The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-06
rhs Kentucky constitutional Convensio~,

the Kentucky Constitutional Convention,
FRAuKSoRr, Nov. Is, lS49.
The Ssvey Question Interesfirs Debate TAeveow-
reks-Tvs Emanotpationists Discovered Their Senn-
ments, and thew Effect upon he Action of tie Con-
rerftss.
Well, as predicted the amendment in relation to
the representation Of cities in the Legislature and the
speech Of Mr. Turner, the same subject has given
rise to protracted debate that has occupied the
Of the convention every day Of this week. morning
afternoon and, from its Increasing Violence seems
likely to occupy It, until brought to period by the
previous question, or some other and equally eseusl
extpguisher But had little idea, when made that
prediction In my last letter. that debate was to
sumo peculiar and important character rs 1t has
The slavery question has been the leading feature dis
sussed but nothing lsss than plain statement of the
case Will show how 1t has been made thus 10
sumo that position.
The statistics Of population In Kentucky show that
the great increase has been the borders Of the Ohio
and partic in Louisville Covington, and the
other cities now rapidly springing up that river
This increase, OF COURSE in other States is not
wholly natural one, but il the result Of emigration
from the other States (gsnoray from the free States
Of this Unsn, and from those across the Atlantic.
These statistics, to which have referred also make
evident another fact that the slave population partly
from its continually increasing insecurity along that
the white poUulatiop ia aerssspg hersfors h
sary follows that he personal interest in the nsti
tuition Of slavery In that section Of the country Is be-
coming gradually, but certainly lsssened Already In
Campbell and Kenton counties opposite Cincinnati,
the slaves have almost entirely disappeared. Thus
Now these facts have alarmed the members from the
Southern interior counties where the bulk
Of the slaves owned and they lock forward with
jealous apprehension, to the day when, under the
present basis Of representation numbers, the
thern border and especially the cities thereof will
rrllt In fha aafa ID
not the natural native increase Of population there
which they fear but that which pours into them from
other States and lands To guard against these
spprehended results, an amendment has been offered
to the article under consideratioDthe in relation
to the to restrict the rspresen-
tation Fl ON the lilies to specific limit beyond which,
whatever may be the increase Of population 1t shall
never be permitted to 60 This restriction is to apply
to senators alone and II adopted 1t will always secure
to the rural districts Of the State powerfully pre-
ponderatiDg influence In that body.
The Gsc siop has manifested to the ention that
there . at least two enaucipatiobists in that
body Messrs Root and Garfield; and their speeches.
boldly ayo~ing those doctrines have added piquancy
and spirit 10 cussion exceedingly animated without
them II has been, by far the ablest debate that has
arisen the assembling Of this body and the burn
ing fervid and earnest eoquencs OF the speakers
the subject Of slavery fully syinced how deep seated
and sincere the feelings the you
peaee, that reused The spirit utter
tempt scorn, and intense hate towards
the sbolitiensts and their sympahxers in the North
was fearful Evidence Of what must be the character Of
the struggle should the sectional contest that
parties in this Union are now agtatns be brought
to extremities
.ball not attempt to give you a sketch OF the de-
bate, but merely such analysis OF 1t, will give
your readers idea Of the arguments used and the
sentiments avowed On future occasion may select
Of the most interesting gems Of the debate for
to postery through the columns Of your
faithful chronicle.
that the returns had made evident to all that
the population the northern border increasing
In ratio OF four to In proportion TO the rest Of the
State This incresse was an alien one by immigration
OF Yankees and foreigners, and 30 far therefore,
from being benefit, was detriment to the State As
old Ben Hardin said, he "wo'd rather, at aoy time,
have true hearted brave and chivalrous Kentuck
IAN than ten meney making pumpkin eating, Cape
Cod or fsssamaquoddy men, or number of foreign
ers." From their education and the prevailing public
sentiment in the region In which they raised,
they sllYankees and foreig abolitionsts at
heart and in feeling And the fact that IL along
the Ohio border and In the cities particularly that the
emancipation strength existed was evidence OF the in
nuence these men would seek TO exert II they
allowed to become sufficiently powerful. Sft that
party In this State, said Mr. Garrett Davis aud what
portion Of them native KeRiuchians' Probably
three fourtLs born In other lands, in the free
States of this Union, In Europe IL the poor OF
rica their vocation mostly is to labor and they
coming In such vastly increasi ny numbers as
every year greatly To disturb tho s,stns proportion
between the demand and the supply VI labor and they
become thereior, formidable pstfsors of the native
mechanic aad laborer. When there people came to
Kentucky they found negroes to be their most
competitors. say ehoder who has slaves enough
for his service will not employ the German the Irish.
