The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-06-19
introductory.

Tho holding Of a convention, always import
ant, is especially SO now, for it involves the
consideration and settlement of questions Of vast
magnitude questions which ought 10 receive,
and which will receive, doubtless, the best
thought and closest examination OF which cur
whole community are capable.
There can be, legally, NO limit 10 the discus
sion Of these questions, Ihus GuthOritatiyely and
solemrly brOsched by the highest authority,
and there will be,we are pursuaGed, NO effort,
in any quarter. to hedge IN the liberty OF the
press, or tTamel speech, while these privileges
are exercised with just regard 10 the peace If
the community, and the integrity Of the law
Even that most difficult problem of all--'mGHei-
patiOR-may be fully and fearlessly presented,
if its advocates be thus guarded for no right
IS more sacred. in Kentucky, than that inalien-
able and fundamental right, which secures to
every citizen "the liberty to know, TO utter, to
argue according to conscience"
Nor could any doubteNist, on this point, were
which, Ser the last few yesrs, have arrested
the discussion Of slavery BY the press over the
State. These are
l. The violence with which the subject of
slavery has been sgitated out of the slave States.
There has been no form Of exaggerated speech
no language in which wrath could be clothed
which has not been used against those who live
amid slavery The characteristics OF too May
even Of the professed advocates of freedom lv-
ing Ca away from The evil which they dread,
have been, vehemence, and excess. They have
made no allowance for the education and feel
Tags Of q slayehOlding community. The great
question Of emancipation, therefore, which
should always be presented without passion, and
urged in spirit of love, and generous good will,
mas been involved in a storm Of fierce conflict.
and people have been 50 bewildered by excite
ment, or fired by passion, as not to see or know
the truth. or al least, AO,o to utter it. Society,
sRquestiOnably,Yhen s,agnaht, needsIa whnl-
wind bias, to purify it, and to save. <f3ut where
there as virtue and inteIigen enough to.
hear and consider tIutii, t..r-'rsae anger of the
storm without. will only enkindle a ruder anger
within. Violence, invariably. begets violence,
and al that the best OF Us can do, at such times,
Is, % watch the excitement as it wears away -
and then, to labor and TO wait
. The ultraism with which slavery has been
apheld IN the slave States.
The erpetua.ists-especially those led by
the able men Of the Carolina schOos---hsve he,n
ever in extreme. They have demanded of all
persons and parties unqualified obedience TO
their dogmas HESN CLAY, because he refused
assent TO these, was denounced by them as an
abolitionist for the same reason SII-,s WRIGET
IS a. much execrated now as JAMES G.. BIRNEY.
Their object has been and IS 10 deepen the pro-
slavery excitement, so that they may band all
the slave States in one political union5and thus
win power and secure it anl, for this end, they
appeal constantly and ably TO the pride, passion,
sectional prejudice, avarce. and fears Of these
Slave States. Notification, the denial Of the
right Ct petition, the bitter aud steadfast OPPOSE
ton 10 free labor, the manner IA which Texas
Eas annexed, last, though not least, Mr.. Cal
nouns " fre-brand' resolutions, as Senator
Rsntoa designa,es them--all these things show
this 10 be their aim, and they show, in addition,
that II Is their purpose, by this action, TO vex
and fret the North, 10 drive the people there to
excsss, 10 madden them and make them ultra
on one side as these perPelualists are on the
other. How indeed could they gain ascendency
in the South, were IT not for the creation and
extension OF fanaiicism at the North The
stOmier it becomes, the brighter and surer their
extend sbOlitionism by their excess, as has been
done by any instrumentality. As TO their main
object, the union Of the South upon pro-slayery
grouncs, the perpetualists have failed but, ow-
ing TO the close division Of parties, and the diff
feUlty which exists under these circumstance
of speaking the truth on a vexed question, thew
have not failed in making public opinion more
stringent, and arresting by the press the free
discussion Of emancipation, and subjects con.
nectsd herewith, throughout the slave States
Notwithstandingthe operation Of thesecauses,
however, distinguished Southern men have not
hesitated To utter plainly their sentiments
WILLIAM CASTOR, Of North Carolina, little
while before his pure spirit passed away, Trgec
the young men Of that State, in public address,
70 make ths sab,sct Of slassTy their study. and
to see IL they could not, in their day, do some
thing to eradicate /" the great - of society.
Senator UNDERWooD and other able kentuck-
iAns, in years gone BY, have spoken with per-
suasive elOquencein like tone and only few |
months since. Judge Bullock, Of this city, with |
signal ability, proved that the institution must
die out from natural causes, and that it is the |
part Of a wise forecast to prepare for such re-
suit. Nor should any citizen hesitate TO speak |
out his mind as freely. 1t is hard. indeed. to |
conceive that offence could be given by the e1-
srcise Of common liberty, and, especially, il, |
like the individuals named, all who use it, !
act upon these admitted principles:
1. That this Stats alone has exclusive juris-
dictiOn over the whole subject within its terri
tory.
Slavery is a domestic institution. Neither
the National Government, nor any sister STATE
has the right legally, to touch it, IL Is Tor
Kentucky, and Kentucky alone, to say "heh
and how her bond shall be set Free or whether
they shal be set free at all
2. That the Free alone shall be addressed
This position needs only TO be stated, to be
aasafscd everywhere. That being is a demon,
and + for the blacklist infamy, who would seek,
IN any manner, TO arm man against master No
more head-like coRduct can be imagined- IT
r a. .
as Il would be sure TO meet die indignant pun