The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-17
To the Editors of the Examiner:

To the Editors Of the Examiner:
SRI have read with much satisfaction the
address to the citizens of kentucky. published
in the Journal of 3lst January, and signed w.
Richardson, T. s. Bell and others, on the sub
jet of prospective emancipation Of the slaves
in Kentucky.
The reasoning Of that paper is calm, clear,
and conclusive, establishing beyond all contro-
versy the following propositions:
LIST. That if the institution of negro slavery
was ever an advantage to Kentucky that day has
gone by.
End. That it is now morally, socially and
politically an evil, and whitening blight on all
cur future prospects.
3rd. That in comparison with our sister States
north of the Ohio, Kentucky is retrograding at
rate that will soon place her at hopeless dis
lance in the background.
18th. That in no one respect is she their nfe-
rior, but that, on the contrary, whether we re-
gard her position in the very centre of the
Union-her extended boundary Of 800 miles
along the finest navigabie river on the globe,
her fertile soil, her mineral wealth, her boundless
forests of valuable timber, and the enterprising
character Of her sons. There is not State in
the Union comprising within herself so many
elements of wealth and prosperity. And
5th. That these all are rendered nugatOry and
comparatively valueless by the existence among
US of this peculiar Institution" of the South,
called Negro Slavery.
And now Sirs, on these facts, for such they
are beyond question, wish. through your
columns, to address few words to those who.
like myself, are Kentuckians but not slave
holders.
The opportunity will soon be presented to us
in the formation of our new constitution, of
redeeming our State from this sorest Of evils and
of laying the foundation Of its slow and gradual
but sure extirpation. Shall we not seize on this
opportunity, which, as to the present question,
never can be presented again, and in despite of
all the anathemas that may be hurled against
us, rescue our beloved State from this viper,
that has fastened upon her. Immediate aboli-
ton in all its forms and shapes we as heartily
detest as the most ultra pro-slavery men can
possibly do, but We think thatcapital enough has
been made out Of that delusion, and we shall be
led aside by that cry of wolf, wolf, no longer. II
does not at all follow because abolition is wrong
that slavery is right. We recognise the right of
owners of slaves to their property as guaranteed
to them by the constitution and laws; but we do
not recognise, nay we utterly deny their right
to entail the Of slavery upon our children's
children to the latest posterity.
For forty years they have tried the expert
ment, and what has IL resulted int Evil, and
only evil TO the blacks themselves, and ,enfoId
worse evils to the whites. This is SO undeni-
ably true, that We will not stop a moment TO
argue what has been again and again demon
strated. Now, We ask for change-we point
to New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. in
short, to all the eastern States where slavery
once existed as 1t now does among us, and ask
that a similar system of gradual emancipation,
which has resulted so beneicially there, be tried
in Kentucky. 1t is not even a trial, IL is a GER
tainty, that precisely the same results will fol-
low emancipation here. We have here q. hs..s,
in our very midst, surer mine of wealth than
all the gold mines of California. Put a clause
in our new Constitution fixing period within
which slavery must cease, and that moment
one hundred millions are added 10 the real
wealth of the State. Then the Eastern and
European capitalists who never have and never
will invest dollar in slave State, will begin 10
enquire as to the advantages Kentucky possesses
for mechanic and manufacturing PURPOSES
Our abundant coal mines, our rich and inc hans
ti5le veins Of iron ore, our fertile lands. now
unsought after and unknown,
will find ready purchasers, at greatly enhanced
prices. The busy hum Of free labor in all its
varied pursuits will resound through the land.
immigration instead of being, as now, repealed.
will be attracted and bring wealth and countless
social blessings in its train, and soon Kentucky
will be redeemed, regenerated and Disseminated
by the genius Of universal emancipation" and
take her natural position as one of the first
States in our glorious Union.
They, indeed, must be blind to the signs of
the times who do not perceive that the institu- |
ton Of slavery is a thing of by-gone days;
that II is an obsolete idea, whose doc m is writ
ten, and the ful6llment of that doom in process
Of rapid completion. Where, in all christen.
dom, does il now find an advocate beyond the |
limits Of those States which still tolerate it7-I
Reason ia against IL; the genius Of our holy re-
igion isagainstit; all past experience Is against
{; facts are against it, and in these days Of In
'ense activity Of mind, when light and informa-
ion on all subjects are diifused with lightning
'aPidity, can such an incubus be much iongsr |
tolerated BY this mes and enlightened comnu-
aity cannot, will not believe IL.