[401] _Minutes W. Lexington Presbytery_, Vol. 1, p. 38. [402] _Ibid._, p. 81. [403] _Minutes of Kentucky Synod_, Vol. 5, pp. 28, 31. [404] _Minutes of Kentucky Synod_, Vol. 5, pp. 50-52. [405] _Address to Presbyterians of Kentucky_, pp. 33-34. [406] _Ibid._, p. 34. [407] Davidson, _History of the Presbyterian Church in Kentucky_, p. 340. [408] _Op. cit._, p. 340. [409] Blanchard and Rice, _Debate on Slavery_, p. 88. [410] Spencer, _History of the Baptists in Kentucky_, Vol. 1, p. 186. [411] _Niles' Register_, May 24, 1845. [412] _Ibid._, June 28, 1845. [413] _Ibid._, June 8, 1844. [414] _Ibid._, May 17, 24, 31, 1845. [415] _Niles' Register_, September 27, 1845. [416] Collins, _History of Kentucky_, Vol. 1, p. 81. [417] _Ibid._, Vol. 1, p. 83. [418] Schurz, Carl, _Henry Clay_, Vol. 1, p. 31. [419] Colton, _Works of Clay_, Vol. 6, p. 153. [420] His attitude was perhaps best shown when, on a visit to Richmond, Indiana, in the fall of 1846, he was presented with a petition by a Quaker by the name of Mendenhall asking him to liberate all the slaves he owned. Clay made a rather lengthy speech to the gentleman on the general principles of the question and then, came down to the practical side of the problem: "Without any knowledge of the relation in which I stand to my slaves, or their individual condition, you, Mr. Mendenhall, and your associates, who have been active in getting up this petition, call upon me forthwith to liberate the whole of them. Now let me tell you, that some half a dozen of them, from age, decrepitude, or infirmity, are wholly unable to gain a livelihood for themselves, and are a heavy charge upon me. Do you think that I should conform to the dictates of humanity by ridding myself of that charge, and sending them forth into the world with the boon of liberty, to end a wretched existence in starvation? Another class is composed of helpless infants, with or without improvident mothers. Do you believe as a Christian, that I should perform my duty toward them by abandoning them to their fate? Then there is another class who would not accept their freedom if I would give it to them. I have for many years owned a slave that I wished would leave me, but he would not. What shall I do with that class?" "What my treatment of my slaves is you can learn from Charles, who accompanies me on this journey, and who has traveled with me over the greater part of the United States, and in both the Canadas, and has had a thousand opportunities, if he had chosen to embrace them, to leave me. Excuse me, Mr. Mendenhall, for saying that my slaves are as well fed and clad, look as sleek and hearty, and are quite as civil and respectful in their demeanor, and as little disposed to wound the feelings of any one, as you are." * * * * *