The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-10-23
From the Press d Tribune.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY INDICATED
SPEECH OF CASSlUS II. CLAY
Delirered at the Republican Mass Meeting at Otta-
IRA, Illinois, September 7th, 1863.
OF KENTUCKY.

Mr.. Clay, on being introduced to the
TIC and long continued cheering With
some difficulty silence was restored in the
immense coucourse, when he spoke az
follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen This great
concourse of people could not be brought
together for the consideration of any
subject of merely temporary or material
interest You all feel that the question
which now underles political parties in
this country is none other than that
which in all ages never fails to arouse
the masses-the question whether they
will be freemen or slaves.
In the formation of this government
our fathers declared that all men were
created equal and entitled to life, liberty,
and the pursui; Of happiness. The word
properly" Was not included in lhat de-
claraton, be ause they conceived that
q ese three other things were infinitely
above and beyond all property. And you
will not listen to-day 10 a discussion
about questions of mere property-about
tariff, banks and kindred subjects
when you know and feel that the lunla-
mental question of all, and the true issue
of this contest involves what is more i'm
portant than these-lfe, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness. These are at stake,
and on this issue are We divided. Which
sile will you take ?
PREJUDICE AND ABoLIrIoNIsM.
But there is always lying in the path
Of truth, prejudice, and setting aside the
office holders. that is everything that
prevents us from being 10 day all of Us
Republicans. IApplause and laughter.
1t is the prejudice that the Democratic
party have instilled into their followers,
that will not let them hear the truth II
We would ever set the truth before the
people, | should 60 home At once to my
work, and not make any more speeches
in this canvass; because that would make
every man who is honest a Republican
Cheers
I And WHAT'S the objection urged agains
MS? ? Why, they cry out everywhere that
we are Aboltionists that we are IN Ia
vor OF oyerthrowiug the Constitution and
the laws, and making war upon the States
4 in order 10 lIberate the African. Well,
/ if We were in favor OF all that, We would
/ be great deal nearer heaven than tho
| Democrat who overthrows the Constitu-
/ ton and the laws, in order to enslaye the
African would we not Yes, yes
and cheers. But gentlemen, we stand
/ by the constitution aud the laws, where
we have always stood Aud always
will Yes, and always will stand, be
cause we believe that without law there
| is no liberty.
! But we believe that We will be able e
take care of that institution under The
constitution and the laws after awhile
aud We will do it in our own way. APP
plause and cries of good good. "
Are you in favor OF that, my Democrat,
friends If you are not, you are nC
! Democrats, because the old Democratic
doctrine-the ever living doctrine, j;
that the people shall rule by the MAORI
ty, under the Constitution and the laws
Then say no more on that head of Abo.
litionism, if you please.
THE DECLARATION OF INpEPENDEScE.
| But say our Democratic friends, "You
! Republicans are in favor of the Declara
lion OF Independence" Well. we plead
guilty. We are right there, every one o'
US, on the same platform on which the
Fathers stood in 1916. when they de-
cared that all men--not The black men
not the white men, not the red men, bu
all men, were created equal, and entitled
TO life, liberty and the pursuit OF happt
ness. These are the words OF the Faith
ers, believe. my Democratic friend. Dc
| misquote. Where they stood we stand
to-day. What was true in 1916 is uut
! in 1860. We do not mean bv that tc
abolish the State Constitution and plunge
the country in civil war Our Fathers
asserted that sublime truth and il did no
bring on civil war at that time Yet they
enunciated it, as the foundation of al
their action as we do now, of all ou
actions. whenever or wherever we hav,
the power by our political organizations
national or State, 10 carry it out just n
the philosopher announces the grea