Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-12-04
Henry Clay and John G. Calhoun on
Slavery.

An honest Quaker, felglOusly convinced
Of the sinfulness Of slavery, but never ALI
ed with the abolition agitators against whom
SO much prejudice existed, felt it to be his
duty in - to visit Washington and see
the two distinguished. statesmen, Clay and
Calhoun, with reference to the possibility
Of fixing some period for the ultimate ex-
tinction Of slavery.
He was very kindly and courteously re-
ceived by Mr.. Clay, and in making known
his concern for the future of the country
and the condition of the colored race, told
that statesman that the time had arrived
when he thought it not only practicable but
necessary that some period should be fixed
for the extinction of slavery.
Mr.. Clay responded, in substance, that
slavery was an enormity which must fall by
its own weight: that it could not last that
Providence would not Permits continuance
and that it was his firm belief that no slave
for life would be born in the United States
after 1850
MIR. Calhoun, who was also courteous
toward his visitor, and heard his statement
and wishes with apparent interest, told the
Friend that he was too fast that the time
had not yet come to put the limit to slavery
but that it was an enormity which would
break down with its own weight, and he did
not believe q slave would lie born in the
United States after the year. 1900
The visitor was especially struck with
the similarity of the term used by both of
these statesmen to characterize the institr-
ton of slavery. They both called it San
enormity," and both said il would break
down or fall by its own weight, although the
nppIOdS hN-f
half century apart
Subsequently Mr. Clay me. the Friend at
Cape May in the presence Of many of his
!co-rellgionists and voluntarily reiterated
his declaration to him, calling upon scvo-
raj others TO witness it.
Yet IN 1880 the great compromiser used
t!s mighty intellect and powerful influence
to pass the infamous fugitive slave law. and
Mr.. Calhoun made the admission of Cali
fornla as free State q cause of disunion
During the same year Pierre Soule. Sen.
ator from Louisiana, declared to a we'll
known publicist that, in his belief. slavery
would be extinguished in the United State
within the next ten years. s
The fact is, these Southern statesmen
who thought at ALL and were able to cast F.
the horoscope of the future, saw plainly
that the institution was doomed, and Their q
public action was dictated by desire 70 /
stand well with an infatuated constituency t
md intolerant social organism at home al I Z
,hough the danger of collision grew ner- !
.eptlbly imminent to them day BY day r
I is highly probable that at least two Of 81
he parties named, if free to actup to their
convictions Of duty to the whole country !.
instead OF paying court to local public sen Q
lment, would have taken different conrso i
rom that which they pursued. II Is =
qlte certain that the storm thew antieipat- r,
d at last came, when the days Of compro- n
nlse We're ever, and the South ineultinoIv o.
eclared that she would not remain in The 9
Union If the North would give her a carte II Il
saEche to dictate the terms Sill bonino Il
0 conciliate her, the Northern CONGRESS- "
len did pass mean amendment 10 the el
prohibiting interference with ca
lavery, and followed that up with the Crit n n
enden resolutions and Seward S declaration p(
the French Emperor, and Mcclellan
Military police for the protection of the in
ltutlon, but all to no purpose The insfj-
't'on tcdS doomed. God and the rebels made
ne North set the negro free, and the same th
ersons will yet make the North secure ia
leir rights by giving them the ballot al
Washington Chronicle, 81