The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-04-30
Henry CIay's Method of Treating
the Abolition QaestiOa--AB In-
teresting Document for the Cri.

the Abolition QuestiOa--An n In
teresting Document for the Cri
sis. s
The following letter from Henr,
Clay was written to the Rev. Mr.. Col
ton, one of Mr.. Clay's warmest politi
cal and personal friends. and may b
found in Colton's Life of Henry Clay
The letter speaks for itself:
ASHLAND, September 2, 1S43.
"MY DEAR SIR:--Allow me to select
subject for one o { your tracts, which. treated
in your popular and condensed way.l / thinl
would be attended with great and good effect
i mean Abolition. t..sss..
1T is manifest that the ultras Of that par
ty are extremely mischevious, and are hurry
ing on the country to fearful consequences
They are not to be conciliated by the Wings
Engrossed with single idea, they care fol
nothing Else. -"
"And yet they would see the Administers
ton of the Government precipiate the ma
tion into absolute ruin before they would
lend helping hand to arrest its career
They treat worse, denounce most, those who
treat them best, who so far agree with them
as to admit slavery to be an evil. Witness
their conduct toward Mr.. Briggs and Mr.
| Adams, in Massachusetts,, and toward me-
81 will give you an outline Of the manner
IN which would handle it. Show the origin
Of slavery. Trace its introduction to the
ed Of by the Federal Constitution; that it is
left exclusively to the States except in regard
to fugitives, direct taxes and representation.
Show that the agitation Of the question in
the free States will first destroy all harmo-
ny, and finally lead to dlsunlon, poverty and
perpetual war; the determination of the Afri-
can race-ultimate military despotism.
"But the great aim and object OF your
tract should be to arouse the laboring classes Of
he free Statas against Abolit,oni Depict
the consequence to them of immediate Abo
lition, The slaves, being tree, would he dis
persed throughout the Union; the would enter
into competition ,0ith the free laborer-with the
American, the lrish the German-reduce
his wages, be ccnounded with him, and af-
feet his moral and social standing And as
the ultras 60 both for Abolition and Amalga-
nation, show that their object is TO unite in
VIC Wult0 anu
woman, to reduce the white laboring man to
the despised and degraded condition of the
black man. .45a f. a-..a
"l would show their opposition to Coloni-
cation. Show its humane, religious and pat
riotic aim. That they are those whom God
has separated. Whydo Abohtionists oppose
Colonization? To keep and analgamate to-
gether two races in violation of Gods will,
and keep the blacks here, that they may in
terfere with, degrade and debase the laboring
whites! Show that the British Government
is co operating with the Abolitiopists for the
purpose OF disolVing the Union. am per-
iectly satisfied that it will do great good. -
Let me hear from You on this subject. a2aa
4se5.i Ts5 '""< "tlENRY CLAY"
Five years earlier than this (1S98)
the United States Senate adopted the
following resolutions offered by Mr..
Clay s 'saaAsg npsa aassT
"Resoloea, That when the District Of Co.
lumbia was ceded by the States Of Virginia
and Maryland to the United States domestic
slavery existed in both of these States in.
ciuding the ceded territory, and that as it
still continues IN both OF them. it could not
be abolished within the district without
violation Of that good faith which was implied
in the cession, and in the acceptance Of the
territory, nor, less compensation were made
to the proprietors OF slaves, without mani
fest infringement Of an amendment to the
Constitution of the Unitel States nor with
out exciting degree of just alarm and ap.
prehenSi0n in the States recognizing slavery
far transcending in mischievous tendency any
possible benefit which could be accomplished
by the abolition. @ 1..
"Resolved therefore. That it is the deliber-
ate judgement OF the Senate, that the inst
tuition Of domestic slavery ought not to be
abolished within the District of Columbia;
and it earnestly hopes that all sincere friends
of the Union and OF harmony and general
tranquility will cease to agitate this disturb
ing question "