Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-10-23

touching slavery. We have thus far Tor. /
larnn = police llls r1isEapraraate' q
which they have given rise trusting % the
Good sense and discrimination Of the pub
r.. Int our forbearance IS exhausted, and
Va v II at once and forever put tliS1lstter
right.
Forty years ago, the question e The
dual emancipation Of slaves in kehtucs
K was a9itafsd, Cd the ocbasion1of fog
IN a now Constfution Tor the state.
kentucky had comparatively few slaves,
Il was question not of Federal power
exerted on the institution Of slavery: but
.sI hi. ionel state p01EaF, plled 60
slavery, within the undisputed limits, and
under the exclusive and acknowledged
sovereignty of the State. Penn. had
adopted and other SlaIes had adOpteds tie
system of gradual emancipation, by
which all slaves born after certain day,
mere to be free at the ageof %. and, in
the mean time, were en- be prepared BY
suitable education, for the practical enjoy.
ment Of freedom. This was a totally diff
ferent thing from modern abolition, accord
ing to which all slaves without preparation
without capaeity, therefore, for the exer.
else of the rights Of freemen, and without
compensation to then. owners, are TO be
forthwith liberaicd and thrown upon the
mass of the community.
Mr.. Clay believing that Ia Kentucky
with her then SIN II proportion, of slaves q
grdduaf emancipation might be safely
adopted, and ardent as he ever has been
and stIll IS IN the cause Of human liberty
espoused the cause of gradual emaneipa.
ton. But we are not mistaken in oul
knowledge of his character when we as
seIt, that, even at that day Of youthful ar
-dor, he would have been utterly opposed
to abolition, as insisted upon at this day
Slavery and freedom are scarcely NOR
distinct than abolition and gradual eman
cipation. The aboIitoniSts are seeking
ITO disturb the peaceful condition of othe
communities than those in which they re
side. Their operations are directed K
the States In the South and West in whicl
{ they do not reside. MIR. Clay's opinion
in 1913 was confined to his own state
/ He dIdn seek TO agitate other states o
to obtrude MS opinions upon them. Tl'
was willing, that each state, in whici
/ slavery existed, should Judge and act 70
ITSELF He sought only to improve The
condition ofhis own. Indeed we believe
J. thateven as to gradual emancipation, hi:
opinion was subject to modification and
I. condition. When the proportion ofstaVes
was so small in any state as in Kentucky
that there was no danger, in any event
of the Afr can race acquiring the asben.
i dency, he would probably ifa citizen Of
that state have been ia favor Of gradua
emancipation: but, if there were any
ground to apprehend that the blacks fir II
! their numb r, might in any state becom'
# uppermost, we have no doubt from his de
7elaration in the Senate of the Unite
States, that he would in such State, hav
been opposed alike to gradual emaneiPa
J. ton and to abolition.
: What then is the offence committe
by Mr.. Clay forty years ago, which tn
J partizans Of Martin Van Buren, tina hi
= v. B. who sustained the right Of negroG
? to vote in his own state, and opposed th
admission of Missouri into the Union
because of her slaves) arc now dwelin
on with so much exultation4 Not that h
was in favor Of abolition. That he neVe
: countenanced. Hut that IN his oaea stat
% on the occasion ofreforming, her oTn cor
!. siiiuEion, he was in favor Of slow caution
and considerate emancipation of slaves
nj And has not every state a right to decid
/. this question foritSeltf-What State RICH
|. man, or other politician, will dare questio
= this sta es-righti ~ !
!. This charge of forty years stanslipg
y now brought forward for the first tim
: against Mr.. Clay. When did he eek
!. invoke tn interference ofCongress on th
: subject of slaVery?-When did he not o.
- pose all such interferencel Did lie q
the occasion of the admission of MiSsou
"a that memorable occasion when he wa
] announced BY Col. Benton as the pacifics
= tor often millions Of peOple-show an
want of resolution. in defending the right
= ofthe slave States? Did he at the last ses
sion f.the Senate, when he offered a resc
: luton (the first time such a resolution wa
ever offered) declared that congress ha
! no right to stop what is called the slay
trade between the States: and another dc
] clared that the filth IF the Union wa
pledged, by fir implication, against an
interference with slavery 10 the district {
/ Columbia?