Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-05-05
KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS AND THE
BEREAN RXILES.

ot tue uOlngs OF the late republican state Conven-I
zion, held at Covington, Ky.
The Convention having adjourned, and the
members being about to depart, when Col. Clay
stated that the Rev. John g. Fee desired to speak,
and requested that he should have a hearing.
Mr.. Fee thought Mr.. Clay had done him ipjus-
tice, but not Intentionally, in his speech Wedues
day night, aud proceeded to state wherein--laying
down his positions in accordance with speeches
and letters previously delivered and published By
himself. lie said that he was radical in his notion
upon human government, that it is not right to
enforce an enactment contrary to God given rights
A law confessedly contrary to the law OF God
ought not to be onforced. lie did not say resist
such laws by force, but he condemned the execu-
ton Of such laws as wrong. lie did not speak as
a politician, but as q minister of God. lie bad
not said he would rebel against such laws, but
he had plead that such laws should not be execu
ted. Mr.. Fee proceeded to argue upon this point
upon Christian principles, showing that no could
not obey the Fugitive Slave law because it is con-.
irary to the higher law o. God-bu. his remarks
were designed to present both sides of the c%Ontro.
versy between himself and Mr.. Clay, in which he
showed substantially that while bis logical conclu.
siOns upon the abstract question involved we're ir-
MISUNDERSTANDING his premises-the views Of
Mr.. C~lAy-admitting his premises, we're equally
sound.
Mr.. Fee remarked that he considered the ques-
ton in a religious point of view, for a name reli-
9ion ought to be carried everywhere; for if we
may do wrong in one thing we may in another. In
his celebrated Fourth of July speech in 1856. at
Slate Springs, Rockcastle county, he said he had
spoken as a Christian and had uttered the senti-
ments expressed above. lie would say that ne
had no sympathy with John Bro WI in his insur-
rectionary principles. lie would suffer much from
shareholders before he would resort to such means.
He would appeal to the stakeholder to abstain
from wrong. lie would represent the wrong Of
slavery to them. lie would plead among anti
slavery men foGbearance instead of going into in
surrection. lie had been mobbed by Shareholders
time and again, but he could bear with those men.
He pitied them for he understood the force Of edu.
cation and association. Shareholders cannot now
help their pcejudices. But be thought Mr.. Clay
had done him injustice by %imputing to him a rad
icalism that would lead to the conclusions devel-
oped by the John Brown raid. He did not so re
gard the principles he advocated. lie but exer-
cised the liberty of speech, which should be gran
ted to all men. But he censured Mr.. Clay for
advising the Republicans Of Madison county not
TO be implicated with Mr.. Fee because he had
expressed dangerous sentiments, and Clay him
self had been similarly condemned. Mr.. Clay
had not done this with unjust motives. lie is an
ardent friend Of human liberty, bu; he [Mr. Fee
thought he had erred in judgment. Mr.. Clay
ought to have advised the people to sustain hin
as long be Fee did not violate law. He ough
to have insisted upon giving him constitutions
sights. If he had done go, the Republicans, b
Feel believed. would be a hundred fold stronge
in Kentucky today.
Mr. Clay replied that he had always believe
Mr.. Fee a pure and conscientious man. He di
not believe Mr.. Fee would willingly do him il
justice. They bad often discussed this subject
He had always acquitted him of any intention t
excite violence. But he (Mr. c. thought that h
had correctly stated Mr.. Fees position accordin
to his own admissions.
Shareholders require OF US to know what ar
our doctrines and purposes. They are not fool
They are the educated intellect of the South
They look froul data to sequences, from logic
facts. Now see what is the practical result
Mr.. Fees doctrine. If the Courts ought no:
enforce a law, citizens ought not to enforce i
Shareholders, with all the power of the govern
msnt look to this logic of facts, and array then
selves against Mr.. Fee, on account of the cons
ouences Of his doctrine, The Republicans
Kentucky therefore. are obliged to avoid untent
BILE ground, and place themselves upon the pra
tical question at issue. Mr.. Fee thought that /
had not done right by not standing by him to pr
tcct him with moral force. lie does not intentio
ally wrong me, but he does it in substance. NJ
Nlau a0id thar ha had aYarniaad his moral fOrna
protecting Mr.. Fee and his associates. in b
Frankfort speech, by protesting against his expr
sion. As an honest man, he was bound to 81
that he did not believe Mr.. Fees doctrines cou
be maintained in a southern State, and as an he
est man, be was bound to say to his friends not
sustain him with physical force because III
would sacrifice their lives. lie admitted that
Withdrawing his friends from the support of \
Fee did weaken him, but he, Mr.. Clay, felt
necessary to the promotion of a higher interest,
Gauss be thought Mr.. Fees POSITION untensble.
was not the position upon which the mob had be
met and conquered, previously, when be (Mr.
and Fee had operated together in good faith, uT
. practical basis. An armed attitude, to VIII
Mr.. Fees principles lead, cannot be support
Mr.. Fee has set the ball in motion, contrary
my protestations. said Mr.. Clay. and no man
tell where the end will be. If there is any grou
for complaint ia the premises, it is against ]
Fee, because be departed from the principles
on which be had been invited to take up his II
depce in Madison county. Mr.. Clay cOnclut
by expressing his sincere personal regard for !
Fec.
Mr.. Fee explained sgain, that he did not
Madison county, seek for Mr.. Clay's physi
force. to protect him, but he desired his mo
support. lie desired the force of numbsrs-soC
power. Mobs do not like to attack and drive
whole communities of stable men. This prot
ton we Zee and friends) had. He blamed
Clay for calling upon these men to stand al
from them, there being no crime committed. ?
mob care not for radical more than Republic
views. Detached, his party were a temptation