The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-10-28

To she Daschms Bcs and Wsrkhne men sf ths /,
ssase 81 Kessseky. |,
In this year OF our Lord, eighteen hundred and
forty-eight, l07 900 Of the freemen OF Kentucky
have voted that there shall be a change IN the
organic law Of the State. 1t is believed that
this is more nearly a unanimous vote, than any
that has ever been given in the State upon a
question of public pohcy-and that this vote Is
proof positive that the people were deeply and
profoundly convinced of the necessity OF some
organic changes in the Constitution Of the State.
Doubtless, many voted for a Convention, for
different reasons and different obiects-but that |
a very large proportion Of the affirmative votes !
were cast with view OF efiecting change IN |
the future relations Of master and slave there |
can be no doubt.
II is true that some politicians stated in their
public addresses that they had no intention OF
agitating the Emancipation question, but politi-
clans are not the people-nor had the people au-
thorised the politicians to speak for them on this
subject.
The present Constitution prescribes the mode
of its own change-all the forms thus prescribed
have been gone through with, except the cleo
ton of delegates to form a new one. Soon
these delegates are 10 be chosen-and in chos-
ing them, every citizen is considered as a sOye-
reign-competent to decide for himself what
changes are necessary in the fundamental law,
under which he is hereafter TO live.
To doubt that the changes ultimately deter
mined on, will be in accordance with an enhght-
ened public opinion, and such as viii best pro-
mote the future interests and well-being Of the
State, is 10 libel our own character, and to re-
Acct severely on the tendencies Of free insttG-
tons.
The citizens of Kentucky, Of all classes, EhO
work at fired RACES, being, as is supposed, large
majority Of the legal voters, must, when the
question of Emancipation comes up for discus
sion, have preponderating iniuencein its final
decision. II therefore becomes their interest and
duty, TO inform themselves well as TO the infu-
ence of slarery on their social, political, and in
tellectual interests. If slavery enhances the
wages Of labor, if If gives us immunity from Sc
we're toll, if it elevates social position, II II
tends to the general spread Of education, If II
elevates and improves the morals OF commu-
! nifty, then ought We, the working men OF the
State TO rally to its support, and do all IN our
: power for its perpetuation. But if, on the con-
trary, we believe that slavery has tendency 10
degrade labor and diminish its wages, and al
the same time lessen the profits Of capital, II
we further believe that il fosters ignorance, In
: cresses crime, lowers the standard Of public
morals, prevents the deyelopement of inoividu'
= al industry and retards the natural accumulation
: of national wealth, then, if we be true 10 our
selves and TO our children, andtrue to our below
' cd State will we use all lawful means so Il
amend the constitution of the State as provid,
e for the utter extirpation Of slavery, IN such 4
e way as shall be consistent with private night anC
public justice.
During the coming year the people Of Ken
: lucky have great practical problem 10 solve
: we may say, one of the greatest, if not the great
/ est, that has been presented to free people 70
j. solution dunng this nineteenth century of OuIs
l. II is this. Whether in Republic, slavery cal
e be peaceably abolished by the voluntary act o
u the people, after ii has become engafted on tn
a fundamental law, and thoroughly interviewer a
. the social fabncl No parallel case is furnished
by either ancient or modern history.
In the States of this Union where slavery Ia
10 been gradually abollshed-but small pecuniar
u interests were involved-snd il had never in
the people. Consequently, the measure {
y Emancipation met with but slight opposition.
y In the West India Colonies of England
g France, Denmark and Holland, where chatt,
slavery had acquired such ar. influence and wa
felt to be of so great Importance, to be indi'
: pensable to the very existence Of the Colonies
the question of Emancipation, generally, me
with the strongest opposition from the planter
Of the Islands, and also from the home propnt
tors most largely interested in the existing oTde
of things, and IT was finally carried, only by III
strong arm of the Home Government. But "
are in different position from the people of III
> West India Islands. Our climate. our soil, an
cur agricultural productions are of such a natur
that slavery is not necessary 10 cur individual {
:. aggregate prosperity. Our agricultural, mn
:, eral, and manufacturing interests, are be
4. ter promoted by the active energies Of fire.,
h. dom, than by the sluggish lethargy Of slavery
> and the n1naber of slaves in Kentucky Is no
"A so large to render thdt insuperable obstacl
20 to Emancipation. There is nothing in the hi
10 tory Of the past, or the prospects of the futur
indicating probability that measures for Oh
;. gradual extirpation of slavery can be belts
adopted twenty years hence than now
Perpetualism or Emancipation are the alterns
tives presented to us-for one or the other W
"a must decide, and decide NOW.
1T Need remind you fellow-mschanics of III
a language We have been using to the people
m the North these past twenty years. Has nc
Is this been the almost universal language Of on
4 public men. ave know and admit slavery
Is "be an evil. We feel il as an incubus pressin
Is SHOWN our energies and retarding our progress
N "but il is one for which the present generation
in "not personally responsible, and one whic
he concerns no one but ourselves. IL Norther
p "fanatics and abolitionists would cease the
"intermeddling ofiiciousness, some plan wouI
"soon be devised for getting rid of the evil, b,
1--WE will not be forced into measures, we inter
N "to take our own time and adopt our ow
:, plans.
to Well, we have waited our own time-u,
= !. awed and uninfiuenced by any exnaneous or q
:, ternal circumstances whatever, an overwhelu
st ing majority Of Kentucky freemen have d,