Year: 1862

Two Speeches at Nashfngton-Maste


and Mana Strange Contrast.


We published yesterday, side by side on the
same page, two speeches delivered at Washing
ton, presenting a very remarkable CONTRAST one
of them constitutional, statesmanlike and genia


the speech of the Chief Magistrate of the Re
pubIic the other violent. seditious and silly-tht
speech of the late American Minister to Russia
One speech was calculated to do good, the Other
infinite mischief. The speech of the President to
the depatation of colored men at the White
House was sagaeious and wise 1t proclaimed a
great tTuth-that the difference between the black
and white races in the United States is so broad
that il is impossible the inferior race can ever
possess political equality with the superior and
dominant race. The two races can not exist in
freedom together; for even at the North, where
no legal servitude exists the black man is practi-
cally and substantially much slave as he is AT
the South. Hence the President says:


"Wben you cease TO be slaves you are yet far
removed from being placed on an equality with
the white race. You cut off from many oi
the advantages which the other race enjoy
The aspiration of men is to enjoy equality with
the best when free; but on this broad continent
not single man of your race is made the equal
of a single man of ours. Go irhere yOu are treat
ed the best, and the ban is still upon yOH''


This is honest. To be the servant of the
white man, in some shape or other, is the normal
condition of the negro everywhere in the United
States, and those of the race who feel discOn.
tented at their inevitable lot have no other rem
edy than voluntary emigration and colonization
a remedy, however, which only very small por-
ton, of the negroes are willing to adopt. The
President does not believe in arming the negroes
TO free them from the white mans yoke because
he knows il would fail if attempted, and in the
erd would bring horrors untold upon the heads of
the blacks, and because he knows that the cOndi-
ton of the negro would not be improved by re.
leasing him from the restraints of legal servitude
Hence, too, the President does not see how the
negro is to be bettered by emancipating him by
procl nation and leaving him to shift for himself
among superior race.


How different are the language and spirit of
Cassius NJ. Clay. This man, born in the same
State with Mr. Lincoln, takes an entirely diff
ierent view. He is impractical and visionary
like all the Abolitionists He does not believe in
colonization. because it would Gelay emancipa-
ton; and vet he says he never was in favor of i'm
mediate eman ipation. and is only now in favor
of it because it is time of war But If the pol
icy was not good in time of peace, war can not
essentially change it. Mr.. Clay must be aware
of the policy of the Government and the sent
ment of the country, and yet he publicly runs
counter to both, while he is mean enough to re-
tain office under the Adm nistration. He left his
post in Russia to become a Major General in the
army; but because the President will not make
the war one OF emancipation and arm the negroes
he tells the world he declines to have anything to
do with il, and does his worst to prevent enlist
ments for the army. He says sit is sweet to die
for principle that is worldwide and eternal in
its duration-universal liberty TO mankind" He
holds that blacks are naturally equal to white
men, and quotes the Declaration of Independence
that God has created all men free and equal, g-
noring the fact that those who drew up that dOcu
ment never thought of including negroes. Other
wise they stult;ied themselves. 1t was purely
white mans Government that was founded by
Washington. Jefferson and their compatriots.
Mr. Clay aludes to the case OF the Gar freeing
twenty millions of serfs. But these are of the
same race ofthe Gar himselfand the highest no
bles i'm the land. There is no parity of reason
ing, therefore, in the case The emancipated
Russian sers are suscep ible of the highest free
dom and civilization. Not SO the American ne
grOes.


Again: Abraham Lincoln is not a despOt, that
he can do he pleases in defiance of the will of
American people, even il he believes in the policy
of universal emancipation What then must we
think of Mr.. Clay's patriotism, when he is capa-
bic of uttering such language the following:


Well, NOV YOU are going TO conquer the South.
HOwl BY my friend Seward.taking dinner and
drinks? Laughter and applause You are
going 10 conquer the South by taking the sword
in one hand and shackles in the other. You are
going to conquer the South with one portion of
your force, while the other is detailed to guard
rebel property. You are so magnanimous that
you are going to put down this gigantic effort at
our national life, in the language of Jim Lime,
''by fighting their battles and your own" Ap-
plause How long have you tried itf For
nearly eighteen months. Some of the best men
in this country have gone down to their graves.
Two hundred and fifty thousand OF the loyal
troops of the United States have died on the bat
tie field or been disabled by sickness. How
many millions have you expended? Why, sum
rolling up to one thousand milions-almost one
fourth the national debt of England, that has
been accumulating for ases-and still you have
been carrying on the war. Upon such principles
as that you cannot stand upright in the eyes oil
the world. On these principles you never can
conquer; and | am told by men high in power
that the capital is still in danger. Gentlemen,
how much longer is this thing to continue? As
for myself, never, so help me God, will | draw a
sword TO keep the chains upon another fellow
being. Tremendous applause. Suppose, gen
tlemen, that you succeed upon the present policy
what have you gained? Better recognize tho
Southern Confederacy at once, and stop this
eiluson of blood than to continue in this present
ruinous policy, or have even a restoration of the
Union as il was. Change your policy and say
that you are in earnest. Send an ambassador
me, if you will, much as the shareholders hate me
and them-to jeff Davis, with message that
il he will consent to have tie rebels lay down
their arms and come again under the protection
of the old flag and Constitution, that protection
will be granted him; but if not. warn him of the
consequence, and then go to work in real earnest
aud it necessary desolate the whole South.


Mr.. Clay then draws a terrible picture of our
debt and bankruptcy, says we can never conquer
and swears that he will never draw sword to
fight for the Union AS il was and the Constitution
as IL is. Further, he proposes to recognize the
Southern confederacy at once and stop the effu
sion of blood by sending him ambassador
TO Jelf. Davis. This is extraordinary language
for our ex Minister TO Russia and a candidate foI
the Office of Major General. We hope Mr.. Sew.
ard and Mr.. Stanton will look to this man. Hi:
speech proves him unfit either for civil or militia
ry position. Wendell Phillips has said and cal
say nothing worse. Will he be permitted to &c
back to Russia, and will our important interest:
at the sagacious Court Of st. Petersburg be in
trusted 10 a man who is so deficient in common
sense and SOUND discretion, and whose one ides
has evidently overturned his i'll balanced judg
mentY


What does Cassius NJ Clay want2 He desires
TO arm the negroes and desolate the South; tt
make solitude and call it peace;" and this b,
does upon the very heels Of the news from Hiltor
Head that Hunters negro brigade Is an ute
failure and Is broken up-one half OF the regi


ment organized having deserted. and Col. Fessen
den having come home in the Arag0.


There is abundant employment for the negroe
in this war. Let not only Southern, but all the