Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-03-28

We suppose that the editor Of the Jour
nal intends by this very good writing, to
convey the impression, that Mr.. Clay was
not opposed to the extension of slavery
into the public territories, and would. we're
he living. regard its exclusion therefronn.
as in violation Of national faith. II is fair
to suppose. that the biographer Of the
Great Commoner, is familiar with the doc.
trines entertained by him, but il we have
read Mr.. Clay's speeches right. we think
the editor Of the Journal, in this particular,
has mistaken the views entertained, and
expressed by Mr.. Clay on more occasions
than one.
In reply to Mr.. Davis of Mississippi who
favored the extension of slavery. Mr.. Clay
In 1850 spoke as follows:
81 am extremely sorry to hear the Sena-
tor from Mississippi say that he requires.
| first, the extension Of the Missouri Com
promise line to the Pacific, and, also, that
he is not satisfied with that. but requires.
| il understood him correctly, positive
provision for the admission Of Slavery south
Of that line. And now, sir, coming from a
Slave State as ! do, / owe it to myself
owe it TO TRUTH owe it to the subject
to say, that no earthly power could induce
me TO vote for specific measure for the
introduction of Slavery tchere Il had mot be-
fore erisfed. either South or Nsrth o.
that line
Coming as 1 do from Slave State, 1t Is
my solemn, deliberate, and well matured
determination, that no power, no earthly
power, shall compel me to vote for the
positive introduction of slavery either
North or South of that line.
Sir, while you reproach, and justly too
our British ancestors for the introduction o
this institution upon tle continent Of NoTti
America, am, for one, not willing that the
posterity of the present inhabitants of Cal
ifornia and Of New Mexico, shall reproaei
us for doing just iohat irereproach Great Bri
tain for doing to us.
1.-THE citizens of these Territories choose
to establish Slavery, and IL they come herr
with Constitutions establishing Slavery,
am for admitting them with such PROV
sions In their constitutions; but then ]
will be their own work and not ours; anC
their posterity will have to reproach them
and not US, for forming constitutions dIIor
ING the introduction of Slavery to exist anon.
them. These are my views, sir, and
, choose to express them, and l care no
how extensively, or universally they ar
known"
Does not this sound like Henry Clay
and was he not opposed to the extensio
of slavery Here the great Statesman
"owed it TO himself to say, that n
earthly power could induce" him to vot
to introduce Slavery "where it had not be
fore existed" Then there was some spo
, in the opinion of The Sage of Ashland
belonging to this general Government an
over which the Federal Constitution opera
ted, uhere SlaUeTy did not crist, and tina
spot he would never, by any act OF hi
curse with human servitude. His doctrin
then, is the Republican doctrine nOrc. Th
modern monstrosity, that Slavery got
& into the Territories by the provisions {
the Constitution alone never entered th
brain of Mr.. Clay. He knew that all IL
public domain, and every other foot OF sol
}. outside of those States where the relatio
e of master and slave is recognized by Law
was free-that the very air which sweE
through its mountain gOrges and across il
. prairies, could give life to none but FRI
: men.