The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-10-06
The Couysutiou

Inc convention.
This body is now in session at Frankfort. We
trust that the results Of its deliberations will
prove that 1t is not merely body, but that IL
mas soul, and that soul alive to all the best
interests of Kentucky.
Mr. Guthrie, On taking the chair, expressed
the hope that "by mutual concession and for
bearaRce the best constitution may be agreed
on, the one that will best promote the interests
OF all" To that wish every true-hearted citi-
zen will cordially respond, and if the Conyen-
tiOn will act IN accordance with the spirit which
such wish indicates, the result Of its delber-
atoms will be seen in Constitution which will
be regarded with pride and affection, and will
long remain as a memorial Of the wisdom and
patriotism Of It's trainers.
"The interests Of ALL" This Is q compre-
hensiye expression. II embraces not class or
portion Of a community, but the whole COM
munity. Ii embraces shareholders, and IL also
embraces nOn-slsvehOlders. Wehope the MEM
bsrs of the Convention will bear in mind the
existence Of this latter class, comprising as il
does the overwhelming majority Of the citizens
Of Kentucky, snc having rights, TO say the
least, as distinctly marked, and interests as inn
Portsnt as the rights and interests of their feI-
low citizens, The Shareholders. In most of our
Southern States We find that generally men,
bsrs Of Legislative and other deliberstive bod
les have remarkable faculty of ignoring, TO
use an awkward but expressive word, the very
existence iof such beings as non-slaveholders.
To Judge from the proceedings Of such assem-
bies one would suppose that being of the
non-slaveholding species had never teen met
with South Of Mason ard Dixon's line. Now,
as such beings really do exist, and not merely
ss isolated specimens, but in sufficiently large
numbers to form a class, 1t would be pleasant
TO have their existence occasionally recognised.
We trust sincerely that the Convention now in
session at Frankfort may indicate its conscious
ness OF the existence Of such a class OF citizens
by forming a constitution so just and wise in
principle andsO accOrdsnt with the free spirit of
the age as to commend it TO universal approx
al. Such approval cannot be expected for a
Constitution breathing an Austrian spirit or
dishgured by any Cossack feature.
In reading the Louisville Journal, Of Tues
day last, We were surprised by an expression
contained in letter written by one Of the ed
itors Of that paper now in Frankfort. After
saying that "strOng provisions will be made to
guard the rights of slayeholders," the writer
adds:
""hether adequate security will be taken
against future agitation Of the emancipation
question 10 very doubtful. This will depend
upon the views which members take of their
pledges on the slavery question. The .ub-
stance and eery essence Of those pledges pas 10
oppose and put dOun emancipation and The eman-
etpafion agitation IL they guard slave proper
as ~ Is guarded in the present constitution,
ont taii 20 take any security against the reeur.
renee Of that agitation Which sprung ND under
fhe present constitution, then piH Keen fb,;r
pledges 10 The ear and break them 10 the hone"
This language seems strange, unaccountsble.
one would imagine from it that the late apita-
uoD OF the subject of emancipation had been
direct and reckless assault upon the rights Of the
STAKEHOLDER. Has the writer forgotten that
many OF the most prominent advocates Of
emancipation during the late discussion we,e
s'svehoiders, and some of them holder, ~
very large amount Of slave property Were