New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-23
LETTER FROM CAssIUs NJ. CLAY.

WHITE HALL, Ky, Dec IL, 1860.
NJ DEAR FRlEsD: Your favor of the 10th inst,
advising Of meeting of the people OF the capital Of
Indiana to take place the I'D last, and asking a
word of counsel in reference TO the pending issues Of
tie United States Government, which they propose TO
consider, II received.
confidence in my judgment and patriotism. yield to
your request in spirit of humility; but, trust, with
fidelity and unseldshness which become one who
knows how much all personal greatness Is dwarfed In
comparison with the magnitude OF the events OF our
times.
The threatened iii solution of the Government of the
United States Of America takes no rejecting man by
surprise The existence OF two elements OF civilLa-
ton Of Free and Slave sOcety-of Freedom and
Slayery--of Republcanism and Despoism-of appeal
10 right and rule OF force-in the same Government,
was an anomaly in theoretic unity-was disturbing
influence before and in the formation of the Federal
Iuion. Thomas Jefferson and Roger Sherman and all
the leaders Of the true Democracy looked upon the
existence Of African Slavery alien and destrac-
tive element in our Republic, and went down to their
graves fearful of the issues which 1t now forces upon
uswhich are in word, TO yield 10 its mquestloned
rule or suffer dissolution Of the Union.
Before We apply remedy to the present Ills, we
must understand the real causes Of the disease.
/. First them the Personal Liberty bills Of the Free
States are not the cause
The very dispassionate editors Of The National m
tcHigeacer, after full review Of the laws Of all the
Free States supposed to nulhfy the Fugitive Slave
aw admit that but four States have passed laws in
Massachusetts,, stands in doubtful position The in
toution of these laws seems be simply to protect the
rights of Fretmen generally, without reference to the
Fugitive Slave law; and OF but few OF them TO nulhy
the Unconstitutional provisions Of Masons BILL Every
Southern State has similar Personal Liberty bills; and
nv own State in defiance Of the Federal Constitution
generalzes Governor Denns0ns Illegal refusal 10 re-
turn Lago into law.
All the Republican party ask IL to have that law
cleared Of ITS unconstitutional and insulting clauses
and it will be carried out in good faith as our fathers
in the Constitution agreed And all Personal Liberty
bills conflicting with lis legal enforcement will DC re-
pealed.
2 Neither is the refusal of the Republican party to
allow Slavery TO 90 into the Territories cause.
Ia this follow the footsteps of fathers and the
footsteps even Of the dsunion Democracy running down
to late period in our times.
The South knows very well that under even the
local Territorial sovereignty of Der Cincinnati Plat
foIm by sad experience she cannot meet Free Labor
b. free ballot, and conquer Her usrrpaton OF po-
Cal power in the persons Of the Supreme Court Of the
United States she also knows as her great leader Sem
ator Douglas, admits cannot avail her. even If acqUi-
esctd in by Republicans, against The inevitable un.
friendly legislation" Of tho Free-Labor settlers Of the
Territories.
g. Neither il the election Of Abraham Liacoln, the
Republican President, the cause.
Tie South knows that Mr. Lincoln is a Kentuckian
by birth, and has Kentucky born wife, and numerous
sy ehOlding relatyes-that he is an old Henry Clay
Whg-a conservative BY temperament, anteeedents,
and ayowas and that all the constitutional rights OF
The South viii be by him thoroughly protected. In
fact the leading minds Of the secession movement now
abandon this ground of Ohense.
What then, is the cause osthe disunion move!
II is simply desire to rule ruinthe old passion
in the hearts Of our humanity which we are told Is as
old the race, and antecedeni to it, in the devils
OF old
" The irrepressible conflict between free aud slave
labor has BEEN b. the natural laws Of pesoeable antag
oo.sm, fought out ant victory has PeSved apon toe