The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-07-21
[ a...,,sn Of Negro slavery and she New
Constitution.
q, ROBERT }. BsEcKINKIDGE.

1" Wv, "a ,ha Constitution about 10 De iOrme
sns'..s.. I~.,mouWeslth The position / oceu
~ W s.n5,8sts for seat in the Convention
a. largest slave holding county IN ia
Nv. -.ns.rs this proper In itself, and respect
s-,atbs peoDle. Bat in addition to snch con
" las.---...,s sssire, whatever may be the issu
- ,-sssnt struggle, that any one who ma.
:. % bsr.nfter, 10 feel an interest in what q
'--..ssipg ar in me, as one Of the actors II
- may possess the means OF formin.
- oniuions an Just conclusions in regaT'
i -. shich | persuade myself are neiihe
'.,,,s1t IN their nature, nor likely TO be IN
s-.irfpI in their effects.
- NOT enter into detail on other topics
-.s..,ss with the new Constitution. In an
'...ssr,,l Wsy, may fad il proper to express
- rsnsrsI principles, ia the course of thesS
-. But nave, already repeatedly anc
ss.-,,rtlv. given utterance, in popular address
nv general sentiments on all the great
'@..,ioB, ID dispute; an example which l think
=. ,.o,Is will DO well 10 make all others fol-
n. For although the question Of slavery Is
n. greatest. il is far from being the only great
Ito Al issue IN the Commonwealth; and
-, deceive myself, changes, at once abb
,grs sps dangerous, are very likely TO be intro
.Be.G into the new Constitution.
Tn pspers which follow, and which are ex-
t,,,ss rom the newspapers Of the day, present
,Usc.ssr manner, the history OF my cOnnexion
vtb the present sublect at this time. They also
,,su precisely the subjects an regard 10 which
u.ny purpose to address you, and the aspects
At nos, subjects which / design to present
Rang Official, | republish them as ind them.
TIE fsvslle resolutions, show on their face,
tbr thew we're offered by me. Those OF
usFraakfort Convention were, in their origi-
IA form, drawn up by me, and all the amend
uslts afterwards made IN them, were with my
Gall concurrence.
Having already published in the Examiner
tie Of6,.al accounts, and being pressed for room
vsOnt these accounts and proceed with the
.scsr
The great propositions put forward by the
sriy Eilh which | act, throughout the Com
u5HEsaih are - clearly stated words can
cypress them: !. Slargy Oughi not TO be in
-slsll. >. NgT should Il be peTPstUGted in this
CsERoEueslh, by means Of the Convention
ABOUT 70 meet 10 amend the Constitution. Bat,
a. the other hand, the people OF Kentucky
Cgghi, BY means Of that Convention, 1. Also
.-.sy q prohibit The importation Of any more
sGgS IEt0 .sIs STATE. ? A.d, through 10, re-
49, u ,tsiT ORR hands tie complete pOuer, HOtr
I'D b ~ cal. Of the C0ausHfi0H, 10 enforce and
ys-s-, . or zHdsT The Her Constitution, a sVs-
~ Of E-lrripatlgH. And, still further, this
power Of Emancipation, thus retained, should
0sso guarded, in the Constitution itself, that it
shall Be exercised, /. only pTospectiusly; 2
UE.y gradually. 3. Only ia o0Hnecfion IritE the
rsus5ql from The State Of he Eaancipated shares.
Aho finally, this power of Emancipation, and
a. exercise Of il, should be, not Of ordinary
legislation, but Of the community itself, By an
sEPresson Of lie sovereign will 1. Either b.
-s-As q O prOrisi0H IN he Constitution, qllOu-
s-g Pse tc lHgsHdmsuts, il such a clause should
Dc Inserted, according 20 the original plan of
heConventiOn party: ,, OF, under the COnsti-
G.5E, By means Of an cypress Dr0UisiOn IN Il,
s1ri7g TIE ssnss Of the people to be taken in the
s-s,.Js, II the new Constitution should be
is'med without what lie called the open clause.
