East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-10-19

other States, to take care Of theirs. =
We have enough to do in our respeo-
tive and legitimate spheres of action
enough, for the exercise of all the
a>prities and sympathies Of our ma
i,sre.
But what is ultimately TO become
Of slayerya asks the impatient Aboli-
tionist, i can not tell him with any
certainty I have no doubt the mer-
ciful Providence which permitted its
introduction into our country, against
the wishes Of our ancestors, will, ac-
cording to His own pleasure and time,
provide for its mitigation or termina-
ton.
In the mean time, We have had
much to encourage US. Our revolu-
ton led to the cessation Of the Afri-
can slave trade with the United States.
1t altogether oeosed in 1908. Many
States emancipated their slaves, not
by the perilous process of immediate
emancipation, liberation, but by the
gradual and cautious proceedings of q
siow md ~~crIatad. ernancipation, lib
Grating tho offspring at MATURE 90,
and leaving the parents in slavery,
thus making preparation for the prop
er use of the liberty which their chill
dren were to enjoy. Everywhere a
spirit of humanity was more and
mop, infusing itself into the laws for
the regulation of the treatment OF
slares, until it was checked in some
pieces by the agitation Of abolition
Some States, where the proportion OF
slaves was not very great in compari-
son with the whites, were beginning
seriously to think about the practica-
bility of gradual emancipation with
in their limits, but they, too, have
been checked by the intemperate zeal
Of Abolitionists. The feasibility Of
African colonization has been demon
strated, and the society with its limi-
ted means, has been quietly prosecu-
ting its noble object.
by some Of the means indicated,
an Others hidden from our view by
an ail-wise Providence, we may cher
ish the hope that, if violent Abolition
ism will cease stirring up strife and
sgitating the passions, we may ulti-
riately ALLEVIATE the evils, if not eradi-
cate the existence Of slavery in the
land.
The generation that established our
Independence achieved q great and
glorious work. Succeeding genera
tons have accomplished much in ad-
vancing the growth. tho power, and
the greatness of tho nation. We
must leave such things to posterity
and among others, the task Of max
ing adequate provisions for tho insti-
tuition Of slavery. In spite Of slavery
our army triumphed in the revolu.
tionary struggle, and it is not too
much to assert that, IL Abolition had
developed itself then, us it since has
done, we shouldhave failod. We sho'd
have been unable to frame the Con
federation, or subsequently to have
adopted the present Constitution. In
spite Of slavery, we were successful IN
the second war with Great Britain,
and in neither war, it is n gratifying
historical fact, was the enemy able, by
oil his arts of seduction, to withdraw
many slaves from their fidelity. In
spite of slavery, we have moved on.
ward in our march of power and
greatness, angmenting our population
in a period only co-extensive with that
of my life, from two and one-half "
seventeen millions.
If our country is now writhing un.
der the agony Of extreme pecuniary
distress and embarrassment, it has not
been produced by slavery, at least moi
by black slavery. 1t has been brought
about, think, by tho exercise of ar
bitrary power, but not that which tho
master exerts over his black slave.
Let us cease to agitate topic which
divides, distracts and inilames the
community, which tends to array mar
against man, State against state, anc
section against section, and which
threatens the greatest of all calami
ties which could befal this people
the dissolution of the Union of thes,
States. Let us in place of discort
and dissension, cultivate peace har
mony and good will among the peo
pie and the States of the Confedcracy
and let us recollect that we have othol
dut.ss to perform toward our country
toward posterity, and toward th'
world, than even the extirpation o
African slavery.
| have thus, in answer to your in
quiries, given you a full, candid an'
unreserved exposition of my opinion
and feelings on the subjects of whicl
they relate. I hope they will be- re
ceived and examined in the SAM
friendly and frank spirit in which the.
are communicated.
l am your friend and obedient scr
want, III. CLAY.
To Jacob Gibson, Savannah, Ash