The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-06-02
Select 4flisrclIaun.
The Greatest Danger to the Country.

WA friend sends us the Pacific Expositor
containing the following interesting account
of an interview with Henry Clay by Rev. Dr..
Hill, Editor of the Presbyterian Herald, of
Louisville, KY, which we publish by request
ga few weeks prior to the death of the Hon
HENRY CLAY, when he passed through our
city. on his way to Washington, at the
request of a Methodist minister from one of
the Northern States, who had never seen the
great statesman, we He'd with him to see
him. lie was quite feeble and spoke of his
death as a probable event within a few
months. lie stated that nothing but deep
and abiding conviction that the union of the
States was in imminent peril could have
induced him, in his state of health, to leave
the quiet of his own home and go back to the
Senate, the seat of so many of his struggles
and great achievements. The opinion was
expressed by one or both of us that the dam
ger of dsunion was greatly over estimated,
that il 1t ever came to the test it would be
fonnd that there were very few who would be
mad enough to rush into disunion, either in
the North or South. lie shook his head omi-
nously and replied, Gentlemen, if I have
studied anything it is the genius and spirit of
the American people, both in the North and
the South, and tell you there is danger
There is a spirit rising up in both sections Of
this republic, which, if not speedily quelled.
Will bring about a severance of these States,
not in two, but into half a dozen little petty
republics, of dcspotisns, as the case may be-
1t was replied that on several former occasions
the North and the South had been arraycd
against each other in bitter hostility, but
that the hostility had died away and the
parties restored to more than their former
friendly relations. 'Ah,' sad he, 'Mot lras
bctore The rise Of modern ab0lHion,Sm. Fdaat-
'c'Sm cannot be controlled, end especially religious
jdao''c'sm The churches of the country then
stood together, and in their great annual
assemblies they drew the bonds Of uni ion and
and brotherhood together. Now most of
them has been rent asunder, and they are
acting as dividcrs rather than to bind the
country. Said he Gentlemen, YOU are both
OF you ministers Of the gospel, and tell you
that this sundcring Of the religious ties
which have hitherto bound our people
together, consider the greatest source of
danger to our country. II our religious men
canlot lire toecthcr in price, uhot can be er.
pecfed Of us politicians, rery fer Of rhom pro.
TESS 10 be governed By the great PRINCIPLES of
loce! If all the churches divide OH the sub
ject of slavery there will be nothing left to
bind our people together but trade and COM
merce.' That said he, is very powerful
bond, admit, but when the people of these
States become thoroughly Animated from
each other, and get their passions aroused
they are not apt to stop TO consider what is
to their interest 1t is against the interest of
both parties. in every contest, to go to war,
but nations constantly do it notwithstanding
that fact. 1t is against the interest of men
to fight ducls, but they often do it when they
know that ruin both to themselves and ia a.
lilies, stares them full in the face So said
he. men will fight, if they consider their
rights trampled upon, even if you show them
that ruin TO themselves and families will be
the probable result. Besides, in times of high
party excitement, the violent men on both
sides get the control Of matters, and moderate
men are thrown into the background and
their counselS 90 unhecded.'
Finding that the venerable statesman had
exhausted his strength in talking, we arose to
bid him adleu, as we supposed for the last
time upon earth. He shook the hands of
both of US and said, if you preachers wtA
only keep the churches from running INTO
erccsses and ,tunatirism l think the politicians
can control the masses But he added,
'yours IS the hardest task, and if you do not
perform Il 1re wW not he able 10 DO our part
THAT l consider the greatest source Of danger 10
our coultru.'"