Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-08-02
The Republicanism of Henry Clay

Inc nepuDllcanlsm Oh henry Clay.
We defy any man. North or South, to
read the following extracts from Mr. Clay's
speeches, and reconcile them with the
ground taken in the either Democratic
Platforms; ana we challenge them 10 point
out any disagreement between these views
of MIR. Clay, and those Of the Republican
Party, as embraced in their Platform
The Republican Platform is Henry Clay Is
Platform. In proof of this proposition, we
select the following passages from Colton's
Last Seven Years of the Life of Henry
| Clay"
"Sir," said Mr.. Clay al have said that |
never could vote Tor it, and repeat that
never can and never will vote tor il; and no
earthly power shall ,ver make me vote to
plant Slavery where Slavery does not
exist."--Page 3ls. ---s--. s.,s.s--.------..,as.
sand now SIR" said Mr.. Clay. on anoth-
er occasion, "coming from slave State, as
| do, owe il to myself, owe il to truth,
owe it to the subject. to say, that no earth
" power could induce me 10 vute for q spe-
cific measure Tor the introduction of Slavery.
where 1t had not before existed, either n1rth
or south of that line" he lue of 36 deg.
80 minutes. Page 355.
81 shall not enlarge" said Mr.. Clay, "ou
the opinion which have already announ-
ed to the Sc nate as being held by me, Ito
wit: shut Slavery had been abolished in
Mexico and consequently did not exst in
the territory acquired from Mexico by the
United States Nay opinion Of the variety
Of forms in which Legislation can take
place--that is to say. by the edict o! Die
tator, by the Constitution Of the people Of
Mexico, and by the test of the Legislative
authority Of Mexico-by all these modes OF
| Lenisati my opinion is, that Slavery has
been abolished there Page 364-Again:
81 cannot agree TO an amendment [of the
Territorial bill for New Mexico] which. in
| point of fact, assumes that Slavery has an
existence there at this time, and which as
sumes, in point of law. that, under the Con-
sttution of the United States, there is a
right to carry slaves there. cannot vote
for either proposition Page $40. Again:
"Why,"s said Mr. Clay, "these United Suites
consist of thirty States. In fifteen oi them
there is Slavery, and in fifteen OF them
Slavery does MT exist. Well, how can it
be argued that the fifteen slave States, by
the operation of the Constitution Of the
| United States, carry into the teded Terri
tory their institution Of Slavery, any more
than it can be argued. on the other side,
that, by the operation OF the same Cons'i-
tuition, and f.teen free States carry into the
ceded Territory, the principle OF Freed nm
"Can you come to any other conclusion
than that which I rrderstsnd TO be the con-
clusion of the public law Of the world, o.
reasol, , and os justice, that the status of law,
as il existed in The moment of conquest or
adqnisiion, remains until it is altered by the
conquering or acquiring power"-'Page 1873
Again: "Tnere are gentlemen" said Mr..
Clay, "who maintain that, by virtue OF the
Cons stitution, the right To carry slaves south
of that line [36 deg. 80 min ! already ex.
lists. III had not heard that opinion avowed,
should have regarded it as one of the most
extraordinary assumptions. and the most ia
defensible position that was ever taken by
man. The Constitution neither created nor
does it continue Slavery. Slavery existed
independent of the Constitution: and it was
dependent, not upon the wi Il Of Congress-
but upon the laws OF the respective States.
The Constitution is silent and passive upon
the subject of the Institution OF Slavery; or
rather, it deels with the fact as it exists in
the States, without having created it, OF
continue it, or being responsible for it in
the slightest degree. II slaves
are voluntarily carried into such jurisdic-
ton, (whers slavery does not exist Their
chains instantly drop of, and they become