The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-03-11

avail himself Of that advantage, without sub
= jecting himself to fine, risking the nctiol
of this body, who might admit or reject hi
. application their sense of propriety nigh
dictate.
Sir, said Mr.. T., I was struck with the re
marx Of the gentleman from Jefferson (Mr
4 flobbs). lie told US, whenever good case wai
made out, upon application 10 this body, b,
would always vote TO permit the applicant e
. import. Now, said Mr.. t., what is here as.
sumed. Why, that the Legislature of Ken
lucky has solemnly formed itself into tribu.
nal, TO determine what Kind Of negroes man
may, or may not. buy.
IL man in Kentucky wishes TO buy good
house girl--one that will suit his family-and
finds her in Tennessee---the kentuckian own
ing neither Of her parents, none of her re-
ations-the Legislature says TO the man, sir
you ought not TO buy such negro; you should
have bought negro woman, whose husband
you or some Of your neighbors owned; you
should have made out a case which would
have reached our sympathies. lie supposed
the next step would be, that the Legislature
would determine where a man must buy his
horse or cow--both horses and negroes were
held and known TO eur laws property. Gem
tenen, 50 far as trade IN concerned in slaves, in
kentucky, are mistaken. No man buys ne
groes end brings them TO our State for specula-
ton What negroes that are bought by kentuck.
lians, are bought for two purpeses-one for
home use, and the other for speculation. He
who buys for the latter reason, takes them 10
| Mississippi, Louisiana, New Orleans and Texas
Mr. E. said, as TO the isolated question of
slavery, he, like his friend from jefferson, be-
lisved ii a whitening blight on our State, and
would 90 for its final extinction, if the whole
race could be sent from our State; but he never
| could be content 10 let them remain Us free peo-
| plee amongst us. Ii would bs worse for them
and worse for us. But that was subject we
| were not now debating, nor called upon to de-
termine. Slavery is interviewer with our in
sLitutions. Ii should not be disturbed, Till that
sovereign power. now recognizing IL, should
determine 10 do il away. The question pre-
scented by the bill now before us is, shall our
citizens all have equal rights under this institu-
ton' For, under the law of 1888, Mr.. Il.
continued, portion Of our citizens, so far as
any advantage wss 10 be obtained, were literally
DISTINGUISHED. One portion Of the community
Was oppressed, and the other received, under
the law, an advantage not reciprocal. Against
a course of legislation, marsed in all its fea-
lures with so much insidiousness, he solemnly
protested.
Sir, said Mr.. f., legislation might and ought
to be reduced 10 science. few general prin-
cples marked out, and we'll guardsc, and EN-
braced in general statutes, would well define
Jul Picseul ucttIIlue, Will
some certainty, as TO what future action would
be wise legislation; but 10 be continually en-
gagged in partial legislation, all was uncertain.-I
Every year since 1888 petitions have been pour
ing ia TO our halls, asking permission to import
slaves. One member has his rule, by which he
either grants or rejects the petitioners prayer.
Another prescribes his rule. One set Of reasons
might suit him, which is utterly rePudiated by
another. Sir, said he, pass this bill, modify as
"a
settled. Why, said Mr.. f., but yesterday, he
had TO datain the Senate for some time, in try
ing to get the prayer Of one Of his constituents
granted, TO bring small negro into the State
tie thought it a good case; other gentlemen,
equally sincere, differed with him in opinion,
aud honestly opposed what he believed TO be
right, and only asked for upon shees justice
lie succeeded, IL was true, but after consuming
the time Of the Senate, and, consequently, a
useless expenditure Of money Had the present
bill been the law Of the land, this waste Of time,
together with much more time and money APP
pr0priated in the same way, might be avoided.
lie was for the bill, If properly guarded; If not,
IL could Ov amended 90 tn sn.h-aea the frna
principle, whish was to LET all the free citizens
Of Kentucky have right TO buy where and OF
whom they pleased slave slaves for their
own use; and he did hope enough Of Senators
would agree with him, TO consumaie so desira
bic an object
On motion Of Mr.. HARDIN, the bill was refer
red to the committee of the Whole, made the
special order Of the day for Thursday next, and
ordered To be printed.
Saturday, January 22d, the subject was again
brought up. The unfinished order, the bill 10
repeal &c, the law of 1893, to prevent the i'm
portation of slaves, reads as follows:
SIC. /. Be il enacted by tie General Assembly
| Of the Commonwealth Of kentucky, That from and
after the passage of this act, the citizens of this
State shall he and they are hereby permitted to
| import into this Stale, from any one of the
States of this uuon. any slave or slaves, for
| their own use: Provided, that the person or per.
| sons, SO importing said slave or slaves, shall,
| within sixty days from and after said importa-
/ ton, make oath or affirmation before the Clerk
| Of the County Court where said slave or slaves
were imported, that said slave slaves were i'm
| ported in good faith for his, her, or their own
| private use and benefit, and not merchandise
| or for speculation or sale; and shali, also, make
out and correct list of said slave or slaves,
setting forth the age, name, color, and sex, OF
said slave or slaves; and shall, also, make az
hdavit, and file the same with the Clerk Of the
County Court, that said list is true and correct
which list and affidavit aforesaid shall be record
ed by the Clerk in his office; and the Clerk fol-
receive from the person or persons importing
said slave or slaves, the sum Of fifty cents fo
one slave, and ten cents for each additional slave
rs fee therefor.
SEC. 3. Be il further enacted, That If any per
: son or persons shall falsely take the oaths pre-
scribed in the first section of this act, shall b
q deemed guilty Of the crime Of perjury, and shall
Z upon conv iction, undergo a confinement in tn
. Jail and Peniiontiary house Of this State, for
y term not less than one year nor more than nv
D years.
Is SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That all acts, @
% parts of acts, coming within the purview of thi
J. act be and the same are hereby repealed.
Is Mr.. WILLIAMS offered the following amend
n ment:
II. il further enacted, That If any slave
t. imported into this Commonwealth for merehaI
70 disc it shall be lawful for such slave TO institu
ie suit i'm any court of competent jurisdiction, 4
9. his or her freedom, and upon verdict and judi
II, ment in favsr Of such slave, he she shall
er 10 all ntents and purposes, free person oil &C
ed or; and said suit may be instituted against al
ne person who shall be his or her owner, wheth
les that person be the importer or not. Propide
ial That unless said slave, in whose favor such We
IN, dict aud Judgment may be rendered, shall, wit
ty. In twelve months from the rendition there
OF. leaye the Commonwealth for the Republic
tly Liberia, he or she shall be liable upon the p
put sentiment Of Grand Jury, TO be arrested
.ia capias from the Circuit Court TO whom the p
iad sentiment is made, as II indicted fora feioi
at and upon the finding of jury that the preser
he ment is true, the court shall order such slave
lie be sold, by the Sheriff, to the highest bidder
the such time and place as it may deem proper; |
He the proceeds Of sale be paid by the Sheriff !
,a,,- the Treasury of this Commonwealth, he to
ties, allowed two per cent on the amount OF sale
usd be deducted therefrom, a fee, and the Jaile
was be allowed fees, as in cases Of persons conn
'uld for felony