The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-07-17
Noa -hla veAOlAers

Noa -ala seAolAess
II is difficult 10 ascertain the exact number Of
non-siaveholders in Kentucky.
The whole population of the State, in lolo
vas ss9, go Of these, lsc2 ,25- We're slaves
The free populstion--is, then, So ,5ac. Sup
posing Isl, 600 OF these land this We suppose &c
be fair, is not a very large allowance TO be in
teres,ed in Slavery, and We have left AZ 81
who hold no slaves.
There is Vet another, and safer test. The
Presidential election in S4i was the hottest We
have had these many years. Wspolled then, say
enc hundred and twenty-five thousand votes
These votes represent, what may he called, the
se,iu, population Of Kentucky. Suppose We
ct down twenty-five thousand OF them, again q
fair, if not very large allowance, as slave mold
srs. We have, them, one hundred thousand
voters in Kentucky who have no slaves
Let US ask, with these general facts before Us:
l. Who are these non Shareholders
2. What IS their interest
3. How can they best advance their interest
We would say, before answering these questions,
that We are obliged on these and kindred sub
,ects 10 speak generally. Wecannot stop To notice
exe<z:ions We know that there among our
mechanics many day laborers, who escape,
amid slavery, sill its ills, there Shareholders
who rise above the influence Of class, and the
Institution itself. But for one who of the form
er vino escapes these Ills hundreds fall suffer,
and for one of the latter who does his duty, hun
H. l.,f
arc" so again as to public opinion. as TO Louis
vile il NAV be all right, or nearly 50. Her voice
- for labor, and for every encouragement TO la
Dor. We, the whole effect of Slavery may be IA
tally injurious over the State, so injurious to
produce sad results here. Ali that We can do is
10 notice these general results the exceptions
Che intelligent reader will make for himself We
proceed.
l. Who are these non-slaveholders.
They are laborers They work for thelrdaily
bread ST. Paul said. :. this we commanded
you,-that II any man would not work, neither
should he eat.r This law they recognize and
obey. Some Of them are, doubtless, idiers !:
MANY Of them, from causes they do not control,
waste their energy, and squander their means.
But, generally, they labor labor hard look
70 labor their only means of support are de-
pendent upon it wholly for what they are, and
what they hope 10 be and to get This is the
condition, Of four hundred and forty-seven thou
sand. five hundred and twenty eight persons.
out Of Eve hundred and ninety-sesen thousand,
Eve hundred and twenty-eght, Of our whole
free population, or Of one hundred thousand, on!
Of one hundred and twenty-five thousand. Of the
sctire men of Kentucky.
g What Is their interest
There cannot be a doubt here. Make any
altrs, and We shall have but one answer to this
question. II is to remove slavery. That fet-
ters them. Thet cramps their energy and
erushes their hopes. That makes labor disrsp-
stst.s, and, in this one curse, involves home,
and ell tina, IL dear TO them. No matter what
their lot is, whether artisan day laborer. or hod
carriers. they knou. ~~~ii or
IT'S Liberty alone that gives the flower
OF feeting life, its lustre and perfume,
And We are weeds without il.
They never can he, as a class, what they
should be, without Il. Yet, we may well at
tempt 10 put bar between the wavee of the
go, and sever their fellowship, as endeavor 10
remove the ignominy which follows labor amid
servitude. Slavery il the doom Of the free
worker, and darkens all his hopes. II is liv-
,ng scowl upon labor. Nor can laboring men
free themselves from il, or lift themselves above
81, or be whnt The heart covets, without freedom.
There is no interest, then. religious. social,
al, or pecuniary, which does not appeal TO
non-slaveholders against slavery, which does
not urge them TO oppose il in every legal form,
which Is not earnest, eloquent hesrt-searching
In il appeal to them in behalf Of freedom
,. How shall they answer this appeal How
sdvance their interest
There is a plain general answer to mi. ques-
s.on.
Let them be true to themselves and 10 duty.
LIST THY mast Learn TO speak out; hey do
not do this. Perhaps they cannot. Certain Il
= that neither politician, nor planter regard
their opposition to Slavery, as of serious mo-
msnt Suppose any exhorbitant exaction were
made upon the growth of tobacco, or in the
cultivation of hemp, think you, we should hear
nothing of it, Think you the press would be
s0sat. the politicians quiet, The Legalatare
aumb: Why, the whole State would ring out
ID stsrdy voice Of defiance against this tyranny.