The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-12-20
LETTER FROM CAssIUS M. CLAY.

In answer to an invition to attend q
Republican gathering in Miami County,
Ohio, Cassius NJ. Clay write, as follows
Whitehall, KY, Nov 26, leo.
Dear SIR. Your favor of the 10th in.
vitiug NE to attend celebration of the
late Republican victory. on the Gath inst,
80 the achievement of which you are pleas
ed to assign Ue some share, i. received.
Iregret that long absence from ho.ne du-
ring all the canvass will not allow me the
pleasure of being With you and partaking
of the sold fashioned barbecue"
The people of Ohio have pobly served
the country, and nobly done their whole
duty. She bas Got only proved By her
extraordinary progress in all our modern
civilization, which has made her the "Em.
pire State" of the West, the pre- emiuen Mt
advantages of Liberty over Slavery, but
By her pioneer aud consistent support of
her leadership.
There are none Of our people who have
more cause to rejoice in our late triumph
than yourselves, because few if any have
done so nuCh toward its success.
| regard the 9th of Moves Der, 1860,
as next ip importance to the 4th of July,
l776.
The day which separsted US from the
British rule and Parliamentary tyranny
vas not more necessary to our ultima tie
security and happiness than the day which
has freed US from the uore destructive
supremacy of the slave olixarohy. No
observsut mind cao fail TO see that the
British GoEernDcht, with all its defects
and abuses; gives more protection to life,
liberty and property than the irresponsi-
bic and lawiess rule of slaveholders |
speak net only Of the the terrible infiic-
ton Of lynch Law, upon all persons who
are suspected of want of fidelity to their
interests, but of tbgt general lawlessne-s
which pervades the whole slave society,
aud assinilatcs lis total insecurity TO the
Eorst phases OF tie dark ages"
In Wrestling the Government from such
Influences, and placing it upon the ba~is
of Justice and Law. the Republican party
have entitled themselves to the eternal
gratitude of mankind.
But we must not fs;ter ourselves that
our work is done. Only the one great
battle has been won. The threats
Of rebellion and necessary civil war which
must attend its actaaliiy, warn u to be
on our guard, aud call for no holiday pa
tyiotism.
While we would bear. with brother
ly forbearaace, with the sore disappoint-
ment Of our late rulers, and give them,
patiently, time 10 accom- ID cd ate themselves
to the pew order of things, frankness
and vie philanthropy compel Us to say
to them at once, the: "peaceahie seces-
sion" is out peaccable retellion-an ut
ter absurdity, Neither one Slave State,
four Slave States, or all the Slave States
will be allowed peaccably to secede.-
Every man of seUse sees that civil var
would be better than that eternal war
which would be the result of divided
nation. The forces engaged would lie
less, and the result final The Union
party ct the South woulI be our allies,
aud with victory, which would be sure for
the Union and the right, would cone
peace and a homogeneous empire. But
allow secession, and then With the South
eru seeding States united, would come
war inevitably the first time We net up
on the rivers or the seas, which would be
settled aud renewed from century to Gen.
fury. The South must know that the
Republicans intend to allow her all her
constitutional riS hts; and then m maiDtain
their own to the last extremely. This is
a goUernn1ent Of tie people, and not a "com-
pact of the States;" there is 30 way to
dissolve the Union but by rebellion and
civil war. 1t remains for the slavebold-
ers to choose the Union as it is and was,
apd is to remain, or rush into war with it
and take ell the chances of veal or woe.
For US, we have no choice; We are bound
BY all that is sacred among men to main
tain the government in it's supremacy, aud
our principles upon which it is based
We cannot choose our ground. Destiny
places US in the post OF honor, and per
haps of danger, and We are towards five
we falter iD our duty to our country, and
the liberties of the people. We must
stand on the immortal language of ack
SOD, "The [ nien. by the Eternal, ii shall
tie preSeyved." There We must stand, now
and bencefortb, or be forever slaves.
May God inspire our hearts with the
courage and patriotism of '76; and may
our cause, whether through peace or blood
be entirely triumphant, is the aspiration
of yours truly,
G. NJ CLAY.