The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-23
LETTER FROM CAssIUs NJ. CLAY.

WHITE HALL, Ky, Dec. 49, 1850
My DEAR FRESp-Your favor Of the 10th inst. advis
ing me of meeting OF the people of the capital Of In
DANA 70 take nee on the "a INST ana asking word
United States government, which they propose 70
slider, ia received.
thank you most sincerely for this mark Of your
confidence in my Judgment and patriotism.
yield 70 your request IN spirit Of humility;
which become who knows how much personal grea,-
dwarfed in comparison with the magnitude of the
The threatened dissolution of the government of
the United States Of America takes no rejecting
man by surprise, Tho existence Of two ee
ments Of civlization-of free and slave society
Of freedom and savery-of republcanism and des-
pot!sm-of appeal to right and rule OF force-in
the same government, was an anomaly in theorctc uni
TWAS disturbing influence before and in the forma
ton of tho federal Cnon Thomas Jefferson and Roger
SheI and all tho leaders OF the true democracy, look
upon the existence of African slavery alien and
destructive element in republic and went down TO
their graves fearful Of the issues winch It forces
upon us-which are. in "a word, 10 yield ~ its unques-
toned rule, or suiler dissolution OF the Onion.
Before we can apply a,relnedy to the present Ills, we
l. First then, the Personal Liberty bills Of the free
States not the cause.
The very dispassionate editors OF the National In
teigepcer after full review of the laws OF all the free
States, supposed to nufy the Fugitive Slave law, admit
that but four states have passed laws in conflict with the
Fugitive Slave law, and Of them, Massachusetts,,
stands In doubtful position. The intention Of these
laws seems TO be simply to protect TIE rights Of freemen
generally, without reference to the Fugitive Slave law,
and Of but few Of them to nufy the unconstitutional
provisions Of Mason's bin Every southern state has
4
6ance of tho federal constitution, generazcs Governor
Dennison's ih'ga refusal to return I.lso into law
All the republican party ask IL 10 have that law cleared
OF its unconstitutional and insulting ciiuses, AMI it will
be carried out in good faith fathers in the consi
tuition agreed And all ersona Liberty bills conflicting
with its legal enforcement will be repealed.
Neither is the refusal Of the republican party 10 al
10. slavery to go into the Territories cause
In this follow the footsteps Of fathers and the
footsteps OF the disunon democracy running down
TO n late period in our times.
The South knows very well that, under the local
by
experience she cannot meet free labor by allo
ana o n , usupaor p Of N the
also knows as her great loader Senator Douglls admits
cannot avail her. even acqnesced in by republicans,
against the inevitable unfrendly legislation" OF the free
labor settler Of the Territories.
Neither Is the election Of Abraham Lincoln the re
publican President, the cause.
The South knows that Mr. Lincoln is a Kcntucsian by
birth, and has Kentucky born wife and slave
conservative by temperament antecedents and avowas
and that all the constitutional rights Of the South will be
by him thoroughly proseccd In fact the leading minds
in the secession movement abandon this ground OF
offence.
What, then, Is the cause Of tho disunon mover
II simply desire 20 rule run-thc old passion in
the hearts Of humanity, which told as old
as the race and an'eccden, 70 u in the devils of old
1.-THE irrcpressible conflict between free ami slave
labor has been by e natural laws OF peaceabc antaeo
nsm fought out; and victory had perchcd upon the
standard Of liberty South Carolina has tested the thing
early as 1928 Failing In her designs OF a separate
existence by which alone she could compel Of the
trade which centres in New York aud other free Cities
tariff issue she has steadily abdcd her time
Andrew jackson eretod, she takes hold Of the slavery
question 10 effect tho purpose with the
gard Of the rights of otherseven Of the border slaye
statcs-but with more hope Of final success.
IN these aspirations o. separate existence all the
cotton states ympa,hzo; with the additional desire Of
cheap slaves imported from Africa, instead OF the high
priced slaves, which thcx compelled to buy Of
In view Of these facts In all the speeches which
mace IN the last canvass, looked the coming danger
fully IN the face; aud LEI all the millions whom al.
behalf IN wh af
they had TO expect in their hour OF triumph.
Now what sha republicans dor
They can have peace by acquioscing IN all the do,
mands Of tho slave power but II Is peace the ex-
pensc q their equality 10 the government, and the loss
fat dog, viii accept the terms; but L. who, like his
wolf have Dot only the marks Of but felt the col
lar, will part company here We can have peace by al.
owir the government 80 into dissolution Mr. Lin.
coin can say IN his inaugural, whether Issued from Wash
ngton or New Al those States which stand by
the Cnon come up aud take the oath OF allegiance the
constitution Of the United States Of America, and the
laws made IN pursuance thereof and those States which
choose may ptaceaby Tile OF 10 whatever anntics
may attract them" But look at plains, our noun
ains, rivers soas, and say how long would such
peace last and lastly have peace by standing
the constitution (and laws Of our rathera) M II
was, In, and shall bo and making others the samea
peace which will secure us safety M homo and rsnec,
abroad; q peace which viii continue The granieat do
veopement Of civilization which the world has seem
and which trust the Providence Of God Sesins shall be
heightened out into the far centuries phen the sword
shall be- turned into the pruning hook and the lion and
the lamb shall lc down together forever.
But suppose the time has come when the Justice OF God
shall be longer withheld and the madness of slavery
shall seek out its own destruction by dis oution Of
the Union pcaceabe fofcibe-wist then shall wo
give up all IS lostY Not at ALL God r,los atn If tho
cotton slater ~ they TO ruin sooEer ator The
grain growing States may stand by us-gvo up their
slavesdoybc q. once their whole property BY TIC al
vanco Of real estate by immigration and capital from
tic free States and foreign 1ns orr II they prefer
keep their slaves wit the same, greater security Ia
the Culture as In The passubjcctng their system 10 TIC
econsnca laws, and advancing civilization tn ch time
elia become homogeneous naon--and an viii
stil be ge But II double madness and folly shall send
them of With the cotton States still would the federal
Union stand with twenty ml9ns o. free hearts ami rec
hands 10 deiepd IL at home and abroad safey agsnst
world in Mms.
In such case would seek W friendly negotiation
with England .hs union Of the CScadas, which would