Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-27
SPEECH OF CASSIUS NJ. CLAY,
At Frankfort, KY, Jan. 10, 1850.
FROM THE CAPITOL STEPS,


sage, and Vice President Breckenridge be-
fore the Kentucky Legislature, had assailed
tie principles and aims of the Republican
party. These Mr.. Clay aspired to defend
Following the event of John Browns raid
and execution, the suppression of the Free
South newspaper at Newport by violence,
the expulsion Of John G. Fee and associ-
ates from Madison county, KY, and the de-
sign on the part of the slave oligarchy to
perpetuate the reign of terror in all the
South; it was generally given out that Mr.
Clay would be silenced The halter with
which Brown was hung, the bloody lance
which he used in battle-a present frcm
Gov. Wise to Governor Magofin-were
freely handed about and shown in Frank
fort. Whilst central journal openly said
that if Clay was allowed to speak in the
Capitol, Kentuckians would be proven cow
ards.
Mr.. Clay did not ask for the Representa-
tiyes' Hall; but it was generally conceded
that by tact consent he should occupy it,
and the door-keeper, Mr.. Gray, promised to
have it open and lighted up. But at the
appointed hour the Hall was closed and
dark, the night was gloomy and a storm
threatening, the gas lights of the city were
darkened, and in the "very immense audi
ence," as described by the reporter of the
Louisville Journal, none spoke abovea whis-
per. As Mr.. Clay rose to speak, innumera-
bic lights were brought and distributed by
unknown hands throughout the crowd,
and for more than three hours he was list
ened to amid profound silence or occasional
applause. The difficulty OF arranging his
references makes the report of this speech
lose much of its unity; but truth is con-
sidered Of more Importance than rhetorical
argument.
KENTUoKIANs That most profound and
philosophical historian, in my opinion, of
all ages-Gibbon--speaks of courage and
sincerity or its equivalent, truth, as the
greatest of human virtues. The brave
man relying upon his courage never ques-
tions that OF another. Those who know me
know full well that l am not in the habit
of speaking of my courage, nor have in-
dulged in that other bad habit of Kentuck-
ians in general,-speaking of their courage.
L will, however, transgress my ordinary
rule and speak Of it tonight. i'll thought
if | had thought that you, whose blood
has illustrated every battle field from the
beginning of our government to this day,
were wanting in that virtue, and if 1 did
not know that your illustrious ancestors, be-
ginning with Boone and Kenton, possessed
this virtue; that was in the land of the
McKees, the Marshalls, the Davlses, the
Robinsons, the Clarkes, the Breckinridges,
the Clays, the .Crittendens and host of
others who have made ouilustrious among
men, then l might question your courage
but it is because know that l am here,
among such men, and in Kentucky, that
| speak here tonight The brave are al
ways generous-always, and placing i'm
plicit confidence in this great fundamental
truth, | have never feared to go forth
through all this broad and glorious land of
ours, relying upon the justice and magma
nimity of Kentuckians. never asked, l
never cared, whether they were Democrats,
Republicans, Americans, or of any other
party denomination. Thank God, gentle
men, this trust of mine has never been falls
flied. Whether l stand in your State
House, or whether stand outside of your
State House-whether | am surrounded by
light or covered by darkness-I feel equally
safe while l am among Kentuckians.
Gentlemen there are some peculiar cir.
cumstances attending this, my address to-
night, that call for illusions that 1 am not
in the habit of making. 1t has been said
i know not what is the position, power
influence, talent and integrity of the party
| from whom it came-that if Cass. Clay
was allowed to speak tonight in the city Of
Frankfort, that the world would believe the
Kentuckians are towards, and that as John
Brown had intimidated, or scared" to use the
word, Virginia, so it would go out that ]
bad intimidated the million of such men OF
Kentucky as surround mo tonight Gen
tlemen what madness, what folly is this
1t is because you are brave-it is because
your courage is unquestioned aud unques.
tionable that there is confidence abroad
not only among men, but among women
and little children, that will speak here
tonight, and be notonly heard, but respect.
fully treated. Shame on such sentiment
as that. How would it do for you, whose
name has become synonymous with the
word courage, to hear it said that you GO
out to silence the voice of Cass. Clay il
death to prove that you are men. l will
not elaborate this idea. The very womeH
share none of this intimidation. l am
proud to say, though | do not often speak
of these things, the wife of Cass. Clay has
written to him this day, not that she has
hopes may escape alive from scene o.
intimidating threats that have come from
high and potent sourees-no she is a Ken
lucky born woman, and such thing never
entors Der thoughts; she ''prays God that
may most gloriously vindicate my princi
Piles tonight" You men who hear me to
night; the very women wLo hear this senti
ment will go away better men and bette
women for the hearing. The time viii
come when to those who shall succeed us
it will be proud reflection that you have
thus vindicated your title to the name o
courageous men.
NO PERSONAL FEELINGS ENGAGED.
Some gentlemen have supposed that in
asmuch as the publication which / made
stated that would here, in this place anC
at this time, respond to the message o
= Govarnor Maoofip and tho late snonch n