at Washington the 21st day of December, 1816[19] to agitate the subject of colonizing us in Africa.—­Now I appeal and ask every citizen of these United States and of the world, both white and black, who has any knowledge of Mr. Clay’s public labors for these States—­I want you candidly to answer the Lord, who sees the secrets of your hearts, Do you believe that Mr. Henry Clay, late Secretary of State, and now in Kentucky, is a friend to the blacks, further than his personal interest extends?  Is it not his greatest object and glory upon earth to sink us into miseries and wretchedness by making slaves of us, to work his plantation to enrich him and his family?  Does he care a pinch of snuff about Africa—­whether it remains a land of Pagans and of blood, or of Christians, so long as he gets enough of her sons and daughters to dig up gold and silver for him?  If he had no slave, and could obtain them in no other way if it were not repugnant to the laws of his country, which prohibit the importation of slaves, (which act was indeed more through apprehension than humanity) would he not try to import a few from Africa to work his farm?  Would he work in the hot sun to earn his bread if he could make an African work for nothing, particularly if he could keep him in ignorance and make him believe that God made him for nothing else but to work for him?  Is not Mr. Clay a white man, and too delicate to work in the hot sun?  Was he not made by his Creator to sit in the shade, and make the blacks work without remuneration for their services, to support him and his family?  I have been for some time taking notice of this man’s speeches and public writings, but never to my knowledge have I seen any thing in his writings which insisted on the emancipation of slavery, which has almost ruined his country.  Thus we see the depravity of men’s hearts, when in pursuit only of gain—­particularly when they oppress their fellow creatures to obtain that gain—­God suffers some to go on until they are lost for ever.  This same Mr. Clay wants to know what he has done to merit the disapprobation of the American people.  In a public speech delivered by him, he asked: 

     “Did I involve my country in an unnecessary war?”

to merit the censure of the Americans—­

     “Did I bring obloquy upon the nation, or the people whom I
     represented—­did I ever lose an opportunity to advance the
     fame, honor and prosperity of this State and the Union?”

How astonishing it is, for a man who knows so much about God and his ways, as Mr. Clay, to ask such frivolous questions.  Does he believe that a man of his talents and standing in the midst of a people, will get along unnoticed by the penetrating and all-seeing eye of God who is continually taking cognizance of the hearts of men?  Is not God against him, for advocating the murderous cause of slavery?  If God is against him, what can the Americans, together with the whole world do for him?  Can they save him from the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ?