Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-09-12
speech Of CassIus M. CIay.

General CLAY addressed large audience in
the Hall of the House of Representatives at
Frankfort, Ky, on Saturday night. We find
the following report Of it in the Cincinnati Ga
zoifo
He commenced by saying thatit was the glor-
ious privilege of republican institutions to give
utterance TO the sentiments of the heart When
last he addressed Kentucky audience, he was
denied the use of the Hall, but spoke upon the.
steps OF the Capitol in darkness storm and cold.
He regarded the change as good omen.
His remarks were confined to-First, our for
egn policy; I'd, our national policy, aud Sd, our
State policy. He was severe in his condemua-
tion of the English Government and people,
He said that when on his way to Russia, on stop
ping in London, he was utterly astonishcd TO
find the Englsh people of all classes on the side
of the rebellion. He heard Lord Brougham in
the House Of Lords, declare that slavery was a
very delicate question and should be left alone
by Englishmen; yet, Lord b. was president of
an anti-slavery association in London. He be-
lieved the pretended opposition to Slavery in
EnglaH to be base hypocrisy, used for the pur-
pose of bringing contempt upon the United
States, and only abandoned when a better op-
portunity offered to weaken the power the U.
States Government Heregarded the proclama-
tion of neutrality issued by the British Govern
ment the day after the arrival of our Minister, as
violation of ftrcaty as sufficient for declaration
of war on the part of the United States. 1t was
recognition of the Southern Confederacy, and
all England could do unless she resored to
armed Intervention. England seized upon the
Trent affair, and determined to push matters TO
extremities She failed in that by the sagacity
of Mr. Seward. She has fallen back upon her
old system of lying and slandering. She is us
ing all ber endeavors to poison the minds OF the
English people against us, propagating lies, and
Withholding the truth.
Bull Run Russell was an agent of the British
Government for that purpose, and should have
been expelled from our country much sooner
than he was.
Seeing no hope in England, Mr. Clay went to
France, and found the Government and the peo-
pie friendly to the United States notwthstand-
ing the English press bad persistently published
the contrary.
Russia is also our fast and firm friend.
Mr.. Clay said the Republican party had ac-
complished all it desired to do regarding the
emancipation of Slavery when. it excluded it
from the District of Columbia and the territor-
les; that it never intended to make war upon
Slavery in the slave States. Here are his exact
words upon that subject:
"The Federal Government has no power to
make war upon Slavery, nor upon any other
property as an object or right But rebels
against its authority forfeit all rights to life lib
erty and property. In the loyal States ! would
not unnecessarily iniure the loyal slave owner.
To reach the rebel master, L would proceed in
the way best suited to save the loyal. But in
the rebel States would proclaim liberty to the
slaves of the disloyal masters, and disorganize
their labor, the basis of all their power, arm
them for the forts, employ them in the camps
and in the marches In a word, i would recall
the four millions of the black allies whom in a
false magnanimity, have loaned to the enc
my, and bring them into an active defense Of the
Union, the Constitution and the enforcement of
the laws. Whatever loyal save-owners should
suffer by this public necessity of the power,
of self-defense should be fairly compensated
out of the common treasury of the United
States"
Mr.. Clay thought that peace was the great end
to be attained. He would offer it to the South
and on condition that they would lay down theii
arms and return to their allegiance, he would
advise herepeal of all confiscafon acts, and urge
| a general amnesty act.
| Ii was idle to talk of hanging jeff. Davis or
even John Breckinridge who deserves it more
than any one else. Say to our Southern breth-
rem, "Lay down your arms, and return to the
old Flag and the old Constitution; unite with
us in Furnishing all your foreign enemies, who
hate you as much they do us, and all shall be
forgiven and forgotten" Tremendous cheer
ing.) But if the South should refuse these
terms, then he would have the loyal people rise
in their might and swear that this rebellion
should be put down, that this country should
be one, though it it should cost every available
dollar and every available man. (Great cheer
ing.)
If Mr.. Clay accepted command, it would be
upon the condition that he should conduct the
war according to his judgment
| He would try to make war that would win.
He would emancipate the slaves of rebels, not
for the sake of freeing the slaves, butfor the sake
of weakening the masters He thought that
Kentucky offered bounty to treason by pro-
tecting and fostering rebels in her borders. If
the South succeeded the rebels We're safe and
Union men would be destroyed. The rebels
were safe and guarded in the possession of their
rights by the Union troops.
Such a system of warefare was absurd and
could never succeed He urged upon the Leg
islature, the adoption of the Presidents policy Of
emancipation and compensation, thought it was
wise, and urged Convention of the people for
the consideration of the subject