The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-03-16

tic slavery, the proportion Of slaves conpar |
ed with the white population ia that State,
at that time, was SO inconsiderable that a
system Of gradual emancipation might have
been safely adopted without any hazard to
the security and interests of the Common
wealth. And Istill think that the question
of such emancipation in the farming States
is one whose solution depends upon the reIa-
tive numbers Of the two races in any gwen
State. If had been citizen of the State
of Pennsylvania, when Franklin's plan was
adopted, | should have voted for it; because
by no possibility could the black race ever
acquire the ascendancy in that State. But
IT had beenthen, or were now, a citizen OF
any of the planting States-the Southern or
Southwestern States-I should have oppos
ed, and would continue to oppose, any
scheme whatever of emancipation, gradual
or immediate, because of the danger of an
ultimate ascendancy Of the black race, or of
civil contest which might terminate in the
extinction of one race or the other.
The proposition in Kentucky for gradu-
al emancipation did not prevail, but it was
sustained by gradual and respectable mi
nority. That minority had increased, and
was increasing, until the abolitionists com
menced their opera inns The effect has
been to dissipate all prospects whatever, for
the present, of any scheme Of gradual or
other emancipation. The people Of that
State have become shocked and alarmed by
! these abolition movements, and the number
who would now favor a system even of gra-
dual emancipation is probably less than it
was in the years 1859. At the session
Of the Legislature held in 1917 is, the
question of calling a convention was sub
mitted to the consideration of the people by
law passed in conformity with the consti-
tuition of the State. Many motives existed
for the passage of the law, and among them
that of emancipation had its influence -
When. The question was passed upon by the
people at their last annual election, only a.
bout one-fourth of the whole voters Of the
State supported call of cow antion.-
The apprehension of the danger of aboli-
ton was the leading consideration amongst
the people for opposing the call. But for
that, but for the agitation of the question of
abolition in States whose population had no
right, in the opinion Of the people Of Ken
lucky, to interfere in tho matter, the vote for
convention would have been much larger,
II 1t had not been carried. / felt myself
constrained to take immediate, bold, and de-
cided ground against it.
Prior to the agitation of this subject of
abolition, there was progressive meliora-
ton in the condition of slaves throughout all
the slave States. Ia some of them, schools
of instruction were opened by humane and
religious persons. These are all now check
ed; and spirit of insubordination having
shewn itself in some localities, traceable,
it is believed, to abolition movements and
exertions, the legislative authority has found
it expedicnt to infuse irish vigor into the po-
lice, and laws which regulate the conduct
of the slaves.
And now, Mr.. President, if it were posi-
BILE to overcome the insurmountable obs,.-
cles which lie in the way of immediate alb
clifton, let US briefly contemplate some Of
the consequences which would Inevitably
ensue. One of these has been occasionally
alluded to in the progress of these remarks.
II is the struggle which would instantane-
ously arise between the two races in most
of the Southern and Southwestern States
And what dreadful struggle would it not
be! Embittered by all the recollections of
the past, by the uncomfortable preiudices
which would prevail between the two races,
and stimulated by all the hopes and fears of
the future, it would be contest in which
the determination of the blacks, or their as
cendancy over the whites, would be the sole
alternative. Prior to the conclusion, or du-
ring the progress of such a contest, vast
numbers, probably, of the black race would
migrate into the free States; and what effect
would such migration have upon the labor
ing classes in those States!
Now the distribution of labor in the u. S.
geographical; the free laborers occupying
one side OF the line, and the slave laborers
the other; each class pursuing his own avo-
cations almost altogether unmixed with the
other. But on the supposition of immediate
abolition, the black class, migrating into the
Tree States, would enter into competition
with the white class, diminishing the wages
OF their labor, and augmenting the hard
ships of their condition.
This is not all. The Abolitionists SIREN
uousIy oppose all separation of the two ra-
ces. | confess to you sir, that have seen
with regret. grief, and establishment, their
resoute opposition to the project of coloni-
zatlon. No scheme was ever presented 10
the acceptance of man, which, whether it
be entirely practicable or not, is characteri-
zed by more unmixed humanity and bene-
violence than that of transporting, with their
own consent, the free people of color in the
| United States to the land of their ancestors.
1t has the powerful Recommendation that
l hot =.