Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-02-03
SPEECH OF CASSIUS M, CLAY,
AZ FrnnkFOrt, Ky, ian. 10, 1890.
FROM THE CAPITOL STEPS,

Continued from last iOeek.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY REsPoNsrbLE.
Now will tell you where the response
bility rests. It rests upon this same Demo
cratic party. Now | make that allegation,
but am not going to base itupon specula-
ton. am not putting the charge upon
inferences drawn by Cass. Clay, but make
the charge direct; but if 1 don't produce
the evidence and prove that, | say, II you
give me the opportunity, let me hereafter
stand Infamous among men.
In the first place, what says the great
American party of Kentucky, that party,
which, with all its faults, still embodlcs so
many great truths, and which, amid all its
short comings from the higher standard
that we have marked out for ourselves, still
has some regard for truth and justice =
What does tho representative OF that party
say, your late President, and the candidate
of that party for the Presidency, what does
he say the man that you Americans voted
for; the man that you have been in the
habit of holding up as a true patriot and
conservative man-what did he say TO the
late Union meeting, what did Millard Fill
more say upon that subjectl Why said he
"Gentlemen, 1 arm getting old, l have retired
from political life; my work is done, l re-
pret that was under the necessity Of sign
ing the Fugitive Slave Law, but felt it to
be my duty, and however much l may re-
gret it, yet firm regard for the Constitu-
tion and laws Of the country compelled me
to sign that bill" "And all this trouble
says Mr.. Fillmore, "the lamentable TRACE
DIV at Harpers Ferry is clearly traceable tc
this unfortunate controversy about slavery
in Kansas" Where does he say the re
sponsibility lies9 1t lies upon that Demo
cratic measure that repealed the Missour
Compromise Of 1920. There is the cause
of it. Still, are we going to take Mr.. Fill
more's word for itl High authority as h
is, we do not intend to take it; but we viii
review for very few moments the histor,
of the country in connection with that mat
ter, and see if it does not bring the respon
sibility upon that party, as affirmed by Mi
Fillmore, and seconded by myself and tn
Republican party.
We'll now, gentlemen, there is a ma
lately dead, man whose name have tn
honor to bear, and with great humility
say it. stand here to defend his primo
PIES. Henry Clay is admitted to be th
founder, and entitled to all the honor of il
of that compromise of 1920. AS 1 Ipasse
down yesterday from my home and my ag
ricultural pursuits, by the city of Lexing
ton, l saw huge pile Of massive ston
raised to the memory of Henry Clay
Gentlemen, are you going to re-enact tn
folly and madness that the Savior dc
nounced in the ancient Jews! Are yo
going TO ornament and whitewash the on
ward sepulchre, while inwardly theroi is notl
ing but corruption? Do you intend to bull
eternal monuments of brass to the memor
of Henry Clay, while you trample undo
foot the men who have the courage to stan
up and defend his principles9 Will yo
garnish the tomb, while the immortal spir
shall be ignored in his representatives.
you intend to deny these principles, go an
level that monument to the ground, rctul
that marble to the quarry, and then rus
upon us and hide them in our blood, bl
not till then. He is the author of th
compromise, and what is iii That mort
of 36 deg. 80 min, African slavery sha
never extend, leaving it entirely as matt
of inference whether it shall extend soul
of that line or not. That is the Nilsson
Compromise. Now, while l admit th
there is no power in Congress to NAL
what may be strictly called a compromis
because it has an unlimited and sovereig
power bounded only by the constitution
self, so that no one Congress shall say wh
succeeding Congress shall or shall not d
yet the language has been used; it was
compact, and it was elevated and place
alongside the constitution itself An ho
est registrar of the event, states that aft
il passed, so great was the sanctity of tn
measure that it became rs part of &
Constitution itself, the palladium of G
liberty, and he was afraid if ever it shou
90 down, the Constitution would go do'
with it. 1t existed to the year 1854.
ALLEGATIONS ANSWERED.
Gentlemen, utterly derry tho allegatic
that hear made in this Hall of Represc
tatlves, that the compromise of 1920 v
repealed or intended to be repealed by
compromises of 1850, and upon this poir
appeal to the country. No wonder that
is dark to-night-no wonder that they hs
put out the lights. Read the speeches
that day. Why Mr.. Clay wasalive in 8
Mr.. Clay was in the Congress of the Uni
States-he took part in the debates
1850, and l am at a loss to find where
statement was made. In 1854 was
very first time we we're told that it was
all claimed that there was an intention
mediate or remote, direct or reflective,
affect that compromise of 1920 by that
1850. How will l prove thatG l prov
to you by the admission of Stephen
Douglas himself. Yes sirs, that man v
is held up here in Kentucky, who by a {
tain kind of hocus pocus is to be foisted
on you and the Charleston Convention, t
us in his first Senate report before the X
sas Nebraska bill was offered, that no ru
less hand shall daro to rise against
compromise. GO to the Congressio
Globe. know it is now on record. l
fy the Democratic party or anybody els
deny that when they referred to the CT
promise of 1920, that it was to bc preser'
for years after. 1t is said it was to be
pealed Are you not ashamed of "
selvesl If you are not you should be l