man. but deprive hi of his slaves and he Is forced to
employ them. These foreigners learn this, and
consequently, in addition to the repugnsnce OF a
strange race, and Kind OF slavery with which, la his
country he had no acquaintance, he acq ures tho
stronger motive of s.finteest to prompt bin to be-
come sboiitionist, or an emancipationist. This,
then the character OF the influence that grow
ing in the cities and northern souns and 10 pre-
IL rom becoming controlling and over pow
Ing in the state IL was Just proper, and ecesssry,
that II should be restricted In at least branch OF
the legislature The truth OF the great principle Of
representation ON population was fully conceded bat
IL VAS also oontended that there In this case,
before
all others must yeldthG Of selLdefnc- and self pre-
servstion This about the tenor Of the argument
the sine, and 1t pleLtiiully aud poiptedy
Illustrated by no very pime ntary illusions those
outsies barbarisns, the Yankees aad other 70
rsigntrsN
The delegates from the region Of country sought
70 lie prescribed made vigorous hsht in defence OF
their constituents. They commended that II
great fundamental rrncipi. that was To be made TO
yield TO enpedieney ana tmid fear. The Onto border,
and the cities thsre 20 far from having become Ia the
slightest degree tainted With emancip the
moot faithful the most devoted and the most unyeld
Ing Of the advocates and defenders Of the institution
Of slavery IL true fGid Nir SrEvr$sr Ia dele
gate roEi Coyington and a Of AndreW Stevenson,
ofNirginis thy lived the border, and within the
very f-tid atmosphere Of anti State; but tho
sights they have there witnessed aud the atmosphere
that Is blown them by sEery breeze has made
them but che nrmer in their adherence to the princ
pies upon which Kentucky stand. they had shown
this ia the election for deegatss 20 tins convention
where no Avsved Observation-Disclosures had been chosen aud
where party and all utber ties had been aside in
then devotion the Institution Of slavery The bor
der region had been aud vas It, bul-ark aud the con.
vtntion appealed to- not 20 AiOw chimecs fears
and timid spprehsnrions TO cause them 70 weaken
that defence by en- act Of injustice aud violation Of
principle tuch was Involved in this Proposition
The cities nevsi by any ratio u incteae could become
powerful enough 10 control or II they did, they never
could nhibe TO exert 81 from their rival Interests
and mutual jealOusies This the course % arxu-
mt adopted by aud the arger party 81 the at-
Of the rights ~ the cities aad tue ohio borde
with tru, border feeling these ebutons II feel.
Ing against the Ohio and other Fsgram abolitonsts
were more bitter and den unciatory than these
from the interior say one party. bscsuse there
another class Of advocate foT the ees In the
q The two ncipationists MessTs Root aud Gar
fslte and In the triangular contest that IL gong on,
IL upon them that the bows TALL with un0eas-
ing and uBrslcbtlees fury. And NJ bitter
uJcn them. than those whom they protesting and
seeking 90 aid ard very naturally too for their argu-
msnts aud even their persons are but hving ustra.
tuus and evidences Of the stb of vhst the restric
tiobists urging. Mr. GsrAelde svOSed him.
self 60 have been raised aud bred the pure noun.
tain air of New llamps hire; and bir Root. under
stand u alfo Yankee barbarian" BY birth. Their
strrR nhn.itnn Epeeches thereflrr tel with nnlnaua