Whether these principles be right or wrong, is
1sgassiion which is submitted, in the FIRST in
stance, 20 the freemen Of this Commonwealth;
aad afterwards, 10 mankind at large, TO posteri-
y, and 70 the Ruler Of the Universe. That
asy are my principles, and the principles Of
lsfSnki0rt Convention, and the principles Of
a' lsfiy called the Emancipation party of Ken
s'Ey, no candid man, who is capable Of reflec-
no. can ooubt. To their discussion 1 address
H7sf
l-ITposs, absolutely, the importation Of any
%'ssl1e into hsAtueky. IL is, comparative
.yd small consequence TO me HOIr, what may
= sac, Of one kind Of slave importation, as
eng preferable 10 another kind-snd one prin-
ePs u limited prohibition, as being better or
sass Than another. My opinion is perfectly
a''iihsi no more slaves ought 10 be brought
40 kentucky. / take little interest nOtc in
-ssassiohs about the comparative value Of the
11o5' Jaw Of 1893, whose modification in lS49
a Created 50 great an excitement in the State.
lhsie vas moment, when such considera-
-ols we're Of great weight. But 1t has passed.
Ils sc' Of lo4s, was, beyond doubt, part Of a
ls<n designed to terrify and crush the Eman-
reaon party Of this State; and the Legisla-
-'''S is last session, by that, and many SINH
Fooeedings, are the real authors Of all the
t-atoa which has followed, and which may
inmate, no man can tell how. A wise and
sisN course on the part Of that Legislature,
EASILY have settled the whole question in
r-'-SAy, Tor the present, and for many years
f. Most Of the leading men who have
= - ei'ea 10 resistance by the reckless course
s,.. - lsA legislature, and Of the pro-slavery
Aa party, throughout the State since the
r-'.'. .'0fe adjourned, would gladly have ac-
$50 N any Just and moderate compromise,
6 ~ 90 exciting, and whose agitation
80 s"e'es 50 reluctant TO commence, IL they
k,,.,l WIN honor or with n good conscience,
gJ"oiaee IT, For more than wear. before
stature, Of 1883 convened, | person
=! sAessvores, by every proper means in nv
' 70 avert the storm which I saw 10 be i'm
ns- and suggested 10 many Of the leading
~ 'he State, at once the danger of allow
STORM 10 burst upon US, the means of
nii.yy e'srung II. believed that the Emanci-
L.. party Of the State, were willing, as a
U,s.s'S eOheeoe, in the new Constitution, the
teIT % slavery, and let it exist in Ken
,.,.aL- 11uef that Constitution upon certain
. ,,s.Ie concessions and COMPROMISES: and
mi, ~ secure, without a struggle. this re-
Win. Ought the Pro-slsvery parry on ght to be
ss5s.tt q q the same party was in 1899. 10 con.
H,r IN would satisfy the public mind, con-
'he continued existence of slavery.
Hs,'.'. Oceaslon-a great occasion, one or
a. - ~ the affairs Of States, when wise.
Con- - -Dcera'e and patriotic men, could have
TTe commonwealth invaluable service
bsUs..tS '.se OF le4s-s, did not happen 10
LID - vim The presence Of men enough of
ts,s;o1, Sdoh 10 shape its conduct. The con-
ID. So, e9 the PrO-slsyery party had made
do lh n1 o. freedom, Of progress, and will
van. SIM. ant too, during the lapse of fifty
Lsgis,,nrs =. = 'SSSS-were, in the opinion of the
luIsS in'. o. 1883 to be retracted and an
loAs ,.sseeo Of being sanctified as constitu
and asr,- :. and the pro-sIavery press
poups throughout the State, openly took
dI7s9 IN, III against some Of the concessions
lonof, 1' which had passed from the Consti,u-
and TIM. ieaf' iato the Constitution of 799-
lb.p,s. oeen ratified by two solemn and de-
pie Of tbis c o. highest sovereignty by the peo-
Of other, N commonwealth. i, aud thousands
struggle. ,nS my ~, would gladly have avoided this
and ,, anaenee Of time and rsssc,,en 'Inen 20
pslpt .5sa, the freside, the press, and the
eOhtum.v sAS on and religion; were driven with
Nshsd M - ~ oerlslon, into position in which
&c bach nn .stnative bat to see the State drag.
lry into s,snsined, more than a half a cen.
beating. N o or take the desperate chance
lf..l 81 N open conHicf Ln.l ~