Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-23
A VOICE FROM THE PAST TO b
NEEDED.


The statesmen Of that era ofthe Republic,
which taking the imaginative under the
administration Of the first five Presidents as
the first, and the last fifteen years as the
third, may properly be called the second
clearly saw the condition Of things now ex-
isting. Pre-eminent among them was HEN
RY CLAY. In the utterances of none Of them
do we remember so graphic a prophecy as is
contained in one Of his speeches delivered
nearly thirty years ago. Although accused
before and after that time, by extreme
Southern men, with disposition to pander
in his public career to Northern feelings and
interests, be said, in 1889, when he had al
ready deserted on the Northern horizon (" a
cloud no bigger than a mans hand" but
black, and of growing dimensions-the Alb
clifton party:
with them 1.-THE Abolitionists) the rights
Of property are nothing; the deficiency Of
the powers Of the General Government is
nothing; the acknowledged and incontesta-
bic powers Of the States are nothing; the
dissolution Of the Union and the overthrow
Of the Government, in which is concentrated
the hope OF the civilized world, are nothing.
A single idea has taken possession Of their
minds, and onward they pursue it, overlook
ing all barriers, and regardless Of conse-
quences."
We dc not adduce this as a testimony to
Mr.. CLAY's sagacity, nor for the purpose of
magnifying his exalted fame, That is Sc
cure, and needs no help that we might give,
if in the midst Of pressing practical matters,
it was even useful to do so. Neither is it
presented as a railing against abOlitionism
in the matter of African slavery, nor against
abolitionists personally. While we hold to
the opinion, that that class of men by push
ing flnatical idea and intruding II into
the politics Of the country, have done an
immensely Of mischief we, in this time,
have too much to do by way of preventing
the full fruition of the remote results Of
their unwise policy to discuss issues so
obsolete.
The object is to arrest the attention Of
those, both North and South, wEo by the
drift of events, have been led to become the
lineal successors Of those men whose policy
Mr. CLAY so earnestly protested against,
and ask them to pause before they rush
affairs to the terrible conclusion which he
so strongly feared. We cite his fervent Ian
guage, to deter them from longer pursuing
this Single idea" regardless of consequent
ces." Let Us all of every opinion, stop and
consider the consequences. Let us 60 as far
as we safely may in readjusting our institu-
tions in conformity with the changes pro-
duced by the civil war, to which the "single
idea" 50 greatly contributed. The rights of
property, of the special kind to which Mr..
CLAY referred, have been lost, and aban-
doncd even by those who fought to retain
them. The dissolution Of the Union, in so
far as that event was imminent as the result
Of that struggle has been conclusively
prevented. Do not let us, then, pro-
coed in the prosecution Of a Single idea" to
tear down the wholesome barrires Of the
Constitution, 10 augment to dangerous ex-
tent the powers Of the General Government,
to annihilate the acknowledged and incon- |
testable powers Of the several States, in a
word to effect, in the reckless pursuit Of one |
object, a complete revolution in our system
Of government which, If all experience is |
not at fault. cannot but be fatal to the pres
ervation Of our common liberties. 1t was
this more than the destruction Of African |
slavery, that that great man deprecated. Can |
we not show ourselves capable, even though |
il was commenced amid the fires Of intes- |
tine strife, of perfecting the adjustment of
the slavery of one race, and according to |
them ga fair start in the race of life"
without at the same time abolishing our own
political freedom, and undermining the fab
ric Of government in which they are en-
shrined2
II then, there be any among Radicals |
North or South, who revere the memory of
HENRY CLAY, and, once his name was
magic spell, we exhort them to ponder his |
words in the above brief extract and cast |
out this devil Of single idea" il it has
entered their minds, and let US all reason
together upon the civil and political status
Of the black man, as becomes men who,
while they love justice and profess humani-
iy in its largest sense, yet regard the Con-
stitution as the Ark Of the Covenant Of |
American liberty.
THE GREAT METEORIC DISPLAY