Lower Sandusky freeman. (Lower Sandusky [i.e. Fremont, Ohio]) 1849-1849, 1849-03-17


river extending from the mouth of Big Sandy to the
mouth of Ohio distance of near six hundred miles,
separating her from the already powerful and grow
| ing states Of Ohio Indiana and Illinois Vast num-
bers of slaves have fed from most of the counties
in Kentucky, from the mouth of the Big Sandy to
the mouth of the Miami, and the evil has increas-
ed and is increasing. Attempts to recover the fu-
gitlve leads to the most painful and irritating cols
ions. Hitherto countenance and assistance to the
fugitive have been chiefly afforded by persons in
the state of Oho but is to be apprehended, from
the progressive opposition to slavery that in process
OF time, similar facilities to the escape of slaves will
! be found in the states of Indiana and Illinois. By
means of railroads, Canada can be reached from
Cincinnati in little more than twenty-four hours.
In the event of civil war breaking out, or in the
more dreadful event of dissolution of the Union,
IN consequence of the existence of slavery, Kentucky
would be the theatre and bear the brunt of the war
She would, no doubt defend herself with her known
vaor and gallantry; but the superiority of the
numbers by which she would be opposed would lay
waste and devastate her fair fields Her sister slave
states would fly to her suceor; but even if they
should be successful i'll the unequal conflict she
never could obtain any indemnity for the inevitable
ravages of the war.
1t may be urged that we ought not, BY the grad
ua abolition of slavery, to separate ourselves from
the other slave states but continue to share with
them in all their future fortunes. The power of
each slave state, within its limits, over the insttu
ton of slavery, is absolute supreme and exclusive
Exclusive of that of Congress that of any other
state. The government of each slave state is bound
by the highest and most solemn obligations, to dis
pose of the question of slavery so to best pro-
mote the pe&ce, happiness and prosperity of the
people of the state Kentucky being a farming
state, slave labor is less profitable. If in most of
| the other slave states they find that labor more
profitable in the culture of the staples of cotton and
sugar, they may perceive reason in that feeling
for continuing slavery which cannot be expected
should control the judgment of Kentucky, as to-
what may be fitting and proper for her interests
If she should abolish slavery it would be as ready
as she now is, to defend the slave states in the
joyment of all their lawful constitutional rights
| Her power political and physical would be greatly
increased; for the hundred and ninety odd
thousand slaves and their descendants would be
gradually superseded by an equal number of white
inhabitants who would be estimated per capita, and
not by the federal rule of threefths prescribed for
the coored race in the constitution of the United
States
have thus, without reserve, freely expressed
my opinion and presented my views. The inter
estng subject of which | have treated would have
admitted of much enlargement, but have desired
to consult brevity. The plan, which l have pro-
posed, will hardly be accused of being too early in
its commencement or too rapid III its operation. It
will be more likely to meet with contrary reproach-
les. If adopted it is to begin 81 or SO years from
the time of its adoption as the period other
shall be selected for its commencement How long
time it will take to remove all the colored race
from the state, by the annual transportation of each
years natural increase, cannot be exactly ascertain
ed. After the system has been in operation some
years, think it probable, from the manifest bless
ings that would flow from it, from the diminished
value of slave labor, and from the humanity and
benevolence Of private individuals promoting lib
Grafton of their slaves and their transportation,
general disposition would exist to accomplish and
complete the work of colonization.
That the system will be attended with some sac
riices on the part of Shareholders which are to be
regretted, need not be denied. What7great and
beneficial enterprise was ever accomplished with
out risk and sacrifice? But these sacrifices dis
tant, contingent and inconsiderable. Assuming the
year go for the commencement of the system, all
slaves born prior to that time would remain such
during their lives, and the personal loss of the
STAKEHOLDER would be only the difference in value of
female slave whose offspring if she had any, born
after the first day of January, 1860 should be free
at the age of twenty-five, or should be slaves for
life. In the meantime, if the right to remove or
sell the slaves out of the state should be exercised
that trihing loss would not be incurred The slave
holder, after the commencement of the SYSTEM
would lose the difference in value between slaves
tor life and slaves until the age OF twenty-five. He
might also incur some considerable expense in rear
ing, from their birth, the issue of those who were
to be free at twenty-five until they old enough
to be apprentced out; but as it is probable that
they would be most generally bound to him, he
would receive some indemnity from their services
until they attained their majority.
Most of the evils, losses, and misfortunes of hui
man life have some compensation Or alleviation-
The STAKEHOLDER is generally landholder, and am
persuaded that he would fnd in the augmented
value of his land some, if not full indemnity for
losses arising to him from emancipation and coloni
cation. He would also literally share in the gen
eral benefits accrung to the whole state from the
extinction of slavery. These have been often and
so fully stated that will not nor is it necessary to
dwell upon them extensively. They may be sum-
med up in few words. We shall remove from
among US the contaminatng influences of servie
and degraded race of different color shall enjoy
the proud and conscious satisfaction of placing that
race where they can enjoy the great blessings of
liberty and civil, political md social equality; we
shall acquire the advantage of the diligence, the
fidelity and the constancy of free labor instead of
the careessness the nidelity and the unsteadiness
of slave labor; we shall elevate the character of
white labor and elevate the social condition of the
white laborer; augment the value of our lands, i'm
prove the agriculture of the state, attract capital