Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-06-16

Letter from Cassius VI. Clay to the
Cleveland Mass Meeting.
Gentlemen: Your favor of the 10th
is received too late to accept it on my
part. deeply sympathize with you
in your movement against the adyan-
ces of slavery and despotism." The
scenes which are now being enacted
in Cleveland, where men are fined and
imprisoned for the exercise of the
highest instincts of Heather Philan-
thropy and Christian Morality in vio-
lation OF the sacred principles of our
government and the utter overthrow
of our much Wanted Constitution, are
well calculated to arouse sluggish
people to action, and awake the sleep
lest from their fatal slumbers! / al
ways hated and denounced the Fugi-
tive Slave Law-not only because it
violated the L. S. Constitution-the
return of fugitives from labor being a
duty imposed upon the States only,
according 70 the unbought dicta Of the
"Expounder of the Constitution.
Daniel Webster, and denied to Con-
grcss-but because it violated 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 mockery in all its forms,
but because it Inundated and degraded
our manhood; and fitted us to be our
selves slaves, which our masters long
since designed.
Gentleman, allow me to be little
egotistical. In letter to the mem
bcrs of the New York Legislature
dated Jan. 9, 1916, more than thirteen
years ago used these words: "This
is no longer question about Africans
whether they be beasts or men-a
debate about maudlin philanthropy
but whether we, the eighteen millions
of white men of these States, shall be
free men or slavesl"
These sentiments and utterances
were denounced as the most atrocious
and fanatical all ol er the North; and
what little reputation | had for com.
mon sense was for long years lost
What say you now, men of Ohio
What think you of the expulsion o.
the Representatives of Massachusetts,
seeking legal redress of wrongs in the
courts of the United States from
Charleston and New Orleans What
think you Of the army and navy pres
ent in Boston to enforce an unconsti
tutional law? What think you of tn,
trials of American citizens for thei
lives for constructive treason?"-
What think you Of the selling North
ern citizens into Southern slavery
What think you Of the Governmental
murders in Kansas? What think vo,
of the military dictatorship there
What think you of the armed over
throw of the ballot by the nationa
bayonets? What think you of tn
political attempts to vote a m'norit'
constitution over the heads of the free
men of Kansas, and 10 drive it dow
, their throats with sword and ball
What think you of the decision Of tn
Supreme Court that the black ma
has no rights which the white man j
bound to respect? What think yo
of their dicta that citizens of the fre
| States are not citizens of the Unite
States? What think you of tn
. bred Scott decision in its real purpos
r that slavery is the only sovereignt
in these States-in the language {
the kentucky and Kansas laws
mans right to his slave, "is highe
g than all laws and constitutions?
: What think you of that sort of
Higher Law" What think YOU {
the embryo political movement unde
: "Dcmocratic." auspices which will
| 1850 call upon you to invest Congre:
e with the power TO put it into practic
$ in all the Territories, and then in a
the States? You can't see speculatis
h opinions-you know nothing of til
n logic of principles-you ignore eau.
0 and effect by Induction. making II
t past, future history, But You 5,
II your good and true men now lying
4 prison! You begin to understand th'
: thing, You call a convention on ii
oath inst. You invoke the count
d nance and aid of ''every true patri
v and friend of frecdom." Very goo
e You intend to resolve" to 'protes,
i to "denounce." Is that all? Thl
d so home and wear your chains! ! sa
are you ready to fghe Not to fig
le the poor judge at Cleveland-not
d fight the Msrshal-not to fight Il
'r miserable packed Jury-not to fg
he the tools of the Despots--but the de
y pots themselves! not to maintain CT