The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-24
-. an. Freemen az Kentseky.

Am interest in the peace and happiness
= ~ posterity, and in the welfare am
D,,,r..,iys Improvements OF his native State
I,kes the liberty thus publicly 10 cal
Tour attention TO the importance oil the pre-
sal cGisisl
The lreemen Of Kentucky. have, at TIVE
.,,osssive elections, ordered the call Of |
C,oyention: which will meet at Frankfort
an ,be FIRST day Of October next, to revise
soa amend our State Constitution. | pre-
snms i is known to you all, that in the
c,rnation of a constitution or form OF gov,
eminent Tor a State, every voter has the
,;gbt and no one better right than another,
10 express freely and Independently his
own opinions and wishes as 10 what ought
70 he Inc form of government under which
ne IS 10 live, and therefore, the constitution
soop TO be framed for the government oil
the GOOD people of Kentucky, ought to be
made in conformity TO the judgment and
wishes of the majority Of her free citizens,
or all the questions now legitimately
submitted TO the consideration and decision
Of The sovereign ireemen Of Kentucky,
there is perhaps no other, Of so much i'm
portance, in its consequences, affecting the
future veal or woe Of our beloved Com
monweslth, as the question Of perpetual
slarery or gradual emancipation.
f. is Of the utmost importance, TO our
future peace and prosperity, that every
citizens should have thorough knowledge
and proper understanding of this momen-
tous question.
Il will be admitted by almost every
Intelligent. candid and disinterested man,
thai slavery is a great evil. That it is
inconsistent with our republican form OF
government. and that it is based upon. and
sustained d had like to have said alOne) by
that principle, that exists in some men-a
desire TO avoid labor themselves, and to
live By the sweat Of other peoples faces.
twill however, be acknowledged that there
are many good citizens who are opposed 10
any change ia the present Constitution. so
far as relates 10 the institution Of slavery.
But il IS believed that their opposition
arises, more from an apprehension. thai
there is no probable remedy for the evil,
than from any particular desire that il
should be made perpetual. While on the
other hand, it is we'll known thai large
proportion of our best citizens, purest
patriots and most distinguished statesmen,
shareholders and non-slaveholders, who,
having seen and felt the evil, and having
experienced souowlully its blighting in
fuence in all our social, moral and politi-
cal relations, have come to the honest con-
yiction, that it can be, and ought to be
gradually brought to an end. Such men
as these are scattered throughout every
county, all over the State. They are an
honor to their country and are Kentscky's
best friends. And Notwithstanding the
tongue Of Islander may assail them, and
malice may strive to undermine their fan
fame; yet, the purity of their character:
will remain unsullied, and their honesty o
purpose will elevate them above the reach
OF any selfish or unworthy motive. IL
such men il becomes US all TO lend lis
tening ear. Let US appreciate their indie
pendenee Of character, their doyotsdness Il
ths best interests of Kentucky, and to thu
ameliorsion Of the condition Of both ouI
white and our black population. Let u
profit by their wise counsels and bngh
examples and by our united action diffuss
over the whole State, wholesome in
hOence, 10 a fair. happy and final settle
msnt Of this great question. We may
Test assured that 'swhere there is a IOil
there is g roav." Let it be borne in minc
mai We do not wish to abolish slavery
We do not wish 10 change the relation
how subsisting between masters and theiI
slaves. nor to affect their right OF property
IN tie slaves now in existence. We only
d,Nre to adopt some constitutional pro
visioq, by the operation Of which, such
desoen, 'snts Of our black population, a:
NAV be barn In Rentncky, after day to
be fixed by the Convention. shall, ii they
remain here bevond certain age, be pltl-
mateIy emancipis,ed and removed else.
where
By process of this kind, slavery would
not be abolished, but would be permitted
20 die a natural and early death.
Shareholders would continue to be slave
holders, as long as they live, and slave:
now in existence, would continue to bs
slaves as long as they live. But as death
rs no resPecter Of persons, so both masters
and their slaves will in time be compelled
to pay their last debt to nature. So, wher
The hand that now directs this pen shall
have been committed to its mother Earth
and when every mortal, that now clsim'
property in his fellow man, shall no longel
De Numbered among those Of the living. ther
slavery will have ceased and then, oh how
Joyous the day, when
kentucky Uiu be, without master or slave,
The land OF the free and the home of the brave.
Fellow-citizens, this is the first tim,
within tie last half century. that you hav'
been permitted 10 decide Tor yourselves
whether Kentucky shall cantinue to be tn,
nursery Of slavery, or the cradle OF free
mem To you. the fresmen, the roters o
kentucky, and to you alone, belong tn
power and the right, TO decide this momen
ioos question, BY the exercise OF your cleo
1--we franchise, at the ensuing August cleo
uon' IN the choice Of delegates to represen
you 10 the Convention. lf you shall de
sure the perpetual continuance of slavery il
Aentucky, You will vote for such cand
dates Is may declare themselves in favor q
soch con1nance. But if you shall prefe
tnst slavery shall ultimately cease to exis
70 Vour native STATE, you will cas-, you