The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-06-10

I~rSf WINS a tcW Siafcs1 upcii tiio 1nDjeSs VI
emancipation. In the couise Of conversation
l'he remarked, that she never could consent to
any scheme Of emancipation, which was based.
ON selfish calculation Of the interest of the
whites alone. 81 am attached To my servants .
she said, "and desire their happiness. Show me
how they can be made better ana happier; and !
will gladly make any change in their conditions
but make no appeals to my selfinterest, for am,
aud always shall be, deaf TO such appeals
The number of SHAREHOLDERS who entertain
similar feelings is by no means Insignificant
There are many persons in Kentucky, who have
inherited servants from revered parents, servants
iamilary known to them from life's earliest
hours, their companions in the gleesome sports Of
childhood, to whom they are strongly attached,
and in whose welfare they feel sincere inter
est. With persons of this class, arguments
drawn from the pecuniary advantages of free
dom have not feathers weight You may
place before them formidable array Of statls-
ties, and demonstrate by proof, clear as the light
OF day, that slave labor is wasteful and expen-
sive, and your words will pass them by as the
idle wind They care not whit for the politi-
cal or economical aspect of the question, and
from those who ooldly calculated the advantages
of freedom to tho white population, irrespective
Of its influence upon the veal OF woe of the col
ored population, they tun away with loathing.
To this class of our fellOw-citzens we desire
10 address few wouds.
And, in the first place, permit us to say that
ma rasy,ond ~ tour faal;n0v We have M svm.
pathy with those who make the great question
of emancipation merely question of dollars
and cents. We shrink from that sordid selfish
ness, which. would retain men in bondage be.
cause money can thereby be made; we shnnk
also from that equally sordid selfshness, which
would drive the slaves away because by their e1-
pulsion money may be made. We cannot sym
pathize with ths advocates of emancipation,
who say, ''dnvs the blacks off; we care not
what becomes Of them, provided, only our State
is freed from the curse" We do care what be-
comes of them; it is not matter of indifference
to us whether they are made happy o; miserable,
and we wonder how any persons Of ordinary hui
manity can be Indifferent, especially Of those
who for years have been surrounded by the pool
creatures, and lived in the constant exercise
} of kindly feeling, towards them and the recep-
ltion of affecuonate services from them. The
d relation of dependence which they sustain to
wards us forbids indifference, and the greater
their dependence in consequence Of Ignorance
and degradation, the greater claim have they up
on our friendly interest and kind regard. Reero-
r ant should we be TO every generous emotion aIh
every right principle, were we Indifferent to the
welfare Of this large and unfortunate class Of Oul
, fellow beings. Justice to all, wise and kind
ly regard for the interest of white and black alike
this is the only basis on which the great cause o.
emancipation should rest.
Having thus responded, friends, in all sincer.
ty to your feelings, we would ask YOU in the sec
ond place, TO consider whether the great END
which you desire 10 attain, the welfare and hap
piness of all classes, can be accomplished ex
cept through emancipation
The beneficial lnfuences of emancipation up
on the whites, we will not discuss. No one Of
reflection doubts that freedom is favorable, moi
merely to the development Of the industrial re
sources of a community, but, also and equally
to its moral well-being and highest happiness
Where can a parent be found in Kentucky, who
does not feel that it would be far bettsr for his
children, if not the breath of a single slave min.
sled with The winds which breathe through the
forests of MS beloved State, that the probability
of their acquiring energetic characters, Of be.
coming active, Independent and successful men
would be infinitely greater in the bracing, invig.
Grating air of freedom, than under slavery's en-.
eryating atmospheric Hundreds OF parents are
there, who care not for the influence of slavery
upon themselves, who deplore and hate it for its
effect upon their families.
No words are needed TO show the desirableness
Of emancipation to our white population. There
is but one opinion among the intelligent men and
women of the State upon this point.
But the influence of emancipation upon the
blacks; this is the point upon which widely diff
fenng sentiments are held.
In presenting our views upon this topic, we
readily admit that, in particular instances,
where the blacks enjoy happy homes and are un-
der the care Of wise and affectionate masters,
TO whom their welfare IS an object Of constant
and earnest solicitude, change might prove
painful and unfortunate. But, in regard TO such
instances, it is to be considered, that under
the system Of slavery, there is no certainty of the
continuance of the present happy relation. Pc
cuniary misfortunes may compel the master 10
yield up his servants to some importunate credi-
tor, or death may at any moment remove him
from the circle of DEFENDANTS, by whom he Is re-
yeTed for his wisdom, and beloved for his kind
ness. Should such events occur, what guaran-
tee is there, that the servants may not pass into
the hands Of Indifferent and selfish, If not of
hard and cruel ownersl Surely no changes
brought about by emancipation could compare
in sadness, with the change effected by the
transfer of one from the hands of kindness and
affection, to the power of selfishness and cruel.
H.
And, furthermore, in regard to these instances
in which the relation between master and slave
is made happy by care and kindness, it is to be
remarked, that should this relation cease by
emancipation, there is no reason why the care
and kindness which made it happy, which chan
ged the iron hands of servitude into the siIken
cords OF love-, should also cease. They can be
as readily manifested to the humble freeman and
viii be as much appreciated by him, as by the
humble slave.
Let us not awel longer on the consideration of
these particular instances. Special instances,
whether of Kindness or cruelty, prove nothing
Every condition, whether of freedom or bond