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

LuHH VI
.rsr,tirods TO the people OF Kentucky, and
scisIly 10 those residing in the Green
.f"r ssciion Of The State. Raised in the
.ga;oinp county Of Barren, educated by .
.S.Tr.ble uncle, and starting in life with
ne strongest professional competition, !
=. hen sustained in a most confding
"a encouraging manner. | have been ad.
-,oesd troal poverty 10 competency, II no!
% us,lth. During the last Ihirty-three
-. have been almost constantly EN-
1Iov.d in some high public station; and |
- hold an office which. in dignity and
imDorance. approximates the highest known
% an, constitution and laws. | refer to
,bs.s tbipys IN no spirit Of boasting, but to
move ina. am not grateful without cause,
md .b., | ought to be strongly attached 10
,bs institutions OF my country, which have
sn.bIsd NE 10 rise from a very humble to
bigbIv exalted pOsidOn-a position from
which. am told, shall probably be in
,5uc,ed 10 retire in consequence OF opin-
;ops have long entertained and which
mon this occasion mean 10 express with
he utmost candor.
In 1888 the people by an overwhelming
majority decided against calling a conven-
ion. la lS47 and lS4S they determined
IN favor of 8 convention by mslorities equal
IL decisive. is needless to demonstrate
tbst THIS change was the result of party tao
tics. seeking advantage over political ad.
yeuaries. No matter what has brought il
about, We are to have a convention; and
he rest questions now are, what changes
shalI We make in our present form of Gov
eminent what new principles ought We to
INTRODUCED
To make a new Government and intro
duce important changes in the old system,
under whose Operstons We have been long
secured in the enjoyment Of life, liberty and
property, and every civil, religious, and po-
ideal privilege, involve the highest resPon-
sbilties. Ia the great work, so pregnant
with good or evil, every citizen must feel
az intense interest. Ii is not my purpose,
however, to enter at large upon the consid-
erauon OF every subject upon which the
convention must act. To do so would be
to make q speech tedious beyond endar-
ance. My principal object is TO present
and defend my opinions on the subject oil
slavery.
believe that slavery as it exists among
Ris G great eyil-wrong in its origin
injurious in lis continuance to both races.
white and blsck--and that il ought 10 be
terminated.
There are bu, few who lusefy the org
nal importation OF negroes and making
them slaves. But there are many who. re-
gsrding the institution as having been forced
By the policy of Great Britain upon our CO
lOnial ancestors, are now opposed to any
change, believing the perpetuaton OF the
institution more advantageous 10 both mas
Ter and slave than any new order of thing
which human wisdom can devise and &C
cOmplish. The argument which maintain
that slavery is right in its origin, is founde'
upon the hypothesis that, as Ignorant, saw
age, and Unchristian people are made NOR
intelligent, more humane, more moral, All
embued with knowledge of the true Tod
by being brought under the control and dc
minion Of civilized and christian nations
therefore, TO advance the improvement an
happiness Of the weak, the barbarOus, an
unchristian men or tribe, the strong, tn
civilized, and christian community ma
rightlully reduce the individual OF tribe
slavery. Suppose we concede that this al
gument is well founded, and that intelll
gence and christianity, combined with pow
er, may Of right seize the subjects or cit
Gems Of a weak or savage tribe or nation
and carry them off into perpetual bondage
should we not then inquire how the trlbu
nal is to be organized which shall decid
what nations Of the earth are civilized, IN
telligent, moral, and christian; and ho'
commissions may be obtained by those Ju'
flying them to invade the territories OF tn
feeble, barbarous, and urchrlstian. and
make slaves Of them! Is it not imPosslbi
TO constitute such tribunal? What natio
or people on earth would submit TO its d.
crees, il il were established and attempte
to exercise Jurisdiction! In times past, tn
Popes Of Rome have, believe, arTogate
sOshority TO dispose Of heather savage N
tons and their people, according 10 ii
pleasure Of His Holiness. But the poop
thus given and granted to master ha'
never recognized the right Of the Pope
From the impossibility Of establishing q
bunal among men and nations clothed wi
authority TO decide who shall be maste
and who slaves, and TO secure acqulescen'
and submission to the awards Of such tnb
nal, it il manifest that there can be no hs
mony, no general understanding by whl'
the people Of the earth can be thrown IN
classes, OF masters on the one side al
slaves on the other and made 10 susta
such relations to each other, without "
lence. A slate Of slavery is, therefore, n
thing short of a state Of hostility betwe
opposing phslanxes, where one side b
surrendered at discretion, but unceasine
seeks for an opportunity to regain its orr
nal position. 1t is impossible to recC
Gle the slave and teach him TO love his CT
dition.
The constitution and laws Of the Uni
States indicate strong national sentim'
against slavery in its origin. Our revo
honary fathers, in framing the Federal G
stitution, vested Congress with power
prohibit the importation Of slaves from
LIST of January. 1908. This constitution
provision was carried into effect by an
approved ID March. 1907. This act
ieIted to the United States all vessels I'll
out for the purpose of engaging in
slave trade. and imposed a fine Of 40 {