Indiana State sentinel., 1863-02-23


Extracts from the speech of Henry
Clay in the Us. senate, i'm February,
1899, on the Dangers of POIiticaI
AbOIisiOniSm.
For some time they continued to make
these appeals to our duty and our interest; but
inpatient with the slow influence of their logic in
our stupid minds, they recently resolved to change
their system of action. To the agency of their
power of persuasion, they nor propose to substi-
tute the powers Of the ballot box; and he must be
blind to what is passing before US, who does not
perceive that the inevitable tendency of their pro-
ceedings is, if they should be found insufficient,
to invoke. finally, the more potent powers of the
bayonet.
Mr. President, it is at this alarming stage of the
proceedings of the ultra AboIitionists, that /
would seriously invite every considerate man in
to reflect not merely on our existing POSTURE but
upon that dreadful preciplce down which they
would hurry II is because these Ultra Abo
ltiOnsts have ceased to employ the instruments
of reason and persuasion, have made their cause
political, and have appealed to the ballot box, ,
that am induced, upon this occasion, to address
you.
1 viii not detain the Senate longer
on the subject Of slavery within this District and
in Florida Cthen Territory or of the right of
Congress TO prohibit the removal of slaves from
one State to another. These, as have already
intimated, are so many masked batteries, con-
cealing the real and ultimate point of attack
hat
nestle slavery, as it exists IN these States. 1t
is to liberate three millions of slaves held in
bondage within them
1t was this (the subject of slavery
which created the greatest obstacle, and the most
anxious soIieitude. in the deliberations of
the convention that adopted the general
Constitution. And il is this subject that
has ever been regarded with the deepest anxiety
by all who are seriously desirous of the perma-
nency of our Union. The father of his country,
in his last affecting and solemn appeal to his fell
lew citizens. deprecated. as a most calamitous
event, the geographical divisions which it might
produce. The convention wisely left to the sew
eral States the power over the institution of
slavery, as power not necessary to the plan of
union which it devised, and as one with which
the General Government could not be invested,
without planting the seeds of certain destruction
There let il remain undisturbed by any unhal-
lowed hand
Sir, am not in the habit OF speaking lightly
Of the possibility Of dissolving this happy Union
The Senate knows that l have deprecated alIu-
sions, on ordinary occasions TO that direfu event
The country will testify that if there be anything
in the history of my public career worthy of
recollection. il Is the truth and sincerity of my
ardent devotion to its lasting preservation. But
we should be false in our allegiance to it. if we
did not discriminate between the real and i'm
aginary dangers by which it may be assailed
Abolition should no longer be regarded as an
imaginary danger. The AboIitionists, let me
-sappose, 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 the one side will beget union on the other
Aad this process Of reciprocal consolidation will
be attended with all the violent ,prejudices, en-