The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-24
From the Maysville Eagle.
The County Meeting.

ton. 1t was one Of the largest County
Meetings, as distinguished from general
mass conventions, ever held in the county Of
Mason. The spacious room Of the Court
House was filled to overaowing-lhe aisles
were densely crowded. and a great number
occupied the gallery. During its long sit
ting, there was but little diminution Of the
large collection.
This being one of the FIRST meetings ever
convened in Kentucky, for the purposes
avowed in the call, il was natural that its
proceedings should be looked to with inter-
est, not only by the people Of this county
but Of the whole Commonwealth. We are
happy in being able to state, that everything
done, was in consonance with the high po-
sition Of those active in their participation
in the meeting, and with the noble charac
ter Of the county. A thoughtful, yet earnest
feeling, pervaded all its deliberations.-
Every member Of it seemed deeply impress
ed with the sentiment, that they were acting
upon a subject of great and mOmentous
consideration to the people OF the State
The venerable Chairman, who had witness
ed the adoption Of the present Constitution,
and watched the growth OF the Common
wealth under it for half century, express
ed himself strongly DESTROYS of removing
from it the evil which had operated as the
greatest clog TO its prosperity. All the
speeches were full Of a spirit of hopeful
confidence that the day would soon come
when, in the progress of opinion, kentucky
would, by the calm and deliberate action
Of her citizens, gradually relieve herself Of
the institution OF slavery. All the members
Of the meeting evidently participated fully
in this feeling.
There was nothing Of rashness manifest
ed upon the occasion. The resolutions will
speak for themselves. They are bold, yet
calm, cautious, and well-considered, and
are calculated to commend themselves to
all who view the subject, uninfuenced by
the passions and prejudices which so natu-
rally and usually arise from its consideration.
The cause Of gradual emancipation and
colonisation was placed in its proper light
before the people of the county. The sys-
TEN was properly sketched as one which
proposes no injustice by an attack upon
vested rights. IL ->ss eloiuently tlrsSsieeIl
as a scheme at once OF philanthropy and
patriotism, the accomplishment of which
will be the triumph Of an enlightened and
liberal selfinterest on the part Of the free
men OF the State and great blessing TO
the slave.
We trust that after such demonstration,
the motives OF those who regard the removal
of slavery as a subject whose importance
transcends that of all questions Of party and
policy, and who, therefore. desire its earnest
and thoughtful consideration by the people
OF the State, will be duly appreciated
There are those who think it such q ques-
ton as only arises once in cycle of years,
and who, therefore, enlist all their noblest
impulses and energies in the cause. Outcry
and calumny will not daunt such men. In
tolerance cannot crush them. The subject
is one Of exceeding delicacy. individuals
will differ in relation to it, Our Constitu-
ton allows a full and free discussion, and
Justice demands far tolerance Of ali opin-
ions. II submitted to the arbitrsment OF
the People, the only tribunal which should
decide il, they will soon seek out truth and
Justice from the agitation Of the contest
With their decision when j; does come, all
should be content.
A very large and respectable meeting of the
citizens OF Mason county, convened at the Court
House in the city of Naysville on Monday, the
18th of February, IN pursuance of call signed by
523 votes of the county, previously published IN
the papers OF the city TO take into consideration
some questions connected with the institution OF
Slavery in Kentucky.
On motion or Z. I. Hord Esq, the meeting was
organized by the appointment OF Hon. Adam Beat
| ty President, and Hon. John Chambers, Edward
l.. Bullock, Abner HOrd, David Morris, .. III. Z.
Wheeler, Jesse Turner, Joseph Howe and Chris
! tan Shultz, Esqrs., Vice Presidents.
| T.. c. PhisteT and Granville Young were then
appointed Secretaries.
Upon motion of John A. MClung, Esq., the
President appointeda committee OF ten, composed
of the following gentlemen, 10 report resolutions
| for the consideration OF the meeting; John A.
| NJ Clung, +. Il. Hord, A. ]. Smedley, Charles A.
MARSHALL, Benedict hirk Joseph Forman, Samuel
Donelson, Asa K. Runyon, VIM. c. HoltOn, and
| David Rice Bullock, Esqrs.
During the retirement of the committee, the
| President, at the request Of the meeting, offered
1
| objects Of the meeting. At the close OF his re-
marks, the committee reported the following res
| olutions:
| WHKHKAs II has been determined by the people o.
Kentucky that Convention shall be called for the pur
pose Of revising and amendng te
OF our lelowctzens in public meeting held IN the citl
of Maysve in January last, adverse TO any system
Emancipation present or prospective, with oil
withont Coloplz alton; and rreas deem II right
proper that full and free expression or pablo opinion
should be had upon question SO grave ana momentou
in its airing upon the future destiny oil our country
T. Resided That inthe opinion Of this meeting, the in
itution of Slavery Is great political and social evil fol
the existence OF which ia Kentucky, however, the pres
| emf generation is not at all responsible.
That while we attach no blame 70 .he Slsvenoder
manifested by portion OF the North, we esteem 1t GU
right our interest," and our duty, to deliver ourselves
from an injurious political institution, which we have in
herited from our fathers by any plan which shall be rea
sonabe constitutional and just to the owners Of spe
cies Of property. -
tenn of emancipation, accompanied by colonization
should be adopted by our State We regard such pro
ject practicable polc and humane, ana earnestly dc
Thst while we declare ourselves In favor OF som,
carefully devised plan OF emancipation which shall b
gradual in its operation are utterly opposed to an
system which shall not result in the final removal Of tn
black race from Kentucky.
| s That we contemplate with Measure the presen
craving and prosperous colony OF Liberia, and indulg
The hone that may hereafter become asylum for tn
emancpaied slave of Kentucky and the means OF dus
ng the OF civilization and christianity Throughout
the African continent.
lam of Rmancpation accompanied by colonization en-
grated in the Constitution about to be formed We
not however at present, deem u proper to insist apo
that measure But we do indispensable to nsis
upou the insertion Of acause in the New Constitution
by which the people will be allowed to vote upon tina
subject separately whenever an act OF the Leg,satur
be passed which shall authorize the same, and wher
ever msiorityo Of the people shall clearly manifest d.
sire for Emancipation, that ther WI mus espresso
shalI then be cna.sfed into the Constitution TO be as