Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-06-05
Henry Clay's Predictions.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer May 3l.l
The people OF Kentucky yesterday dedicated
q statue to the memory of Henry Clay, the
great Commoner the brilliancy of whose genius
has reflected so much honor and luStre upon
the State, and who, for thirty years, was one
of the most distinguished of all ourpublic men.
We quote, as appropriate to the times, the
memorable warning Of MIR. Clay as to the
injurious effects OF the Abolition agitation in
the North, delivered in the Senate Of the
United States, in 1889, which prophecy has
had so painful and melancholy realization.
Looking down the vista OF the future with the
glance of the seer, the statesman OF Kentucky
predicted what would be the consequences If
ern party. flow truly it has come to pass, and
how unfortunate that his warning was not re-
garded, we can perceive at lance Here it
is, in his speech upon the Abolition question,
made, as we have before stated, in 1889. We
quote from Colton's Life Of Henry Clay, page
l57, volume 6. He said:
"Su'-I am not in the habit Of speaking
lightly ofthe possibility Ct dissolving this hap
py Union The Senate knows that | have
deprecated allusions ON ordinary occasions, to
that direful event. The country will testify
that if there be anything in the history Of my
public career worthy of recollection, it is the
truth and sincerity of MY ardent devotion to
its lasting preservation But we should be
false to our allegiance to it if we do not dis
criminate between the imaginary and real dan
ger. The Abotionists, let me suppose, sue
ceed 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, and the process of reciprocal consolida-
ton will be attended with all the violent pre-
judices embittered passions, and implacable
animosities which ever degraded or detormed
human nature. A virtual dissolution Of the
Union will have taken place while the forms
of its existence remain. The most valuable
element of Uaion, mutual kindness, the feel
ings of sympathy, the trlternal bonds which
now happily unite US, will have been extin-
guished forever-one section Will stand III men
acing and hostile array against the ether.
The collision of opinion will be quickly followed
by the clash of arms. | will not now attempt to
describe scenes which now happily lie concealed
from our view Abololitlonlsts themselves
would shrink back in dismay and horror at the
contemplation of aesolated fields, oonaagrated
cities, murdered Inhabitants and the overthrow
Of the tairest fabric of human government that
ever rose to animate the hopes OF civilized
man. Nor should these Abolitionisls Halter
themselves that, if they succeed in their OBJ
iect of uniting their people OF the States, they
will eoter the contest with numerical supe-
rority that must ensure victory. All history
and experience proves the hazard and uncer-
tafnty of war. And we are admonisbed BY
Holy writ that the race is not to the swift, nor
the battle to The strong. But # they were 10
conquer, whom would they conquer ? 4 for
sien foe; one who has insultaa our flag, IN
vaded our shores and laid our country waste ?
No, cir ! no, sir 1t would be conquest
without lauyels, without glory; self, suicidal
conquest a conquest Of brothers over brothers,
achieved by one over another portion of the
descendants of common ancestors, who nobly
pledged their lives, their fortunes and their
sacred honor, and fought and bled, side by
side, in many hard battle on land and ocean
severed our country from the British Grown
and established our independence. " ~.