The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-12-07
Letter from Cassius M. Clay.

Cassus M. Clay has written noble
and characteristic letter in reply to an in.
vitaiion 10 attend Republican meeting in
Miami County, Ohio. He says:
regard the 9th of November. 1860, as
next in Importance to the 4th of July, 70
Tho day which separated us from the
British rule and Parliamentary tyranny was
not moro necessary to our ultimate security
and happiness than the day which has freed
us from tho moro obstructive supremacy of
the savo ohgarchy. No obsorvant mind
can fail to SEQ that tho British Government,
with all its defects and abuses, gives more
protection to life, liberty and property than
the irresponsible and laSloss rule of slavo.
holders. Ispeak not only OF that terrible
inilicton OF Lynch law, upon all pOrsons
who arc suspected of want of fidelity to
their interests, but of that general lawless
ness which pervados tho whole of slave so.
ciety, and assimilates Its total insecurity to
the worst phases of tho "dark ages
In wrestling tho Government from such
influences, and placing it upon the basis of
justice and law, the Republican party have
entitled themselves to tho eternal gratitude
of mankind.
our work is done Only tho ono great battle
has been won. The threats OF rebellion
and necessary civil war which must attond
it's actually. warn US to DO on our guard,
and call for no holiday patriotism.
Whilst we would bear with a brothcr!y
forbearauce, with tho soro disappointment
of our lato rulors, and gvo them, patiently,
time tn accommodate themselves to tho new
order of things. frankness and a wiso phi
Ianthrony compel us TO say to them at once,
that ''peacoabls secession" is but peaceabie
rebeiiioa-an utter absurdity. Neither ono
slave State, four slave States, nor all tho
slave Statos, will bo allowed peaccably to
secede. Every mar of sense sccs that civil
war would DO better than that eternal war
which would be tho result Of u divided ma
tion. The forces engaged would bo loss,
and tho result final. Tho Union party at
the South would be our aIIics and with vic
tory (which would be sure, for the Union
and tho right, would come poaco and u
homogeneous empire. But allow secession.
and then with tho Southern socodng States
uuited, weuld como war inevitable tho first
timo we met upon tho rivers or tho seas,
which would DO settled and renewed from
century TO century. Tho South must know
thar tho Republicans inteEd TO allow her all
her Constitutional rights and thon maintain
thor own TO the last extremity. This is u
Government Of The people, and not a com
pact Of tho Statcs;" thero is no way to dis
solvo the Union but by rebellion and civi
war. It remains for tho Shareholders tC
choose the Union as it is and was, and is t.
remain, or rush into war with It, and tax,
all tho chances of woal or woo. For US, WI
have no choice wo are bound by all that il
sacred among men, to maintain tho govern
mont in its supremacy, and our principle
upon which il is based. Wo cannot choos
our ground. Destiny places us in tho pos
of honor. aud perhaps of danger, and we ar
towards If We falter in our duty TO ou
country and the liberties Of tho people. W,
must stand on tho Immortal language o
Jackson. "Fho Union. by the Eternal, !
skaH be preserved" There We must stand
now and henceforth, or be forever slaves.
May God inspire our hoarts with th'
courage and patriotism of '76; aud may ou
causo. whethor through poaco or blood, b,
etornalIy triumphant, is tho aspiration o
yours truly, Q. M. CLAY.