The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-12-13
HoAry Clay On she Abolition OF
Slavery.


Slavery.
President Lincoln is called by his ad-
mirers, supporters, fiattereIs and appoint
cess statesman. When asked to point
out when, where and how he has exhibit
ed the least political ability, his eulOgists
prudently maintain n profound silence.
lie has filed several prominent positions,
in neither Of which has he creditably dis
tinguished himself, nor given the slightest
evidence of possessing more than ordinary
capacity. OF craftsmanship he seems to
be totally and entirely ignorant or too OK
cesSively modest to give US a manifesto
ton Of it. This may be an amiOble weak
ness of his, but it is weakness the Amer.
lean people neither admire nor appreciate.
We look in vain in his speeches and mes
sageS for statesmaRlike views or sugges-
Z W. They are not deficient in plumbers,
mistakes, absurd and inischievouS recon-
mcndations. sophistical arguments and
partisan appeals but, aside from this,
scarcely deserve notice. For the public
welfare he has not originated . measure,
and his Administration will only be re.
membered for its weakness, imbecility,
corruption and wickedness Ills Negro
Emancipation Proclamation, promulgated
TO satisfy the insulting demands Of the
,c,.,ssso;ccAt Ss14 1iS&a&, ~!!~l. Ats EShA G,S
reputation as a statesman, a philanthro-
pist and friend of the Union. In it he
"presents to the nations Of the earth" to
use the forciblc language of Henry Clay
''the spectacle Of one portion Of this Union
Cndcavorlhg 10 subvcrt an institution Of
another portion, in violation of the Con-
stitution and the most sacred obligations.
What Henry Clay regarded rs n calamity
President Lincoln regards MS n blessing
The warnings Of Statesmen-of statesmen
of pre- eminent ability and unimpeachablt
pat,iotiSm-fall UNDECIDED on his ears. \
politician Of the Greeley, Garrison ant
Sumner school, his highest ambition
seems to be to subjugate the South, eman
cipatc the negroes and place them upor
an equality with white men. For thi
object lie is not unwilling to disres ard tn,
laws, override the Constitution and dis
member the Union. His Proclamation
has strengthened the rebels and driver
from the support Of the Administration
thousands Of loyal Southern men, VIII,
have made countless sacrifices for tn
Union, and gratificd only the ultra Ado
ltionists. Instead Of adding volunteer
to the Union army, it has dispirited many
disguised some and caused others to re
sign. Its effect has been wholly evil. =
But he has taken the fatal step, and un
less he recalls it, he must be held rcspon
siblc for the consequences.
Henry Clay deprecated any attack OIL
the institution Of slavery by those in nu
thority. On February 9Th, 1850, he mad
speech in the United States Senate, Of
his propositions for n Compromise, il
which he used the following memorable
language, which President Lincoln nigh
have studied to advantage, before he is
sued his iniquit,us Proclamation
"And | am ready to say that if Con
gross were to attack within the States tn
institution Of slavery, with the purpos
of the overthrow or the extinction of Sla
very, then, Mr.. President, "my voic,
would DC for war;" Then would b,
made case which would Justify in til,
sight Of God and in the presence f tht
nations OF the earth, resistance on tn,
parts Of the slave States to such an un
constitutional, usurped attempt as woulc
DC made under the supposi;ion | hav,
stated. Then We should be acting in de
fence of our rights. of our domicilcs, o
Then think would be furnished cas-,
in which the slave States would be JUST
fed by all the considerations which ap
pertain to the happiness or security 0
man, to employ every instrument which
God or nature has placed in our hands, t.
resist such an attempt on the part Of the
government. Then il, unfortunately
civil war should break ont, we shoult
present to the nations of the earth thu
spectacle Of one portion of this Union en-
deavoring to subvert an institution o
another portion, in violation Of the Con
Stitution and the most sacred obligations
We should present spectacle in which
we should have the sympathy and gOOc
wishes and desire for our success, Of al
men who love justice and truth"