Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-12-03


The following patriotic and bold letter on
the secession movement was written BY
oassius n. Clay in answer to an invitation
70 attend a Republican meeting in Miami
county, Ohio. 1t breatEes the right spirit:
WHITEHALL, Ky, Nov. 20, 1860.
DEAR slR; Your favor Of the leth inst,
inviting me 70 attend a celebration Of the late
Republican victory, on the gath inst, to the
achievement of which you are pleased to as
sign me some share, is received. l regret
that Ion absence from home, during 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 nobly served the
county, and nobly done their whole duty
She has not only proved by her extraordinary
progress in all our modern civilization, which
has made her the Empire State Of the
West the pre-eminent advantages Of Liberty
over Slavery, but by her pioneer and con-
sistent support Of liberal principles, she has
shown herself worthy other 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 much towards its success.
regard the 9Th Of November, 1850, as next
In importance to the 4th of July, &c.
The day which separated US from the
British rule and Parliamentary tyranny was
not more necessary to our ultimate security
and happiness than the day which has freed
us from the more destructive supremacy OF
the slave oligarehy. No observant mind can
fail to see that the British Government with
al its defects and abuses, gives more pro-
lection to life, liberty and property than The
irresponsible and lawless rule Of Shareholders
I speak not only of that terrible infection Of
Lynch law, upon all persons who are suspec-
ted OF want Of fidelity to their interests, but
of that general lawlessness which pervades
the whole Of slave society, and assjmilatesits
total insecurity to the worst phases Of the
@dark ages"
In Wrestling the Government from such in
huenees, and placing it upon the basis Of JUS
tice and law, the Republican party have enti-
tied themselves to the eternal gratitude Of
mankind
But we must not hatter ourselves that our
MVLh Is NUuEs RAAAN AAH uIE great HlAAA9 a.
been won. The threats of rebellion and nee
essary civil war which must attend its &C
tuality, warn US to be on our guard, and call
for no holiday patriotism.
d Whilst we would bear with q brotherly
forbearance, with the sore Disappointment OF
our late rulers, and give them, patiently,
time to accommodate themselves to the new
order of things, frankness and a wise phi
lanthropy, compel us to sayto them at once,
that "peSceable secession is but peacea5ls
rs6eLion-an utter absurdity. Neither one
slave State, four slave States, nOrall the slave
States, will be allowed peaceably to seeede
Every man Of sense sees that civil war would
be better than that eternal war which would
be the result Of a divided nation. The forces
engaged would be less, and the result final
The Union party at the South would be our
allies, and with victory, which would be sure,
for the Union and the right would come peace
and q homogeneous empire. But allow Sc
c~essiOn, and then with the Southern seeding
States united, would come war inevitable the
first time we met upon the rivers OF the seas,
whichsEould be settled and renewed from
century to century. The South must know
that the Republicans intend to allow her all
her Constitutional rights, and then maintain
their own to the last extremity. This is a
GogeTHmentof The people, and not a compact
Of the States F." there is no way to dissolve the
Union but by rebellion and civil war. Il
remains for the Shareholders to choose the
Union as it is and was, and is to remain, OF
rush into war with it. and take all the
chances Of veal or woe. For Us, we have nc
choice; We are bound by all that Is sacred
among men, to maintain the government in
its supremacy, snd our principles upon which
tits based. We cannot choose our ground
Destiny places us in the post Of honor, and
perhaps Of danger, and we are towards if we
falter in our duty to onr country, and the lib
critics Of the people. We must stand on the
immortal language of jackson, "The Union,
by the eternal Il shall Be prssTvea" There
We must stand, now and henceforth, or b'
forever slaves.
May God inspire our hearts with the cOur'
age and patriotism of re and may our cause
whether through peace or blood, be e~ternally
triumphant is the aspiration Of yours truly,
@. N. CLAY.