New-York daily tribune., 1845-01-22
The Slave euestio,s in Kentucky.


1t is well known that various attempts have been
made 10 call Convention for the purpose OF amend
ing the Constitution Of Kentucky, and that these at
iempts shave uniformly iled, on accoun, the strong
jealousy OF portion the people lest the institution
OF Slavery should be disturbed. b, the following
extract Of c letter 10 the Cincinnati Gazette, dated
Frankfort, KY Jan. l3 it seeras that the project has
been once more brought before the Legislature, and
that it came near being carried.
The House, to-day, had close voting on bill TO
take the sense of the people in regard 10 calling
Convention 10 sTnGrd the Constitution Of the S:ats
A motion 10 lay The table was osI by yens iO TO
nays 43, not full house; but on the question 10
read the bill second time II was -fscted ty lie
vote, ii 10 a. This puts en end 10 the question
this session, the Constitution requiring SUCH law
10 be passed IN the first twenty days OF the session.
and the rules forbidDg the same bill 10 be introduced
again during the session aer b.ing cnce rejected.
Possibly The rejected bill might be recousidsred in
the next hve days; but II requires majority Of all
elected 10 pass il. think ii he House were fall
small majority would be found against il. There
are some provisions in cur Constitution which seri-
ously require revision. The County Courts are
virtually selicreatiog and seit:perpetuaing bodies,
very bad feature in our System. The three days
elections are erroneous grievance; ard there
other evils which produce gToanlngs. bu, ttese
evils horne rather than subject the tenure OF
slavery TO being weakened.
The advocates Of slavery are alarmed whenever a
Convention is talked Of; and they cry ont wolf!
wolf wolf al once. But plausible eydsious and
subierfuges cenno; much longer avail, and they
who deludiug themselves new, wilt be the sorest
amazed OF any, when, viii inevitably be the case
ere long, the people, urged alike by interest ard
principle, by duty and patriotism, sGal require
Convention 10 be called. Ii cGnnot he disguised ii
it rere desirable 60 20 DO, TINT the people OF ken
tucky are growing more dissatisfied with s'svsry
every day. Nothing but the Abolition agitation by
Northern fanatics has prevented the agitation C the
quesIion OF Emancipation IN Kentucky. nien OF
all opinions in regard TO the evil, OF the iancisd
blessings cf slavery. rave felt eqCCt resentment
against exterral'inisTierence 10 ;he matter. II Abe
liiion aeilators would leave Us to manage our own
affairs. and the eXBsperatDg crime o! kidnapping
slaves were stopped re!is,1usly believe The peo
pie Of Kentucky, IN five years would be prepared
10 take measures, for gradual, prospective Enanci-
patton. And they will eventually do justice 10
themselves ar any Tcte, though experience proves II
ia in the power OF families TO ohstrdct and rotard
thei5 action. 4 contention would have hIen called
ere now but for the alarms il regard 10 tao disposi
ZION OF tie slavery qcesl!or. hs siaTs-ho.diDg
and slave .p-rpetuaiinC interest. however, is caily
lcsing its relative power. The longe: lie c1ii ot
a Correction is delayed, Inc worse Tor them rPon
their own views That interest would b. stranger
in Convention ;hanii Can beat any iuiu!a day
uin opposed o;her grounds 10 t:.a immediate
cell cf Convention; buc those who wish delay Toy
fear OF prospective Emancipation, stand in their
light.
SLAVERY Iy kENTucEY.-rhe p:o)ect ct repeal
ing the law oi 1888, prohibiting the importation Of
Slaves was re ecfsd on tie lin inst BY decisive
vole. There was hide bill upauhorzins Frederic
Mana TO import Slave and i vas stated to he
pcculiar case. mir. Glenn, IF Todd, moved sub
-Uuie, authorizing any person 10 import Slaves u'
Ger certain presented restricoons nameiy 'haE lhe
Slaves weIe imported not merchaGGize, and pro-
vdinC that such Slave should no ba liable 10 execu
lion. Bu, the House was no, OF his opinion: for
bis substitute was, ell ntsEts end purposes vlr-
:llally thorough repeal Of the law Ci l63j ihe
substitute was laid on tie table by yeas 81; ray
io and n number OF bids allowing indN ldyiais u
impor! Slaves, under PccniIar circnmsances, Were
also decisvely rejected. The Senate is rmer sainst
the Repcai this yesr. than il YVES the u=r, ard tine
project ofrepeal;ng the law OF i333 may be consider
cd defeated.
MASSACHUSETTS STATE PRtsoS.-The lncpec-
tors in their Report, suy -" 'fhe doctrine which
hIs heretofore been generally dgnied, ard de-
cosuced By many So impocticsble aud visionary,
that The inmates ui q Prison can be hep; IN suhJec
lion without resort 10 corpareal puni hnen IS HoT,
uM fe,c exceptions, iaLy established by 0le sure
test OF erDefience hal stem, stately Gad SOLDIER
ike department; which is here necessary 10 The
maintenance of good government, and can never Sc
cure steady ard wiling obedience 10 i!s require
ments, though sometimes assumed, eppGehuy i'o!'i
no sher motive than display OF power. should
never be seen wi,hio the walls Gf a prison."
The Wald,n in some remarks refining 10 zee cen
diticn and discipline OF The prison, rays:
"Therc hare been Io instances oi gfoss nsU0or'
diaa!ion among Tie conyicts during the year ocea.
sionully there have been iGdIvIduui in'ractOns OF
! the rules. For these the punishment OF short sol-
tary confinement has usually been found ssiici+n
and eiftctual. The shower bath, punishmsn'
has hesn discontinued, ard all other punisimenis
have been DIMINISHED in the aggregate more than
four-fi(lhs There is now disposition emeng ihe
convicis very favorable fer their reformation. All
tfst feeling OF hostility agsiast the government re-
vengefunss, and desire TO re taialo npon socie'y
have sui,sded. Every coavict discharged has .ti'
the prison with apparently Kind feelings expressing
determination 10 DO wei, ard b4ccme honest men,
md industrious citizens. ard there is reason to
hope that they Will generally adhere 10 these goot
resolutions