Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-09-15
The Prophetic warning OF
Henry Clay.

From GEORGE WAsHNGToN to the last
of the great statesmen, whose wisdom and
patriotism guided the destiny Of this Re
public, not one can be named who did not,
at some period, warn the American peo-
pie against the very dangers which cul-
minated in the present civil war The or
ganization of sectional parties, MS we all
know, was the chief evil upon which they
dwelt, as being the surest and speediest
means to produce dissolution OF the
Union; and it was with this view that they
deprecated the origin and growth of the
sectional Abolition party, which, begin
ming in the early history of the Govern
ment. foreshadowed, by its teachings and
openly avowed purpose, the consummation
we now behold in the most gigantic and
disastrogs ciyil war yet known t. history.
As early as 1889, this fanatical, destruc-
tive party had assumed such proportions
as 10 excite the most anxious fears of oul
ablest statesmen for the safety of the
Union, whose very existence was thereby
imminently endangered; and we find HENRY
CLAY, at that period, with his enlightened
Judgment and lofty patriotism, lifting his
warning voice against the approaching
peril. Mr.. CLAY, in speech then deliv
cred in the Federal Congress, used the fol
lowing prophetic language.
Abolition should no longer be regarded a.
un imaginary danger The Abolillunisls le
me suppose, succeed IA thec present aim o
uniting the inhabitants Of the Free States IL,
one man against the inhabitants Of the Slave
States Union on the one side will bege
union on the other and this process Of recip
roca consolidation will be attended with al
the violent prejudices, cmbttered passion
aud impacable nnimosiles which ever de
graded or delormed human nature virtua
dissolution of the Union will have taken place
while the forms of its existence remain. lh
most valuable element OF union, mutual kind
ness, the feelings of sympathy the traLerna
bonds which how happily unite u.s. will have
been eXtinguished for ever One section vii
stand in menacing and hostile array agalns
The other The collision OF opinion will b
quickly followed by the clash OF arms.
will not attempt to describe scenes uOw haI
PLY concealed from view. AboliuonlstB then
selves would shrink back in dismay and hon
ror at the contemplation Of deaolated field
couhagrated cities, murdered inhabitants an
the overthrow the tarest fabric Of huma
government that ever rose to animate ia
hopes Of civilized man
What sagacity The sage of Ashlan'
quarter OF a century ago, loresGw, in Il
clear light Of his imagination, what "
now feel in all the intensity of nation
sorrow and ruin Tho solemn warning
the lamented statesman comes back to u
its force deepened and strengthened by Il
consciousness Of terrible experience
The leaders Of the Republican party,
their speeches and through the press, a
accustomed TO invoke the memory
HENRY CLAY Let them read to their a
ditors the above extract from that speech
1889, let them publish its grand yet Sc
emn language, and they will read, in t
warning of the great dead, their own iat
condemnation. Mr.. Clay, were he livil
now, would repeat his words as qaot
above, in tracing the cause Of all our pr
ent troubles.