The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-05-27
Prospects brighten -tan.es operating sa the
pastfc ssiud-vsrsen- Io.- Of population
Decline Of towns Deg radaiioa Of labor
snf.enee Of slavery the younx, sc.

-
psstsc saisa-sarsen- Io.- Of population
Decline Of towns Deg radaiioa Of labor
snhsenee OF slavery On the yeuns, As.
To the Ediior Of the EIaaiRsr.
DEAR SR--l have just reached home from !
somewhat extensive tour through kentue KY
and at every step OF my pilgrimage was cheer
sd by unmistakable evidences Of progress In the
great work Of Emsnc patton. Gentlemen who
heretofore have regarded the system Of slavery
as permanent fixture in cur social condition,
aud justified IL on the ground Of sound policy,
As well as exPediency, now say Il Is AN incubus
which us eaa aad iriH fAT0p of. And while
they have aliinities for any ultraisIn, they
are resolved TO grapple the evil and stay H. We
devouty thank G,1d and take courage The
causes which are Ia operation tending TO this
desirable result are various--but however zpI,a-
rently remote, they arc eonVergent lines, meet
ing and concentrating their united force on the
single question Of Emancipation. Some ars
moved by the constant drain upon the popBa-
tion-the great numbers who every year hy
from the baruing breath Of slavery TO the free
States--while there 10 no influx from abroad 10
compensate for the loss Many Of the inleri-
or counties have ,ieterorated, and pew have
fever inhabitants than formerly. Go into Bsur-
bon, Fayelte, Scott, Clarke, w oodford, Shrlb,
and other counties, and you will find many
men with large farms composed Of what was
once several small ones Of from 100 10 900 acres
Ten of these small farms are often united 10
make one, and nine small independent farmers
leave the State that one man may have room TO
dwell. From this results Il multitude of evils,
so self-eyideni, that these extensive lsndhold-
err. many Of them, SEQ and deplOre them;
aud are determined 10 do what they can 10
change the policy. As the country is drained
Of its inhabitants, the towns sympathize with IL,
and decline in business and population, unless
possessed Of some natural or accidental advan-
tagesr HarrodsbarI,, Danviile, Georgetown and
some others have these advantages, aud improve
while Paris, Winchester, Mr.. Sterling aud 9TH
srs similarly situated, either stand still or te-
cline. Let Us take Shelbyville, which has
College and two female seniinares, Of loag
standing and high reputation, both az home aud
abroad--it is situated in the heart of a country
equal 10 any other for the beauty of its land
scopes and the fertility Of its soil-yet, with ali
these advantages, her business has declined i'm
mepseiy within the last twenty years. Two
particulars will prove it-twenIy years ago
there were some twenty or twenty-five jour
neymen tailors, and as many shOeTaakers who
found cOnstantand profitable employment there;
now there are but two or three Of each
know IL Is said that other causes have contrib
uted TO this result, and willing to ALLOW it,
but even they connect 80 directly with slassrg
that the attentive observer is convinced that il
Is the great overshadowing curse. Hence men
concerned for the prosperity Of our towns and
villages, are anxious 10 lay 'sasds This soeigAt"
But the great thing which all feel, Is the dtg-
radiation OF labor Many affect independence
and affirm that they are not ashamed 10 toll, but
when pressed viii tie compelled 10 admit shat
some things are too degrading for them. A Lady
remarked TO me once, that though surrounded
IoH 81. haI
ence enough to do her oven work, &c. could
you," ] asked, sever take your bucket and 90
out ON the streets of L------n for waterl' She
hesitated moment and answered, "No, never
could do thatr' "Why not" SAID /, "yOu say
slavery has no influence over you" "Sir," Std
she, al hare been HsisiakeH. IL has, bat kHeW II
not She was a high-lninded woman, who
thought and acted for HERSELF but there Others
who unable 10 resist the influences about them
suffer double degradation, in being compelled
to Labor, and then resouing 10 some trick TO
conceal il. once knew family 50 wretched-
ly poor, in one Of our growing inland towns,
that they could not hire a woman 10 do their
suashing, they did il themselves gjief night and
hired woman next morning to hang 0us the
clothes 10 dry!
81 know not how the tale ma, be
Iteilit as 'twsatod TO me-"
II is an extreme case perhaps, nevertheless it
has some very near relatives.
The influence Of slavery upon the young is
penicious in the extreme. aLg0Y the sysf.N,
said an intelligent slave-holderin B0arbon eO,in-
ty, and specially Leorass of IFS influence Kp0n TIE
ehfldrea. hare a large auniber u slapes, nag
children are inisF0sei 10 sori Because Il deevodes
hen 10 the condition u Sfar,s; my convictions
Of right compel ne TO inale than seO tkeHselres
ard labor as though Ihad notkiag 10 girs thin.
This they complain o., and tina more 50, bscaatse
others do differently. This is only one side Of The
picture. What influence has the system ufon
the morals of the yeuns2 Every nan who las
eyes TO see, knows, and hence 80 many Of ,mT
young men are sent North tD BIZ educated: hen,se,
too, so many parent. IN establishing their clnl-
dren, do it IN fnse STATE White all th,se
causes are in operation, there is another and
more powerful one. The gnywing conviction
that the thing is rroFg--that i issiA. Men may
attempt TO Justify II, but every man has an
almost intlIitIye conviction that il is WRONG,
eontraryto thelaw Of nature, contrary 20 the Inv
of God, and IL Is only by system OF speclSl
pleading that any man sIrnves at the conclusion.
that 'it is The best rslsfioa that can e1ist bet,ea
capital ard labor" The SPECIAL pleas are being
given up; the truth l,ag refused, Is gaining nd
naittance 10 the hearts Of thousands, and aHit
comes, they are moved 10 do what they can TO
wipe out the guilt Of tnis deep ttansgressi,,n.
Then welcome co-w,,rkers, no difference what
motive aims you foG the honest strife-welcone
to the calm conflict between libmfy and siarery.
m CI4vos.
Under he Bridge, May 10Th, 1913, 49,
GsrJudye Jas NJ Marshall, son 81 Col. Thomas