Mr. Clay's Speech

Lnst week we published Mr. Clay's Lexington Rcsohitions, giving tliem, on the whole, our approvul. Wepurposely nvoided any remarks on Ihe synopsis of his speech, ns we wislied lo hnve the Pull document beforo Ui, authenticated bv Mm-elf. We have received it; and 1 1 day we give a large poriion of it, rppresentiig his views of the projected conqnest of Mexico, and of Slavery. The iirsl part ofthe sppech, which we have omilted, is an exposition of tlie War pi.wers and duties of Congress and tha Executive, and a hístory of ihe origin of the War, bol h of ivhioh sulijecl are more bricfly presentcd in the Resolutioni wliicli we published. The speech has excitei very general attpntion throughnut the country; nnH we will add nne or two note-i of our oun lo the multilude f cornments already pubüshed. The speech is drawn np wilh much care, in reference both lo the phrnseolopy and subject mmter ; hut we find n ït nothing very prnfiund for au eminent statesman. We do nl rrgard Mr. Clay ns posessing as mnch depth of iniellect aï Web-tor, or Cnlhnun. But liis power lies in ndroi'ly nnd successfully adapling and presrnting common trut hs to the peculinr cirrnmstaiices prejuijices and inlerests ofSiSerem sectionsoThis country men. Ir: Ii is remarksi on War in genera', nr.o the conquest of Mexico in particulnr, he has fillowed in the lead of Corwin. Our readers rannot fail to notice the resrrnltlnncp. Ia tliis Mr. Clav che not cxcpI C ir-ivin, unies-; it be in eln'iorntcnessand propriety of langnnge. In the genera! scope of hrs MhAl on il. eso subjecls, we cordi: lly concur. But tl. e grpat question on which Mr. Clay's opinión was most neeticd and looked lor, as the E:ension of Slaxpry over riew teiritory in cac il should be acqnirfd. Th is is ihc qusetioB i;ow di ciis-'ing :n overy pari t tlip nniion; and instrad of m e:irg it fairly, Mr. Cay does no! intima'e the least opinión on way or llia other; bu: g:es as lt) i:bstrnct disqtrwtion . , ;; Zt4Slavery, whicli s flinsy acid common place etiougli. And his eulogv on ihe ' unmixed bcncrolcnce " of ihat great liumbi.ip-, ihe Colon'zaiion Sooieiy, s .1 striking instance of the tenacily with which men venfiable 'n ypars (f en ding o ihe pri jertsof the pasl, instead of kaerisig up wiih the spirit nf the age. Who but an antiquated o!d ge tlema'i, afer fourteen years observntinn of the resulu of emnncijiation in the Wost Indie?,wher not a drop of b'ood has been lust in co;.squenee of tliat Iransaction, vvould nov be fnind prophesying, th;it if he ilaes of soine Slave States neie lo reccive their freedom 'shocking scrncs of rapiñe and carnage" would be tiie unavoidnble result? The Cnicinnati Herald ?avs: 11 There is but one position upon the subject of Slavery liken by Mr. Clay in this speech, lo vvhich any ofilie in'erct of noveliy aitnches. We infer f hat he i- rendy, at the approaching Convention in KentucUy, to advocate a plan lor gradual emancip.'ition. He is so understood, in Kentucky,by ihe frifnds of that cause. This we ronfess is gratifying intelligence, as the authorfty and itifluence of his name cannot fail lo rasare itssuccess. - We ore sorry that he has so coupled his declurations on this ïubjct with his Colonization schema, bs even to make it doubtful, wliRiher he is in fact, favorable to ni:y plan of emancipation upon the soil." The Cleveland TrueDemocMt, fWhig) shows up the flimsinos of Mr. Clay's Slavery doclrines-, and adds : 'For Mr. Clay to ndmit that slavery is unjusf, nnd at the same time continue to hold slaves and justify the holding them, shows an inexcusable blindness or harJness upon a great moral principie. - Ani upon what ground does he do this ? W h y, h.' says, that " t is not nlwa j s safe, praclicahle, or possible in the great movement of States and public afTairsoi" nation?, to remedy or repair the iniliction oCprevwus injustice." Well, suppose it is not,suipose they cannot repair prtvious injustice, cannot they stop dong injustice? Because I cannot repair the injury I h.ive done a man, must I continue todo the injury 1 But why talk about Siatesnnt) nntions? It is individuals that hold slaves, that continue slavery. Suppose Sta'es nnd Nntions cannot repair the injuries. they have done, cannot individuáis stop doing wrong ? Cannot Mr. Clay free his slnvest Must he continue to get his bread from the sweatoftheir browst We have no patience to exposé such sophistry. Sofar from Mr. Clay's speech being calculated to forward the cause of ■emancipotion, wc sheuld Hke !o know what he could
have said that he hns not said to retard that cause? Has he not justified the continuance of slavery? Has he not proclaimed ihat t mut exisl a ceniury and a hilf? Has he nol condemed the movements of antislavery men? Has he not proclairned that the white and black race, cannot live free tngether? And vet we are told by ihe Herald, that this speech is to dogloriousUiings for emancipation! There s not a poor, ignornnt, runawny negro slave, but what could teach the Herald bctter." (t1 We have delnyed this number of our pnper two days for the purpose oi furnishing our readers as enrly as pnssible with the President's Messsage, but that document has not come to hand, and we are therefore compelled to issue our sheet as it is.