The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-12-08
For the Examiner.
" no are 60 occupy the soil Of Kentucky, the
White or the Black Racef

White or the Black Racet
This is a question that should engage the |
attention Of every citizen who feels interested |
IN the welfare, prosperity and happiness Of this
COmmo nwealth, and one which should be con-
aidersd with prudence and canton.
The effect Of slave-trade, which has been
condemned by every civilized nation, and pro-
lOunced piracy of the most aggravated nature,
has been to establish in our country an institu-
ton which has proved whitening to its best in
terests, subversive Of the true principles Of
republican government, and detrimental to the
happiness and well-bsing of its people.
We are aware that we are here occupying
disputed ground--and asserting propositions
which have been repeatedly assaIled with de-
termination and zeal without precedent in the
annals Of moral or political contests,-but We
are equally satisfied, that we have taken posi-
ZION which is morally, politically and religious
" night, and one which has been successfully
maintained in by-gone days, and will continue
to be successfully indicated whilst reason, JUS
lice and truth exercise their respective func-
Of slavery has been for years, and is at this mo-
nent, sweeping from off ths soil Of Kentucky
hundreds of its best and most devoted citizens,
and compelling them to seek a shelter and a
refuge in the wllds Of ihe far distant West, Is
as certainly evident as.that causes produce ef-
fects.
1t requires no far-sighted observer or pro-
foundly versed statesman to discover that Ken
lucky has implanted within her bosom the ele-
ments of her own destruction; and Il only re-
quirss that thess clements should be nourished
with the assiduity peculiar to the Institution Of
slavery, to prove her downfall.
The probable estimate of the number Of slaves
within the borders Of Kentucky at this period
is upwards Of 200 ,000-and an annual increase
Of between 3 and 1000 takes place.
The labor of this vast multitude Of slaves by
being brought into competition with that of free
whites has already exerted powerful influence
upon the laboring population Of Kentucky, and
will continue TO reduce, not only the price Of
free labor, but the demand.
Ne legal or moral restrictions are thrown
sttuted, and no fears are upon his mind of any
responsibility resting upon him to support either
himself, the companion Of his bosom or their
offspring, and hence the slave population In
creases with much greater raPidity than the
white.
The negro being chiefly adapted to agricul-
tural pursuits, the slave master must Of necessi-
ty become possessed of sufhciency of land to
be cultivated by his slaves to repay him for the
cost and trouble of raising and other necessary
and contingent expenses.
Land must be had, and the slave holder is |
generally possessed Of the requisite means Of
obtaining it.
His non slaveholding neighbor, who has per- |
hsps inherited a small portion Of the soil once |
by the hands Of his forefathers, or |
who has by his hard earnings and the labor of
his hands become possessed of a few acres, is |
the victim who must be sacrificed to make way |
for the Ethiopian.
The first method generally pursued by the
stakeholder to become possessed OF his neighbor's
land, is to represent him as being in depressed
u
possible his paPer,-thereby lmpairing the con-
fidence of his creditors in his ability and deter
mination to pay, thus causing general pressure
to come upon him suddenly. and forcing him to
sell at a sacrifice himself, OF to witness the same
scene executed by an officer of the law. His |
neighbOr then steps forward, and
with great msgnanimity and wonderful gener-
osity, consoles his poverty stricken friend by |
purchasing his land at a reduced price, and |
telling him that he Is extremely sorry TO witness
his failure, and would have assisted him II It |
had been In his power-but all his money was
loaned out at ten or fifteen per cent. and he |
could not think ofloaning for any less.
These are scenes which are of daily occur
renee, and yet we are told that the very institu.
ton which occasions them is a moral and Do
litical blessing.
That institution which drives from his home
the proud sou Of Kentucky, and the wife, who
''S,rsns her infant to her joyle,s breast,
nd with mother fears shrnks rockix bastr
to behold no more the lovely land which gave
them birth, and which was purchased by the
blood Of their ancestors, Is the one which il. NJ
This late day. pronounced an auxiliary to pure |.
state Of morality, intelligence and freedom.
There is scarcely county in Kentucky, but
presents evidence which proves eonclusively,
that in proportion as the slave population in
,reases. the labOring white population is forced
rom off the soil.
In one Of the large counties In the interior Of
he State, there is a wealthy Shareholder, who
It this time owns the soil upon which twenty
i've free white families resided, each having
arms sufficiently large to enable them to live
;omiortabIy-they, together with hundreds of
others, have shared the fate which inevitably
waits the greater portion ofthe non-slavehold-
ng citizens of Ksntucky.-that Of being driven
without the borders Of their once loved land by
IN institution based upon principles extracted
rom the very sssenss Of tyranny. q
At this timss In numerous counties in the {
hate, where slave labor b employsd--thsrs Is {
. demaad whatever for white labor.
TT - -