The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1862-08-09
WARNING OF HENRY CLAY.
Extract fros his Speech an the u S. Senate, Fsbru

Extract trons his Speech an the U s. Senate, Febru-
| 'r arg I, 1889.
"I am not in tho habit of speaking
lightly of the possibility of dissolving this
happy Union. The Senate knows that |
have deprecated illusions, on ordinary oc-
casions, to that direful event. The couu-
try will testify, that if there be anything
in the history of my public career wor-
| thy of recollection, it is the truth and
sincerity of my ardent devotion to its las
ting preservation. But we should be
false to our allegiance to it, if we did not
discriminate between the imaginary and
real danger by which we may be assailed
Abolition should no longer be regarded as
an imaginary danger The Abolitionists
let me suppose, succeed in their present
aim, of uniting the inhabitants of the free
States as one man, against the inhabitants
of the slave States. Union on one side
will beget union on the other And this
process of reciprocal consolidation will be
attended with all the violent prejudices,
embittered and implacable animosities,
which ever degraded or deformed human
nature.
"A virtucI dissolution of the Union aotU
haze taken place, achilst the forms Of dts
ecistence remain. The most valuable ele-
ments of Union, mutual kindness, the feel.
ings of sympathy, and the fraternal bonds
which now happily unite us, will have
been extinguished forever. One section
will stand in menacing and hostile array
against the other. The collision of opin-
ion will be quickly followed by the clash
ofarnts. Twill not attempt to, describe
scenes which now happily lie concealed
from our view. Abolitionists themselves
would shrink back in dismay and horror
at the contemplation of desolated fields,
confagrated cities, murdered inhabitants,
and the overthrow of the fairest fabric of
human government that ever rose to ami
mate the hopes of civilized man. Nor
should these Abolitionists fatter them
selves that, if they can succeed in their
object Of uniting the people of the free
States, they will enter the contest with
numerical superiority that.will ensure VIC
tory. All history and experience prove
the hazard and uncertainty Of war. And
we are admonished by Holy Writ, that
the race is not to tie swift, nor the battle
to the strong. But if they were to con-
quer? Whom would they conquer p
A foreign foe--one who had insulted
our flag, invaded our shores, and laid
our country waste z No, sir. 1t would
be a conquest without laurels - with
out glory---a self, suicidal conquest
a conquest of brother over brother, =
achieved by one over another portion Of
the descendants of common ancestors who
nobly pledging their lives, their fortunes,
and their sacred honors, had fought and
bled, side by side in many hard battle on
land and ocean, secured our country from
the British Grown, and established our
national in dependence. esf
"The inhabitants of the slave States
are sometimes accused by their Northern
brethrea with displaying too much RASH
ness and sensbility TO the operations and
proceedings Of Abolitionists, But, be-
AoiC #thoJ Cdu uC .JWaSeus tHeIe SuOulu De
areversal of conditions Let me suppose
that the people in the slave States were
to form societies, subsidize presses, make
large peeuniary contributions, send forth
numerous missionaries throughoutaH their
borders, and enter into machinations to
Iburn the beautiful capitals, destroy the
Eproductiye manufactures, and sink in the
OCEAN the gallant ships Of the Northern
/ States. Would these incendiary proceed
ings be regarded as neighborly or friendly,
.Iand consistent with tile flaternal senti.
msnts which should ever Be cherished by
1one portion Of the Union towards another!
/ Would they excite no emotion |? fOccas.
lion NO lnanIfestion ofs dissatis faction, nor
Head To any nets Of retaliatory Violence 4
But the supposed case falls far short Of
the actual one il q most essential circum.
stanee % no. coming gency could these
| capitals u13nufactories and ships rise III
| rebel lion and massacre tie inhabitants Of
the Northern States. L Is Nj