The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-02-26

shall not be emancipaied without their con-
sent. Our present Constitution forbids il,
and most sincerely hope, that in remod-
cling that instrument, no attempt will be
made TO annul that salutary provision.
am, however, in favor OF extending to all
owners, the permission to manlmit their
slaves, on the condition that they be remov-
ed from this Commonwealth, unless some
peculiarly in their circumstances, makes it
indispensable in the exercise Of humanity,
that they should moi be expatrated. In
such case the emancpator should be Ie-
quired TO make such ample provision for
their support, as effectualIy to prevent their
becoming charge upon, or nuisance, TO
the community
believe il would rebound TO the best and
highest interests Of the Commonwealth, that
our organic law should provide that all
slaves born in this State, after specified
period, should be free, the males at the age
Of eighteen, and females at the age OF fifteen
years. As to what that specific period shall
be, am not very solicitous, so that it be
not so remote as to nullify the great OBJ
ect--that of freeing or State in conven-
lent and reasonable time from the curse OF
slavery. To this plan, | can see no rea.
sonable objection. Ii would not operate
iniuriously to any one. A hel pless infant
would not be thrown naked on the cold
charity Of the world, merely because it hap
pened unfortunately to be born free, and the
master would retain their services about long
enough, taking male and female together, to
compensate him for the trouble ard expense
of raising IL would not do to procrastinate
the freedom Of females much, If any beyond
the age Of fifteen, for reason not necessary
to be mentioned.
incorporate also, such other provision, in
the Constitution, az would efieciually pre-
vent any increase Of slaves, by future emf
grafton, unless they are acquired by bona
fde citizens of this Commonwealth, by mar
rage, descent, or devise. By ENGRAVING
these few principles into our Constitution,
the dark spots which now dishgure our land,
will gradually and silently disappear, and
our children and their descendants will be
the occupants of the hapPiest portion OF
the globe.
You have thus, gentlemen, though crude
ly and hastily written, my views Of eman-
cipalion. do not know that they accord
with yours. Perhaps they do not. But as
you have asked for mine, you now have
them.
Accompanying your united letter, was
one from the gentleman, who forwarded it,
under date of tie 18th inst, in which he en-
quires, ''if emancipation cannot De effected,
does not humanity and morality require
the legality of slave marriages, and a law
to prohibit the separation Of slave families.
answer; humanity does, in my opinion.
require that families be not separated, I'm.
less, under circumstances of necessity, and
perceive no sound objection to law, pro.
hibiing the separate sale Of husband and
wife, when they are slaves OF the same
owner. When one must be sold, let the
other go also. Such a provision could not
br effected without some form or requsitior
of marriage, very different from the mere
concubinage. which now generally, though
not universally, constitutes, among slaves,
the relation Of husband and wife.
Very respectfully, your ob't. sev't,
ASHER w. GRAHAM.