Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-20
oas.Ius M. clay ON RspubIicanisrn.

OAAANhsAH AAAf OAAN VI ANNNNNAANINNAAnNNlAa
Mr. Clay gave notice by passing it from
mouth tomouth, for no newspaper would
print the notice of his meeting, and no
handbill could be got out from any Office
that he would address the people, on the
10th inst, in Frankfort, Ky. From dis
patch to the Cincinnati Commercial we
learn that the State House was barred
against him but, although threats Of vio-
lence had been made they were not carried
into effect.
Mr.. Clay said:
Kentuckians, the profoundest Of histori-
ans, Gibbon, said that Of the virtues, cour-
age and Sincerity are the greatest; you
know that never speak Of my courage,
and | regard boasting as one Of the worst
faults Of class Of my fellow.ctizcns, but
the circumstances Of tonight justify me in
aluding TO the proverbial courage Of Ken
tuckians Relying upon that courage Of
yours, l come bcre tonight, one against a
million, it may be. As | have gone abroad
all over this Commonwealth, il has becnin-
sinuated that as John Brown intimidated
Virginia, intended to bully all Kentucky,
and for this reason il would be best to 81
lence me altogether. Your known courage
is sufficient rcbuke TO this.
Your women and children have no fears.
There is one who should bo sacred from
publicity, but l am justified in holding up
this letter from Gas. Clay's wife, in which
she says nothing of my personal safety
That is of small account, indeed, but she
hopes that tonight | will vindicate the
great cause.
Mr.. Clay defended John G. Fee and the
Madison county refugees, as pure md up
right men, though he did not agree with
them in some things. Mr. Fee and his as
sociates bad no Sbarp's rifles, but were
peaceable Christians, and these facts he had
written to the Madison and Cincinnati pa
pers, but his letters had not been aRoued
to reach their destination, and these useful
teachers and workers had been driven from
Madison county. Mr.. Clay then defended
Mr.. Seward from the attack made by Vice
President Breckenridge, saying:
Elsewhere the statesman of New York
will vindicate himself; but hero in Ken
lucky where the press is not free, and lib
erty of speech not universal, he has right
to expect defense at my hands. Mr. Clay
proceeded to show that by "higher law"
Seward intended the same reverent ac-
acknowledgement of an overrulng Providence,
and of the eternal supremacy Of Divine law,
that every statesman and good citizen ac-
knowledged in other terms. Mr. Clay was
impressively eloquent in this part He
next proceeded to defend Stewards express
sion in regard to the "irrepressible conflict"
and showed that the Representatives of
South Carolina and other slave States, and
the editor of the Louisville Courier, to-day
so jubiIa Mt over Guthrie's triumph had an
nounced the "irrepressible conflict" in more
offensive terms.
There was an "irrepressible conflict" and
it become his hearers to examine well before
they chose their side; there were hundreds
in Frankfort, tonight, aud tens of thous-
ands in Kentucky, who if they dared to
speak their thoughts, would proclaim oppo-
sition, not only to slave code in the Terri
tories, but to slavery here at home.
After these opening remarks, Mr. Clay
proceeded to an elaborate argument in vim
dication of the Republican party against
the aspersions of Breckenridge and Magof-
fin.
Scores of candles, brought by willing
hands, partially dispelled the darkness, and
showed the heavy frame, the white hair,
and the flashing eye of Clay, as he stood
in relief against the grey pillars of the Cap
itol. A large number of influential slave
holders were present, but the majority
were non-slaveholders, and none knew where
they came from. His voice rang out so
loud and clear that all the city within three
or four squares was bis audience.