The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-10-10
BRANDON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER TO- 1914.

nave zone more tney nave Increased III
rigors oilegislation against slaves in mos
i if not all of the slave States. Fort,
years ago the question was agitated in tn
state of Kentucky of gradual eman
cipation of the slaves within It's limits. b.
gradual emancipation, | mean that SLOW
but safe and cautious Liberation of slaves
which was first adopted in Pennsylvania
at the instance of DR. Franklin, in the
year 1880, and according to which, the
generation in being were 10 remain in
slavery, but all their offspring born at a
specified day, were to be free at the age
of twenty-eight, and in the meantime
were TO receive preparatory instruction
to qualify them 10 enjoy freedom. Tha,
was the species OF emancipation which,
at the epoch to which allude, was dis
cussed in kentucky No one was rash
enough 10 propose or think of immediate
abolition. No one was rash enough to
think OF throwing loose upon the commu-
nifty, ignorant and unprepared, the untu-
tored slaves of the State. Many thought,
and | among them, that as each of the
slave Stntesa had right exclusively to
judge for itself in respect TO the institution
OF domestic slavery, the proportion of
slaves compared with the white popula-
ton in that State, at the time, was so in.
considerable, that system of gradual
emancipation might have been safely
adopted without any hazard to the secu-
rity and interests of the commonwealth,
And still think that the question of such
emancipation in the farming States, is one
whose solution depends upon the relative
numbers OF the two races in any given
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 acquire the ascendancy in that
Safe. But ii | had been then, o: were
now, citizen any of the planting
States--l should have opposed, and would
continue to oppose, any scheme whatever
of manclpatloo, graGual or immediate,
because of !he danger of an Ultimate as
cendancy of the black race, or of a civil
contest which might terminate in the ex-
tinction OF one race or the other.
The proposition in Kentucky for
gradual emancipation did not prevail, but
1t was sustained by large and respecta,
bic minority. That minority had increas-
ed and was increasing until the aboIi-
ioniss commenced their operations.
The effect has been to dssipate all pros,
poets, whatever. for the present, of any
schemc Of gradual or other emancipation.
The people OF that State have been
shocked and alarmed by these abolition
movements, and the number who would
now favor system, even of gradual
emanc patton, is probably less than it was
in the years 1889, At the session OF
the legislature held in 1878, the ques,
ton OF calling Convention was submit
ted to the consideration OF the people, by
law passed in conformity 10 the Consll-
tuition of the State. Many motives exist,
ed for the passage of the law, and among
them that of emancipation had its infu-
ence. When the question was passed
upon by the people at their last annual
election, only about one-fourth of the
whole voters of the State supported a call
of a Convention. The apprehension of
the danger of abolition was the leading
consideration among the people for oppo>
sing the call. But for lhat-but for the
agitation of the question of abolition in
States whose population had no right, in
the opinion of the people Of Kentuckyto
Interfere in the matter, the vote for a
Convention would have been much larg-
er, lift had not been carried. felt my
self constrained to take immediate, bold
and decided ground against it.
Prior to the agitation of this subject OF
abolition, there was progressive mellor-
alton in the condition Of slaves through>
out all the slave States. In some of them
schools of instruction were opened by
humane and religious persons. These
are all now checked and a spirit oflnsub-
ordination having shown Itself in some
localities, traceaoIe, it is believed, 10 alb
clifton movements and exertions, the leg
isIative authority has found it expedient to
infuse fresh vigor into the police, and laws
which regulate the conduct of the slaves.
And Now, Mr. President, if it were
possible 10 overcome the insurmountable
obstacles which lie in the way OF imme-
diae abolition, let US briefly contemplate
some of the consequences which would
inevitably ensue. One of these has been
occasiohly alluded to in the progress Of
these remarks. 1t is the struggle which
would instantaneously arise between tie
two races in most of the southern and
southwestern States. And what dread
feI struggle would it not be ! Embittered
by all the recollecions of the past, by
the unconquera5le prejudices which
would prevail between two races, and
stimulated by all the hopes and fears Of
the future, it would be contest in which
the exlirminaion of the bIacks,or their
ascendency over the whites, would be the
coIn ,lt.YnuiiXA Drior In Tho oon,l,,