The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-08-11

measure, he thought Il the ssbsst that oould n.
proposed to relieve the finances of the state In
the event OF the passage Of the bill this Senator
ventured TO cay that IN bis district alone one thou
months, which be values al esOO Om of .sxahle
property. Then proceeding 10 give each of the
other districts its quota or imports he Tres tbe in
crease Of net revenue at from twenty & We 10 thirty
thousand dollars per snnum.
TINS is doubtless wild speculation, yet the
speeches OF these advocates Of the law of '49 10
10 prove that they consideted IL virtual repeal OF
The act OF 1888, and they had the best of reasons
for their conclusions.
tits known that under the laws of 1874 and 1915
by wh;ch the citizens Of Kentucky were prohibit
ted from importing slsves, except for their own
use, the slave population continued TO increase in
much GREATER ratio than the whites, up to the
act OF 1888, and that for the frat eight or ten years
thereafter, the increase Of slaves was little or
nothing. But for the Last six or eight years. by
good effects las we are told by two Of the pro
slavery candidates for the Convention) 10 consid-
cradle extent have been defeated.
Slavery is believed to he a great evil, and as an
original proposition, but few In Kentucky would
advocate its introduction. The strong tendency Of
the slave to increase beyond the free or white
population, notwithstanding the act of 1874 and
lSl5, IN substance the same "a that of 20. and
iorseeing the evils which, under such a states OF
things, must sooner or later befall the Common.
wealth, the legislature passed the act of '33,
which was held indispensable by that body land
particularly the representatives from Louisville
and Jefferson county, three of whom are candidates
Tor the Conventon) 10 the future growth and
prosperity OF the State, and the admissions OF
MessTs Guthrie and Rudd that the public good
demanded the passage OF that law, that IL exerted
powerful influence for the frat seven or eisb,
years in restricting the further importation OF
slaves, but that itssautsry influence by individual
evasi, rs and special legislation, has been TO :
great extent overcome for several yean past,
strongly urge the necessity Of incorporating ia
provision IN the Constitution, with q proviso thai
all slaves imported In violation thereof should be-
ipso facto free.
This provision would execute itself and render
wholly unnecessary all fines and penalties TO en-
@rce faithful observance Of the law. And am
Tee To confess that with many other citiEens of
U0u'sriie, en- .stsaiahsd IN hear The apininns nj
pro-slavery Candidates in respect 10 the evils ot
slavery, The necessity Of preventing its future i'm
Pottaion, their opposition 10 continued agitation,
and The Inability 10 carry cut in practice the law
Of 80, and yet find these gentlemen all oppose
TO putting il in the Constitution, where il can be
enforced and carried out, and the objections 10
agitation overcome. As 10 my own part, whilst
believe the true policy of the State Is to pro- ibi
Al u ure imPortAt'ons OF slaves, yet il is one OF
these questions upon which we find great diversity
OF oPtnionj and would heartily have met the pro-
slavery candidates and joined them In incorpora.
ing the principle of the act of 80 in the Constr
tuil0n. with the additional provision forfeting or
iieeif any and all slaves imported in violation
thereof
II Is not my purpose at present TO discuss the
question OF slavery upon principles of abstract
nght or political economy. Upon both or either
a. an original proposition here would be but a
can minority 10 Kentucky on the side of slavery.
Is TO the Importation of slaves from abroad being
10 the Advantage OF the poor man who has small |
amount OF money which he may desire to lay our |
tn The purchase OF q negro, nothing can be more |
untrue. Let II be supposed that the sanguine an.
Ilcipatlons al some Of our Kentucky ststesnen
should BE- realized, and thai this population should
soon be doubled, would, say ssvvO, laid out under
such state ST things, By the poor man, be likely
10 yield him as good an interest upon his capital az
The same amount invested 10 slave property under
eonst utonal provisions restricting lis further ia.
crease upon usi Certainly not BY great in.
,rrsse OF numbers from other States, you dimin.
sh the value Of slave hire here To a much greater
extent, TO say nothing Of its tendency to lower
he price OF white labor,l than the price required
10 be given in the original purchase; and 10 that
extent nothing could be more certain 10 injure the
poor man. who had but limited capital.
should like TO know how the Editors of the /
Democrat stand upon the law of 30 as effected by
ne act OF '49 Are they in favor Of continuance
81 the latter in forcef How are the democratic
candidates for the Legislature upon this SUBJECT
% they desire a continuance Of the law Of '49l
HAMILTON.