New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-13
HENRY CLAY.

There are 90 many otherwise well informed
people who continue To believe the great Clay
no earnest Emancipationist, but only dex'
ferrous trimmer between conflicting and IT.
reconcilable extremes, that We gladly welcome
any new light on this subject-not that ws
need any. but for the illumination Of those
who do.
The Hon. James 8. Rollins, NJ. C. past and
elect from Missouri, is one of the most stead
fast disciples of the old Wing school in poll
tics, having been o supporter of Henry Clay
from first to last He would have supported
Edward Bates for President in 1860; but
since Mr.. b. was not nominated, he went for Bell
and Everett. He was then q conservative on
the Slavery question:; be is now Gradual
Emancipatienist He made q speech in the
House on the 2Sth of February last in support
of bis system, wherein he embodies, az express
sive of bis views, DIR. Franklin's Emancipation
Act of 1880, whereby Slavery was gently ex'
PEELED from Pennsylvania, and Mr. Clay's let
ter of Feb. II, lS49, to Richard Pindell, urg-
ing Kentucky to provide for Gradual Emnnci-
patton by her then approaching constitutional
Convention. He also embodies in it private
letter of Mr.. Clay to bis relative and lifelong
supporter. Col. VIM. III. Russell of Missouri,
which, as casting light on most important
point, wo reproduce-as follows:
AsHLAsD, July 49, less
70 nah. nv .esloyiedsm.nts to Mira Russell yourself for
n honor doLs Ia bestowng name on your infant
May he live DO useful ~ his country and bles'Dg TO
the probability Of ConyentIon 10 which you
.1ppe leading question that ~il Dc .s.'ea tn. 81
ate Emsne patton think It wholly out Of the question II
could no, be adopted jasy without compensate ana
the slaves either 10 enjoy freedom or to provide comfortably
! for theDsslysa
Gsdu.l patton that emancipation at certain age
al. DO limited period. l. avery different question
Thiry'svep this question was mace ~ hsnteesy
were about reform Copstitnton was then
10 favor OF IT, but la the minority and were defeated
thu ~. sN s depends ls we. .As &. Ss
popondsaie u h early eqts would no, be IN ayof OF
1t but where the whites peyondss's "a W mnsoo, sp
pea" to me it may be safely adopted Inc proportion Of
save. 10 whites with as twenty-five to ninety
seven or lte than fifth. Ia such relative
don the there IL NO danger OF the Aean ever
ssQahng the sscsDdeney.
fbs, Slavery I, N a's and 10 sreat evil s un3lsputed
.Iioms The difficulty always has been how 10 get nd Of
III In States where they are comparatively few. that din
eaty 10 lees And Ia Psnnsylvsns and other Northern
States. they have gotten rid OF slavery almost wiihou,
Struggle
eompsn,ion suppospg that you put of the
commencement Of the period to the 1880 holding all
slaves for life born pr to that and all sub
Do fee Of the sgs Of .weny9z there would be very
1 Would only on IL: .n.. en3 So much
Lea. would female slave be worth. who being herself slave
Tor life. her ea.Pos after 1850 are TO be iberasd1 thee
we're prohibition OF the removal Of slaves prior to 1880
there would be DO dspr' ei'siOS 10 the vslno.
The effect Of the would be to allow slave labor
the infancy Of State when II ia most wanted and to
sub,,iiu. ums,ey free labor for when free labor would
be shuudsn Ard you would thus gently and gradually free
yeue,s from what has not been insceuratey characterized
great curse.
1he,. arc my vsws communicated for your own 'sfsc'
ton a, your request, and no, for publication.
gs M Son Go s"s ..1 a. cssa.s o. y
Ser "a s, , sf,,g a , ,sss d. ; rsrs G,sSIsi
spsa P~an'ylrania 20 adopt On IT'D"
do that could be justly ch,rse.be
s TX ss p
that slavery should be Ierpe,na Il tolerated slavery bu,
when the good OF the Commonwealth reqasd EmiEr.nt.
TO Stat. moving Of tails power and knowing
that the majority must govern In making up that GRITTY
they have Ih,ir voice pro or con-
In ksniuesy Their. 10 no, the usual ,rcsmspt attending
the present elections There ' perhaps too much apathy
With great regard your friend and obsdient servant
Col. VILLA. HssRr RUSSELL
The interesting fac. that Mr.. Clay, after
having abored harder and moro efficiently
than any other man to secure the admission OF
Missouri as q Slave State, Immediately urged
her Delegate in Congress, Mr.. Scott, 10 $50
home and erer yourself 10 establish a system Of
Gradual Emancipation" was not before known
TO us, aud we think was unknown TO others.
Mr.. Clay was hsbitually and coDstitutionally
cautious, moderate, conservative, and ayerse
to sudden and violent changes; but it is now
demonstrated that, alike in his earliest man.
hood. in his ambitious and hopeful prime, and
in his sage and calm old age, he recognized
Slavery as master evil and sought as well as
wished its overthrow. In 90, he WAS 81 years
of age; in 1920. be was a; in 1895, he was
50; in 1e49, he was 49, and at each of these
periods he is on record as either publicly or
privately, urging his fellow-citizens of Ken.
lucky and Missouri to initiate Emancipation.
If Slavery was a good thing, he had every OPP
portunity to know it; that it ministered 10 the
luxury and pride Of the slayeholding caste, be
was well aware; but that it was q blight and
curse to the communities that cherished it, he
knew at first instinctiyely, and the parallel
careers Of New.York and Virginia, Ohio and
Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri, confirmed his
original conviction.