according to
the unbought dicta Of the "Expoupder of the Con-
stitutcs," Daniel Webster, and denied to Con-
igress-tut becaaec it violated all the safeguards
acknowledgements the life, liberty, and bappt
mess, not only of the humble and hated African,
tut Of every proud Saxon in the land, and made
Justice a mockery in all its forms, but because il
Inundated and degraded our manhood; and fitted
Us to be ourselves slaves, which our masters long
since designed.
Gentlemen, allow me to be a little egotistical
In a letter to the members Of the New York Leg
~islaturc dased Jan. 9, 1915, mere than thirteen
years ago 4 used these words. This is no longer
70 question about Africans-whether they be
beasts or men-a debate about maudlin philaathro,
ply !-Jtn aohethcq we, tire eighteen millions of
white men of these States, shall be free men or
slaves -
These sentiments and utterane es were denouu-
ced as the most atrocious and fanatical all o., err the
North and what little reputation l had for com
mon sense was for long years lost! What say
you now, men OF Ohio? What think you of the
expulsion OF the Representatives Of Massachusetts,
seeking legal redress of wrongs in the courts of
the United States from Charleston and New Or
leansf What think you of the army and navy
present in Boston to enforce an unconstitutional
law? What thick you Of the trials of American
citizens for their lives for Constructed treason ?"
What think you of the selling Northern citizens
into Southern slavery7 What think you of the
Governmental murders in Kansas What think
yea of the military dictatorship tbere9 What
think you Of the armed overthrow of the ballot by
the national bayonets? What think you Of the
political attempts to vote a minority constitution
over the heads of the freemen of Kansas, and to
drive it down their threats with word and ball
What think you of the decision of the Supreme
Court that the black man has no rights which the
white man is boun1 to respect? What think you
of their dicsa that citizens of the free States are
not citizens Of the United Statesf What think
you of the bred Scott decision in its real purpose
that slavery is the only sovereignty in these
States-in the language Of the Kentucky and
Kansas laTs-a mans right to his slave, lis high
er than all laws and constitutions ?" 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 call
upon you to invest Congress with the power 20 put
it into practice in all the Territories, and then in
all the Statesf You can't see speculative opin-
ions-you know nothing of the logic Of principles
you ignore cause and effect by induction, max
ing the past, future history But you see your
good and true men now lying in prison You
begin to understand that thing! You call o con-
vention on the Oath inst. You invoke the coun-
tenance and aid of every true patriot and friend
OF freedom !" Very good! You intend to ire
solve" to protest" to "denounce." Is that all :?
Then 20 home and wear your chains! / say. are
you ready TO fight? Not to fight the poor Judge
at Cleveland-not to fight the Marshal-not to
6ght the miserable packed Jury-not to fight the
tools of the Despots-but the despots themselves
not to make emeutes-not to produce anarchy
Blu. 10 maintain constitutional liberty peaceably
II ace can-Jorcitly if ace must!-Are you ready
for that? II not give it up now! Don't 60 into
O National Convention to select a standard bearer
who is a 'submissionist !"-Don't put up a "com.
promiser!" Don't look out for a 'conserva.
tive" They'll all betray you, as they have done7
They all do that which you expected and desired
them to do! They'll all sell US out as we have
Loon -;II;au - ba cold g.Tba ITp;op ,r;1I ha
again in danger! !" l played prophet thirteen
years ago-Ill play the same part again.
Men do not lay down power voluntarily our
masters, the slayeocracy are no. going Ito 60 out
like a snuff" The democracy" intend to rule
the Union, or ruin the Union! ! don't intend, SO
far as l can preveut-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 the party, who will be the platform Of the par
ty. / want now 10 corn-stalk general, but a real
general. / want q man whose banners bear nc
uncertain sign. When / see sldce propagation
or the banners of the Democracy, I want to see
in legible colors, libe'ty-propagandism on the flag
Of the Republicans. When l read slavery il
higher than all laws and all constitutions" l wan
a scribe who will write under it, and ON it, in let
tiers like those Of John Hancock, that is a lie
When the Shareholders say if you elect \ Repub-
lican President, we will dissolve the Union. ! don't
want any one to put off tho 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-tha, he
would De ready to cry out in the fulness of inspi-
ration by the Eternal-the Union shall be pre-
served I" would have no man to be precipitate
handy no hard words-be by no means "fussy'
but standing upon the great ro,ks of State Sor
eaeignty and National Supremacy, 1 would defy the
canting traitors Of Liberty. Law, Civilization, and
Humanity! That's what ! mean by asking you
are you ready 10 fight! IL you have got your sen
.iments up to that manly pitch, l am with you al