Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-08-30
hr. Lincoln on Mr. Clay.


of the llustrious American, Henry Clay, says
that before vast audience, assembled in the
Hall Of Represen tatives Hon. Abraham Lin
coin pronounced an eulogy on the public char
acter and virtues of the deceased From that
Grafton we make the following extract
Having been led to allude to domestic
slavery, 50 frequently already, am unwil-
ling to close without referring more partic-
ularly to Mr.. Clay S views and conduct in re-
gard to it. He ever was, on principle and in
feeling, opposed to slavery. The very ear
liest, and one Of the latest public efforts OF
his life, separated by period of more than
6fty years, were both made in favor of grad
ual emancipation. He did not perceive
that on question Of human rights, the ne
groes were TO be excepted from the human
race. And yet Mr.. Clay was the owner of
slaves Cast into life when slavery was al
ready widely spread and deeply seated, he
did not perceive, as | think 10 wise man
has perceived, how it could be at once Grad
icated without producing a greater evil,
even to the cause Of human liberty itself.
His feeling and his Judgment, therefore,
ever led him to oppose both extremes of
opinion on the subject. Those who would
shiver into fragments the Union Of these
States tear to tattcrs its venerated Consti-
tution-and even burn the last copy of the
Bible, rather than slavery should continue
a single hour, together with all their more
halting sympathizers, have received, and
are receiving, their just exccration and
.,f
Dir. Clay are fully, and, as [ trust, etfectu-
ally and enduringly, arrayed against them.
But | would, also, if | could, array his
name, opinions and influence against the
opposite Acknowledgements a few, but an in
creasing number of men, who, for the sake
of perpetuating slavery, are beginning to
assail and to ridicule the white man char
ter of freedom-the declaration that all
men are created free and equal" So far
as have learned, the first American Of any
note, to do or attempt this, was the late
John Z. Calhoun; and, if | mistake not,
it soon after found its way into some of the
messages Of the Governors of South Caro-
lima We, however, look for, and are not
much shocked by, political eccentricties
and heresies in South Carolina. But, only
last year | saw with astonishment, what
purported to be letter of very distin-
guished and influential clergyman of Vir-
ginia, copied, with apparent appreciation,
into St. Louis newspaper, containing the
following, to me, very unsatisfactory Ian
guage:'
/ am fully aware that there is text in
some Bibles that is not in mine. Profession
al aboitionsts have made mere use Of it,
than in any passage in the Bible. 1t came,
however, as | trace it, from Saint Voltare,
and was baptized by Thomas jefferson, and
since almost universally regarded as canoni
cal authority: AL men are born free and
eqtat'
This is a genuine coin in the political cur
rency of our generation. | am sorry to say
that | have never seen two men of whom it is
true. But must admit never saw the Sia-
mise twins, and therefore will not dogmati-
cally say that no man ever saw proof Of
this sage aphorism."
This sounds strangely in republican
America. The like was not heard in the
fresher days of the Republic. Let US con-
trast with it the language of that truly ma
tional man, whose life and death we now
commemorate and lament. | quote from
speech of Mr.. Clay delivered before the
American Colonization Society in 1927:
I'VE are reproached with doing mischief
by the agitation Of this question. The s0cie
ty goes into no household to disturb Its do
mestic tranquility; it addresses itself to no
slaves to weaken their obligations of obedi
ence. 1t seeks to affect no mans property.
1t neither has the power nor the will to affect
the property OF any one contrary to his con-
sent. The execution of its scheme would
augment, instead of diminishing the value Of
the property left behind. The society, com
posed of free men, concerns itself only with
the free. Collateral consequences we are not
responsible for. 1t is not this society which
has produced the great moral revolution which
| the age exhibits. What would they, who
who thus reproach US have done. If they
would repress all tendencies towards liberty
and ultimate emancipation, they must do
more than put down the benevolent efforts of
this society. They must go back to the era
of our liberty and independence, and muzze
the cannon which thunders its annual joyous
| return. They must renew the slave trade
with all its train of atrocities. They must
suppress the workings Uf British philanthro-
py, seeking to ameliorate the condition OF the
unfortunate West Indian slave. They must
arrest the career of South American deliver
ance from thraldom. They must blow out
the moral light around US, and extinguish
that greatest torch of all which America pre-
sents to a benighted world-pointing the way
to their rights, their liberties, and their hap
piness. And when they have achieved all
those purposes, their work will be yet inconl-
plete. They must penetrate the human soul,
and eradicate the light of reason and the love
of liberty. Then, and not till then, when
universal darkness and despair prevail, can
you perpetuate slavery, and repress all sym
pathy and all humane and benevolent efforts
among free men, in behalf of the unhappy
portion of our race doomed to bondage
The American Colonization Society was
o.e-o.a;uol =. 1O1R Mr Hlnr thnnnh not