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independence； and muzzle the cannon which thunders its annual
joyous return。 They must renew the slave trade； with all its
train of atrocities。 They must suppress the workings of British
philanthropy； seeking to meliorate the condition of the
unfortunate West Indian slave。 They must arrest the career of
South American deliverance from thraldom。 They must blow out the
moral lights around us and extinguish that greatest torch of all
which America presents to a benighted worldpointing the way to
their rights； their liberties； and their happiness。 And when
they have achieved all those purposes their work will be yet
incomplete。 They must penetrate the human soul； and eradicate
the light of reason and the love of liberty。 Then； and not till
then； when universal darkness and despair prevail； can you
perpetuate slavery and repress all sympathy and all humane and
benevolent efforts among free men in behalf of the unhappy
portion of our race doomed to bondage。〃
The American Colonization Society was organized in 1816。 Mr。
Clay； though not its projector； was one of its earliest members；
and he died； as for many preceding years he had been； its
president。 It was one of the most cherished objects of his
direct care and consideration； and the association of his name
with it has probably been its very greatest collateral support。
He considered it no demerit in the society that it tended to
relieve the slave…holders from the troublesome presence of the
free negroes； but this was far from being its whole merit in his
estimation。 In the same speech from which we have quoted he
says：
〃 There is a moral fitness in the idea of returning to Africa her
children； whose ancestors have been torn from her by the ruthless
hand of fraud and violence。 Transplanted in a foreign land； they
will carry back to their native soil the rich fruits of religion；
civilization； law； and liberty。 May it not be one of the great
designs of the Ruler of the universe； whose ways are often
inscrutable by short…sighted mortals； thus to transform an
original crime into a signal blessing to that most unfortunate
portion of the globe？〃
This suggestion of the possible ultimate redemption of the
African race and African continent was made twenty…five years
ago。 Every succeeding year has added strength to the hope of its
realization。 May it indeed be realized。 Pharaoh's country was
cursed with plagues； and his hosts were lost in the Red Sea； for
striving to retain a captive people who had already served them
more than four hundred years。 May like disasters never befall
us！ If； as the friends of colonization hope； the present and
coming generations of our countrymen shall by any means succeed
in freeing our land from the dangerous presence of slavery； and
at the same time in restoring a captive people to their long…lost
fatherland with bright prospects for the future； and this too so
gradually that neither races nor individuals shall have suffered
by the change； it will indeed be a glorious consummation。 And if
to such a consummation the efforts of Mr。 Clay shall have
contributed； it will be what he most ardently wished； and none of
his labors will have been more valuable to his country and his
kind。
But Henry Clay is dead。 His long and eventful life is closed。
Our country is prosperous and powerful； but could it have been
quite all it has been； and is； and is to be； without Henry Clay？
Such a man the times have demanded； and such in the providence of
God was given us。 But he is gone。 Let us strive to deserve； as
far as mortals may； the continued care of Divine Providence；
trusting that in future national emergencies He will not fail to
provide us the instruments of safety and security。
NOTE。 We are indebted for a copy of this speech to the courtesy
of Major Wm。 H。 Bailhache； formerly one of the proprietors of
the Illinois State Journal。
CHALLENGED VOTERS
OPINION ON THE ILLINOIS ELECTION LAW。
SPRINGFIELD； November 1； 1852
A leading article in the Daily Register of this morning has
induced some of our friends to request our opinion on the
election laws as applicable to challenged voters。 We have
examined the present constitution of the State； the election law
of 1849； and the unrepealed parts of the election law in the
revised code of 1845； and we are of the opinion that any person
taking the oath prescribed in the act of 1849 is entitled to vote
unless counter…proof be made satisfactory to a majority of the
judges that such oath is untrue； and that for the purpose of
obtaining such counter…proof； the proposed voter may be asked
questions in the way of cross…examination； and other independent
testimony may be received。 We base our opinion as to receiving
counter…proof upon the unrepealed Section nineteen of the
election law in the revised code。
A。 LINCOLN；
B。 S。 EDWARDS
S。 T。 LOGAN。
S。 H。 TREAT
1853
LEGAL OFFICE WORK
TO JOSHUA R。 STANFORD。
PEKIN； MAY 12； 1853
Mr。 JOSHUA R。 STANFORD。
SIR：I hope the subject…matter of this letter will appear a
sufficient apology to you for the liberty I； a total stranger；
take in addressing you。 The persons here holding two lots under
a conveyance made by you； as the attorney of Daniel M。 Baily；
now nearly twenty…two years ago； are in great danger of losing
the lots； and very much； perhaps all； is to depend on the
testimony you give as to whether you did or did not account to
Baily for the proceeds received by you on this sale of the lots。
I； therefore； as one of the counsel； beg of you to fully refresh
your recollection by any means in your power before the time you
may be called on to testify。 If persons should come about you；
and show a disposition to pump you on the subject； it may be no
more than prudent to remember that it may be possible they design
to misrepresent you and embarrass the real testimony you may
ultimately give。 It may be six months or a year before you are
called on to testify。
Respectfully；
A。 LINCOLN。
1854
TO O。 L。 DAVIS。
SPRINGFIELD； June 22； 1854。
O。 L。 DAVIS； ESQ。
DEAR SIR：You； no doubt； remember the enclosed memorandum being
handed me in your office。 I have just made the desired search；
and find that no such deed has ever been here。 Campbell； the
auditor； says that if it were here； it would be in his office；
and that he has hunted for it a dozen times； and could never find
it。 He says that one time and another； he has heard much about
the matter； that it was not a deed for Right of Way； but a deed；
outright； for Depot…groundat least； a sale for Depot…ground；
and there may never have been a deed。 He says； if there is a
deed； it is most probable General Alexander； of Paris； has it。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
NEBRASKA MEASURE
TO J。 M。 PALMER
＇Confidential