C. M. Clay

A friend has haoded us a number of the Lexington (Ky.) Observer, containing two long controversial anieles on thc "negro law of '33;" the one signed "A Whig" understood to be Wicklifiü, tho advocate in the Legislature, last winter, of the repeal of that law, and the other from C. M. Clav, his eloquent opponent. If we understand aright they are rival candidates for return to tho next Legialature. Mr. Clay thus speaka of the perversión of Cbristianity to the support of slavery. "No maa regards Cbrislianity in ils 'moral inculcation9 more than I do - no man places a higher estímate upon pions and religious men, or would desiro more ardently theirsympathy aud support, than I. But if'A WhigV' religión commands and defends involuntary servitude, I spurn and trample it under foot, a3 I do the impotent defender ofeuch a faith. ín iho languago of Chatham, I hold no such deas of God and nature, as ho. The Scriptures spcak no 8uch language, but Uo men of corrupt mindsand destituteol truth,1 and from all euch, fellowcitizeng, let us withdraw oursclves, before it be irrocoverably to late. In his two columns of quotations from the testament, he produces no text that speak? of slavery in any other light than as a judgement from heaven, or as an existing instiiution." He concludes with tho folloving eloquent passage. Those portions of it which we have italicised will give Mr. Clay additional claims upon the syrnpathies of our readers. From my earliest youth to the present time, my memory and conscientiousness bear me witnesses that l have loved my country. I have not rested indolently in the enjoyment of an estáte, then tbe largest owned by any of my ago in thc State. I have not been a noisy demagogue, flattering the vauüy or vices of the people, for selfish purposes, whilst stripping the bed from under the poor, and the bread from the mouths of crying infancy. I have not added farm to farm, expelling tho free white population of my own nativo land - proud of tho desolaiion which marked my progrese. On the contrary I have converted many tciantries intofreeholds - I have witnessed the change tn thc habite, the moráis, and the independence of those tcho toil Jor another, to those free cultivatora of the soil, tcho labor for (hemsélveswith sensations which "A Whig" can never feel.I nave, asa legislator, borne my part in sustaining judiciary, education and inlernal improveraent8; measures for the rich and the poor, and which shed wealth and ndependence and honor upon the whole peopie. í have not sought the favor of thoso in power, nor looked to the ewelling gale of popular favor or ndignation. I have 6tood by my country in times of some danger, and her faith and honor have not been tarnished in my hands, nor have 1 meanly shrunk frora the discharge of my dwty, fearing the loss of populnrity . Early impressed with the sentiments of our revolutionary falhers, I have ever worship ped at the shrine of republican liberty - ;he deep and unceasing aspirations of ray spirit have been "the greatest good to the greatest number." How ihen could "A Whig," for a moment Buppose that I should "represent the slaveholders of the country ?" Has the laborer no rights, no home no country? Was his arm not bare when the battle raged hottest t Was no blood shed for kim? On the 4A of Juty, when thefire of liberty burns highton the alter ; shall he not approach; shall he befar off, prostrate, with kis face in the dust'i Does the suo not shine upon hira, nor the brecze ref'resh him? Does all nature shroud her beauties f rom his gaze? Shall he not emile, and weep, and love, nnd hope, and be happy? Ia there no Deity for him in whom he Iives, moves and has his being Does not the imraortal spiiitcouchbeneath the suo burnt temples of the laboring poor, as well as within the pallid brow of the eons of wealth? Then by all that is sacred among men, I will not represent the slaveholder - but all men, for all, to me, are men. I am decply sensible of the difllculties which surround me - the weaN thy slaveholder may distrust, and the lajoring poor may not comprchend me. I may (uil, and find (Not a generous friend, a pitying foe, Strcngtb in tny arm, nor mcrcy in my foe," mt my canse shall find an abler advocate; 'liberty, union, and equality,"are inscribed upon my banner, and destiny whispers me that my hopcs shall not perish.