The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-04
"a Groa. tc,iI--A syroax.,

Such is Slavery, as described by HENRY CLAY,
in his Lexington speech.
Not a great evil TO masters Only-not a wrong
to the slave alone-but great evil and wrong
TO white and black-and a curse, unmitigated,
almost, to the former, OF wrong, immessursble,
TO the latter.
What is to be done with this "great evil, this
wrongl" Says Mr.. CLAY
1t may be argued that, in admitting the injus-
tice Of slavery, admit the necessity Of an in
stsianeOus rePsratiOn Of that injustice. Unfor-
tunstely, however, il is not always safe, practi-
cable, or possible, in the great movements Of
States and public affairs Of nations, 10 remedy
or repair the infection of previous injustice.
So be it But suppose we have the power,
suppose it "ssfe, practicable or possible" for
Kentucky and Virginia to emanciPate-1hdt
then7 Why, in that case they are bOund-Hen-
~ Clay by his own rule and reasoning, would
declare them religiously called upon-to make
instantaneous PREPARATION for the injustice" of
Slavery.
Isl in our power "sgfely" to do thisl
Who dOubtsl Not man in the mid-sIaue
States would cream Of denying either the safety
orPracticsbility Of emancipation in them. Not
aStatesman who will hesitate about admitting
that freedom would bring to them larger haPPi-
ness, surer wealth, wider power
But Mr.. Clay proposes test by which we
may Judge chen emancipation is safe. prac tea
bic, or possible. What is it, II is unsafe, ac-
eording to him, to take this step, (mOre on this
point hereafter) skeA the blacks outnumber
The whites. Thisis not the case in any ~s chs
mid-slave States. II j. NOT 80. as We all know,
In Kentucky. The whites here, and in the
other mid-slave States, not only more nu-
merous than TIE blacks, but the blacks are so
scattered, ana 50 situated, that they could not,
in any possible contingency, do them serious
harm
M Cars language, on this point, is as fol-
lows:
In States where the slaves outnumber the
whites, a. is the case with several, the blacks
could not be emancipated and invested with all
the rights Of freemen without becoming the
governing race in those States.
Waving the enquiry, whether il would be
possible, even in the case supposed, for the
blacks 10 become the governing class, and APP
plying The rule as laid dOrn BY M. Clay, Ken
lucky is boaBd---the mid-slaye States are
bound-to make instantaneous reparation Of
the wrOng-;O remedy the injustice OfsIavsry' IS
There l. no escape from this conclusion, if his
own reasoning be followed out II the Chero-
KEGS could have justice done, without causing
greater evil, then their lands sho uld be restored
TO them Il is only because this &c. Of jEstie,
would cs5se greater evil, that Mr.. Clay
hssitAies IN making ''instantansOus" rePara-
fisa Cor as foul and fendish an inhamsnity as
man ever prsctised upon man.
Bat Mr.. CLAY does not leave his test to vague
generzlities. He specifies. Let that specihca-
ton be made in his own words
In the State Of Kentucky, near fifty years
ago, thought the proportion of slaves, in com
psrison with the whites, was so inconsiderable
that we might safely adopt a system Of gradual
emancipation that would ultimately eradicate
this evil in our State.
Near Fifty years ago, (ssy in go he thought
the proportion ofsIsves, in comparison with the
whites, was % inconsiderable, that emancips-
ton was both safe and practicable. This word
Uncomfortable, Is strong word. And the
language in connection with il, strengthens It's
force. AHS gives point to its meaning. Mr.. Clay
thought the proportion Of blacks 10 whites in
1900 mot only then, uncomfortable, but $50
incOnsidsrable, that Kentucky might have
emaseibsted without danger or difficulty. These
questions. therefore, arise
What was this population in 1907
What has il been since, and what is ii nowl
The following table viii answer both, and
enable rs 10 determine, al a glance, what are
Mr. Cisyss views as 10 emancipation -