Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-01-28
Ibe Auti- 5Iauerp Busle.
SPEECH OF G. M. CLAY.

". "A. N'"J uc'Neicu rOu tUc bkepS OF the CnDitOl
at Frankfort, Ky. Jan. 10Th
KENrUcKIANs THAT most profound and phos-
optical historian in my opinion of all ages-Gib-
b0ns-speaks Of courage and sincerity or its
equivalent, truth, as the greatest of humsn yir
tues. The brave man relying upon his courage
acver questions that of another Those who know
me, know full we'll am not r the habit of speak
ing OF my courage, nor have | INDUCED 10 that
othsr-what consider bad habit of Kentuckans
In general, of speaking Of their courage l will
however, transgress my ordinary rule and speak
OF II to-uisht IL thought--if | had thou. ht
that you, whose blood has illustrated every battle
held from the beginning of our government to this
day. we're wanting in that virtue. and if did moi,
know that your illustrious ancestors beginning
with Boone and Kenton, down to this day, posses
sod this virtue that I wa. in the land of the Nc
Kees. the Marshslls the Davscs, the Robinsons.
tho Clarkes, the Breckinridges, the Claye, the
Crittendous, and host of ether men that have
made you illustrious among men. then I might
question your courage; but. il is because know
that am here among such men, and in Kentucky,
that Ispesk here tonight The brave are always
Eenerous--always and placing great confidence
in this great fundamental truth have never fear
cd to go forth through all this broad and glorious
land of turs relying upon the Justice and magnan-
Unity Of Kentuckians never asked, never carr
cd. whether they were Democrats Republicans
Americans. or Of any other party denomination.
Thank God. gentlemen. this trust of mine has neS-
or been faIsifed. Whether stand In your State
House, or whether stand ousids Of your State
House-whether an, surrounded by lisht or COW
cred by darkness-I fee! equally safe while ] am
among Kentuckians.
- Geatlemen. there peculiar crcuhstan.
ces attending this. my address to night, thn, call
for illusions that am not in tho habit Of making
II has been sad-1 know not what is the position
and power and Influence and talen. aud integrity
ofthe party from whom i; came-that if Cass. Clay
was allowed to speak tonight in the city Of Frank
fort that the world would believe the Kentucki-
aus are coward5 and that as John Brown had in
simidated or scared to use the word Virginia, 50
II would go oat that had intimilated the million
of such mon Of Kentucky as surround me tonight.
Gentlemen, what madness. what fully is this. 1t
10 because you are bsave-i. is because your cour-
age is unquestioned aud unqucstionable that there
10 confidence abroad not only among men, but
among women aud little children. that will speak
hero tonight and be not only heard but respect
fully treated. Shame on such sentiment as that
How would u do for you, whose nano has become
Synony nous with tho word courage to hear it
said that you 60 out to silence tho voice Of Cass
Clay in death to prove that you arc men, | will
not elaborate this idea. The very womcn sharo
none of this intimidation. | am proud to soy.
though do not often speak of these things. the
wife Of Cass. Clay has written him this day, not
that she has hopes may escape alive from scene
Of int:midating threats that have come from high
and potent sources-no she is Kentucky barn
woman and such thing never enters her thoughts;
and, she "prays God that may most gloriqusIj
vindicate my principles tonight" You men who
hear me tonight, the very who hear this
sentiment will go away better men and better wo-
men for the hearing. The time will come when to
those who shall succeed u.s. if fortune shall suffer
thsm it will be proud reflection that you thus
vindcated your title to the name Of courageous
men. i'"
-''" NO PERSONAL FEELING ENGAGED.
Some gentlemen have supposed that inasmuch
as The publication which | made stated that
would here in this place and at this time, respond
TO the message ofGovernor Magoftn, and the late
speech Of your Senator elect, Mr.. Breckenridge,
that had some personal feelings against those
distinguished gentlemen, and that some persona!
or private ends wero to be subserved at this time
by attacking these gentlemen. Nothing was fur
ther from my purpose. The only inauguration
that ever | attended, and l am forty y-nne
years of age. was the Inauguration of Governor
Magofin. l had learned to respect him from
what I heard of him and what had of him.
regard him as a brave and generous man. So
r. ~ hal al rron
tucky is concerned, all men who know mo, know
that among all the distinguished families of which
Kentucky boasts. that have always been proud
Of the Breckinrdge name. | have from earliest
life looked to some portion Of them as the guides
And pilots Of my political opinions. have been
personaly associated with them. I would not
have said these things did not the occasion call for
It, and did not know that these insinuations
have been made. I would say that Of all the men
whore names are now presented to the American
people by the Democracy with regard to the next
President, that l would not see any ono ataiu
that high position sooner than John q. Brecken-
ridge. Of Kentucky.
EQUAL RIGHTS.
Bot, gentlemen, neither Governor Magofin nor
Senator Breckenridge are infalble, and, here to-
hight humble rs may be. unhonored as am by
having these doors closed upon me, a native of
Kentucky, and a man that belongs to one of the
great parties of the United States, mean 10 be
the peer Of the gentlemen, and equal in every
respect so far as man is equal to man. God knows
do not detract from, nor do envy the honors Of
these distinguished gentlemen, for whatever else
esn DO said Of them it cannot be denied that they
wear their honors gratefully and With becoming
humility.
We must recollsct that in this Commonwealth
ws stand on broad basis of equality, and that,
whatever other people may think, have just as
much right to bs heard bers now az other men.