The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-30

=
fruilion. Tho Ish nothing can be done fo
the benefit Of the presen. generation, ths
J. is no reason, something should not he -
Tor the benefit Of succeeding generation
Constitution trainers, necessarily act a
: mush with view TO pOsteriiy as TO them
selves This is sacred duty which ever.
generation owes to its successors.
The people of Western Virginia. have
already commenced serious movement
} with the view to obtain an amendment o
the constitution Of that State, which shall
allow each county TO decide for itself
whether slavery shall be permitted within
its hounds. This, if successful. will BE-
followed By similar movement in Eas,
Tennessee, where there are very few slaves.
Tho comparatively smaller number Of
slaves in Kentucky. the little actual need
OF t,esn. together with her geographical po,
sition, render the work Of emancipation
much more easy with us, than either Of
those States. Ii would therefore SEEM that
we should lead the way. rather than wait
to follow their example. on the subject Of
emancipation. Should the example OF Ken
lucky, influence those States, with Mary
land and Missouri also, TO similar course,
the result will be of incalculable national
benefit. These five States now constitute
the great national nurseries for the growth
of slaves. IL the present system is kept up
In them, the slave population of the Union,
IN fifty years, will be over twelve millions.
With the mental and physical improve
ment, the blacks will have attained in that
time. no rejecting man can doubt the dan.
ger to the whites, from such an immense
slave population; or, that self preservation
will compel the whites Of that day, to thin
OH the slaves with the sword. Can We, of
the present generation, with justice. entail
ON posterity, such horrible necessity; one
which shall give such lasting stain to our
national annalsl Does not an enlarged
consideration of national, as well as State
policy, require that such results should be
brought to view and kept in view, whilst ad
iusting this subject! Does it not require
from US. all that can be properly done, in
avoidance of future evils Of such rgagnitudel
Close these five great nurseries fofthe pro-
pagation Of slaves and We shall avoid that
evil. The subdivision of slaves among so
many owners, witkdraws the females from
field labor, secures their marriage, affords
the sick and infants proper care, and
thus renders those States such prolific nur-
series. Where slaves are held in large
gangs and the females subject TO field labor
they do not propagate near so fast. Ii is
said tina. in Louisiana among the Creole
planters, propagation is not near sufficient
TO keep up the number Of slaves. The
southern States If left to their own natural
increase would not double their slaves in
fifty years.
There il among ourselves, great Divers
ty of opinion, as to the proper remedy for
slavery, as also in regard to the time and
mode Of its application. The same diver
sity Of opinion no doubt prevails throughout
the State. But, from the best information
We can obtain, we are well convinced, that
very gradual prospective emancipation. is
all that the people Of Kentucky will con.
sent to. To obtain even that much, we are
equally convinced, that the shareholders must
be perfectly satisfied that the friends OF en,an-
cipation aim at nothing more. Most Of us
also think, that not merely Difference to
the public will, but sound policy and justice
require, the proposed reformation to be 50
confined.
To obtain concert Of action, we propose
that convention be held, some time next
spring-say the first Monday in April
Of delegates from the friends Of emancipa-
ton in the different counties Of the State.
First:-to ascertain what is the true state OF
public sentiment, whether fair proportion Of
the slave holders are willing for any mode
Of emancipation, and if it be found on a
candid interchange Of information that there
is no likelihood Of effecting anything. then
with manly frsnkness avow the fact, post.
pone the question for the present, limit our
efforts to obtaining prohibition in The con.
stitution against the further importation OF
slaves, and thus save the State from the
mischiefs' of a proftless agitation Of the
subject. cond:-should the information
thus obtained, warrant the hope Of success.
then to insure it, by proposing plan Of
such moderation as will conciliate conf.
dence in its projectors, and secure the ap.
probation of majority Of the people.
We have much confidence in the belief
that plan can be devised, which by not
materially affecting the individual rights Of
property. not suddenly disturbing the rela.
ton OF master and slave, not injufing the
great industrial pursuits Of the State, and not
suddenly casting upon our society at any
one time large mass Of unprepared eman.