Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Speech of C. M. Clay Before the Young Men's Republican Central Union of New York in the Tabernacle, October 24th, 1856
Ness of individuality, without regard to his involuntary antecedents, and assigning him consideration and position according to merit only. The South represents the one ldea: the North - the other. It is true that when the constitution of 1789 was adopted, all these States, except Massachusetts, (four others having only initiated her policy) were slave states. But it is also true that these embryo principles were as distinctly existent in 1776, as in 1856. You of the North, were more especially the descendants of Protestant Christians - the followers of Luther, of Calvin and of Knox. You carried into your civil institutions your idea of Christian equality and liberty: and hence, when you framed the Constitution of 1789, it was easy for you to throw off that feature which was antagonistic to your avowals, and to conform your constitutions to the idea of true democracy, as it now exists in the free states of this Union. In this light of history, I stand here to defend you from the oft repeated calumny of mercenary motive in the liberation of your slaves. If some of the slaveholders of these states sold their slaves South, they were those who never assented to the political action of the North; and who never con ceived those glorious sentiments which, with overwhelm ing force, fashioned these institutions of the sixteen free states of the Union. On the other hand, although the leading minds and Patriots of the South, recognized in common with the North, man's equality before the law, and so far as political institutions are concerned; yet, the great mass of the Southern people did not con ceive or avow this great idea. They were mostly the descendants of the British aristocracy proper, the Sir Walter Raleigh's, the Lord Baltimore's. And the younger sons Ofthe nobilitv and their numerous adherents, who always exaggerate the ideas of their superiors. It was because these men did not recognize the idea of man's equality, as proclaimed by our Fathers, that the Federal Constitution was so long delayed. This was the great obstacle in the way of its formation, and its final adoption. And hence, although Washington, and Jefferson, and Madison, and Henry, and Lee, and other leading men of the South favored this idea, there still remained in the South oligarchial and despotic elements of government. Here, then, were the two distinct principles: the one despotic, and relying upon force: the other republican, and appealing to the better sentiments of mankind for its sanction. I need not say to you, that these prin ciples are incompatible with each other. Hence, not withstanding there was a peace and truce proclaimed, and an acquiescence in a common government, as ifthere was eternal fraternity: yet, there has been, of necessity, from the beginning, a con?ict going. On between them, deepening and widening from 1789, until now, in 1856, they stand face to face, openly contending for absolute supremacy. I thank God it is so. As this question must be settled, the sooner it is settled the better. If oligarchy be better than republicanism, then let us accept it now. Let us not only Spread it over Kansas the Territories - over Central North America, to the Pacific, and to the Canada line; but let it come home, and take its place in these free states, as is its right. But if, on the contrary, Liberty is better thandespotism, as I have an indestructible faith that it is: and that you will so decide that it is: then let her take possession of the government, her legitimate domain, now. I know there is a very large class in every community who are governed by their idea of their material interestst.
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