Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-08-06
Speech of Cnssius M. CIay's at covington.
From the Cincinnati Commercial, July 80.

From the Cincinnati Commercial, July 90
A very remarkable political and popular
demonstration was made in the City of
Covington last night by Cassius M. Clay.
The fact that he was to address public
meeting last night seems to have been bet
ter known in Louisville and Lexington than
in the city or Covington, and there was
good deal of excitement in the first-named
cities, from q desire to know what position
Mr.. Clay would take with reference to the
election of Monday next. One is at loss
to know why it should have been supposed
that the chiyalrie and now veteran repre-
sentative in the South of the doctrine that
Slavery is sectional and Freedom national"
would declare for either Bell or Magoffin.
Very little publicity was given to the
meeting in Covington, but at 8 O'Clock a.
bout 800 people had assembled in front Of
the Seventh-street Market-House, and with
in the next hour the crowd had swollen to
nearly 1900
Mr.. Clay said that he had taken no pub
lie part in the excited canvass now drawing
to close, but had cheerfuly responded to
call from his friends for a political ad-
dress in Covington. He was an humble
representative of the Republican organiza-
tion, and he only asked of the Wings and
Democrats and Americans of the city, a
respectful hearing.
The people of these States were engaged
in no new controversy, and it was well to
recognize the features of a struggle as old
as the world-the struggle between the
class in possession of illegitimate power,
and the people who would be free of that
power. The possessors are conservatives
conservative of monarchial prerogatives,
of privileges of caste, of the material ad.
vantage of the day, derived from the own
ership of laboring men. Napoleon l. ex
pressed his view of the conflict of princi
Piles by declaring that Europe was bound
to be Cossack or Republican. So here in
America it is inevitable that as a nation
we must be the Propagandists of Slavery
and that in its worst form-or of Free
DOM
To the men of Kentucky he wished tc
present this living issue, "would they have
commonwealth in which labor was hon.
orable Z" 1t was the execrable feature oi
human Slavery that il degraded-not ht
"A fricaB, but CONDITION OF LABOR. The
independence of these States, in which The
right of all men to all the sweet rewards
of labor-health, sleep, property, and the
pursuit of happiness" should be universal
ly recognized The fathers of the Repub-
lie too fondly hoped this recognition was
secured by the War Of Independence. But
in the Convention that framed the Consti.
tuition, the SLAVE Power rose, and demand
ed the indirect recognition of Slavery, aud
the legalzation Of the slaVe-trade for O
term Of years. The fatal spirit Of com
promise prevailed, and, rather than go back
TO English allegiance, and taxation with.
out representation, the trainers Of that in.
strument legalized the slaVe-trade. The
Slave Power grew apace !; Kentucky, and
Tennessee, and Alabama, aud louisiana
were gained. Even the Compromise ol
1920 carried Slavery west Of the Mississip
p, and the Compromise Of 1850 contained
still greater concessions.
Were the people Of Kentucky prepared
to stand by and be committed to the sun
port Of Slavery Propagandism, by The
small minority who had hitherto represent.
ed the State ?
The present GubernatoEiai contest had
nothing in it TO enlist the enthusiasm Of
the care Of Kentuckians. Your Bells anC
Magonins were quarreliDg about measure
. ana measures only--neither OF them dareG
70 ask full discussion on the principles On
: derlying the extension or rejection of Slave
Ify 10 nthe Territories He (Mr Clay call