The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-07-07
WHOLE NUMBER IOs.

: said by the Rev. Mr.. Robson, of Frankfort
: and quote from him:
"But at the same time It Is obvious 70 the re
necting, thai the tendency Of our system {
still more democratic forms, Is usiayorsble {
that peculiar phase Of the social system und.
which alone slavery can exist with comfort q
both servant aad master. la Virginia and Soui
( Caroinz alone, OF all the other slav-holdin
States, mas ever that form OF social organisation
iuily obtained. Its popularity is a sort Of arts
tocratic democracy, In which wealth rather tina
numbers, holds the control in government :
representation according 10 Ia xaIiOn,'' Is II
fundamental thsory--and The prsc tical operation
OF the theory, Is to give dignity and uubounde
influence TO the laveholder-msking him in Ell
feet, feudsl Baron in his little CT role, onl,
with more absolute sway. Occupying such
position, service is rendered him, not under III
mere pressure Of physical force, but with tn
willing homage Of feudal loyalty. He has NJ
one 10 question his authority, and his yzsssl
never learn 10 dream Of any other law than hI.
leommand-any other standard Of taste and man
aers than his conduct-any other standard o.
right and wrong thsa hrs opinions.
"but this order of ihisgs is fast passing away
the old Virginia gentleman has become almos
a historic character. Powers passing over from
'oeaih 10 numbers, and Just rs the change GOES
4
position in the eye Of his vassals aud introduces
force Instead Of loyalty as the motive Of obeci-
ence. Then the law and discipline Of slavery
necessarily relaxes-for the obedience Of mere
iorce, Is too ungrateful TO be enacted 10 the ut
most--and just as the law and discipline Of sIa-
very relsxes, the system itself becomes uncom-
Portable and burdensome. Slavery as seen here.
rim West Virginia, Is indeed spoken Of as TIE
nader form" OF the system, yet il is vefv
Questionable whether il Is not, all thi8gs COZ
sidered, It's very worst phase. A phase OF il, an
which masters no longer assert their rights or
discharge their duties. The only law for the
system, In the very nature Of the case, Is shso-
ute authority and absolute obedience. When
the habits aud feelings and customs Of society
sustain the master ia the exercise Of the one
and impress the slave with the necessity OF the
other, then slavery may exist compatible With
the peace and comfort Of all concerned. Win
no sources Of constant riIaIion, the m4ster
will be the more disposed 10 kindness, and the
bondage will be less felt ia the slave. But so
soon as that authority is restrained IN the least,
either by interference Of Jaw, or By seruples OF
conscience, or by the influence Of social Opin-
ion, the system becomes at once burdeusomr
and hateful. The reins Of authority held with
a ialtering hand encourages the governed 10 be-
come refractory. Then bribery 10 the resort
Hut Obedience purchased by brides soon breOm-
unreaso0ably exsctiBg. Aud then commences
tho contest 10 be waged through Ii---N no /. 10
be mdster--the owner or the slave. Ia this
state Of Affairs, labor soon becomes unpro6Ia-
BILE, and the half free indole0l negro has worked
out more perfectly thsn any other character OF
laborer, the problem, OF the least possible amount
OF work for the greatest possible amount OF paw
Now the whole tendency Of political opinion, j.
TO the destruction Of that form Of civil society.
IN which alone slavery can exist 20 advantage
Fellow -eitizens, who does not know that al.
moat every negro in Kentucky IL a separate ira
der. He works osfsssib'y for his master in the
daytime, but "the night, Oh, the night for him f"
Your produce Is stolen aud marketed By hIm,
and IL our town marshal could only ''lesd you
Into the light" Of all the dark ceejs which he
has ferreted out. you would be aSionished al Iae
amount OF stealing al the n-g'O meetings, sno
negro balls that are held night after nig4t.
Ihink you would iud il to your iafsSssfto GIT
clear Of this population soun 40 pracIic Bile.
Fellow CiIizrns Of BSurbon, am not actuaird
by any maskish seBsibility in favor Of the
<sve, but look ing - On IN The int--~--v - al,
white population, l wish 10 be clear Of them
have tried to prove what has long been evil
de Mt 10 ny self, that slavery 10 10 the white pop.
ulstiVn OF Kentucky cur-r, morally, political
~ and socially. Whether | have succ. eded,
shall not pretend 10 say-you are the judge
u ~
are logically drawn, and IL Is for on 10 come
aud meet the truth face 20 face. or blink il anc
dodge u. shall now proceed to answer some
Of the objections.
LIST. We are told that we are taking from the
people their property without paying them for
it-ihat the RICH: Of property is one OF the great
natural rights Of man. Mr.. Jrfierson said that
the right OF life. liberty and the pursuit Of hap.
piness, were the great, iRsiienable rights Of
man-now, 1t seems the right Of properly is aa-
ted 10 the list. Well, II il is, let it be so. The
right OF liberty is at least paramount to the
right of property; for believe in the sentiment
expressed by DR.. r. ]. Breckenridge, that il
there Is any right Of property more sacred than
another, IL is mans right TO property in him
self
But this objection comes too soon. The
Ems cipauonists Of Kentucky have submitted
no Neegfe plan; they have simply declared it 10
be an evil, morally, socially ana politically, ano
say II ought not to be perpetusied. Mr.. Clay,
IL is true, has submitted his plan, In which he
says
"That the system will be attended with some
sacrifices on the part Of Shareholders, which are
TO he regretted, need not be denied. What great
and beneficial enterprise was ever accomplished
without risk and sacrificed But these sacrifices
are distant, contingent, and uncomfortable. As
Stunning the year 1860 for the eOmmen cem~ni
Of the system, all slaves born prorto that tim,
would remain such during their lives, aud the
personal loss Of the stakeholder would be only
the difference in value Of a female slave whose
offspring, il 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. L.
the meantime, II the right 10 remove or sell the
slave out Of the State, should be exercised, thst
Irifiing loss would not be incurred. The slave
hOlaar. affef ihs me nj of m
would lose the difference in value between slaves
for lifs and slaves until the age Of tsenty-fise
he might also incur s9me iuconsideTable ex-
pense in rearing, from their birth, the issue OF
| those who were TO be free at twenty FIVE, until
they were old enough TO be apprentieed out.
but az it 10 probable that they would b. most
generally bound 10 him, he wOulo receive some
'"t-mniry from their services, ~-ut they ~s
tanned their majority.
"Most Of the evils, losses and misforiunes OF
human life have some compensation or alievia-
tion- The STAKEHOLDER is generally laBGhOld-
er, and am persuaded that he would hnd, ia
| the augmented value OF his land, some, ii no,
| full Indemnity for losses arising TO him from
emancipation and colonisatiOn. lie would also
literally share In the general benefits accruiBr TO
the whole State, from the ex,iGetion Of slavery
| These have been often and 80 fully stated,
thai viii not, nor Is IL necessary 10 dwell upon
on them extensively. We shall remove from
amosg Us The conisminsling Influences Of h
| serviie and degraded race OF different color; We
shall enjoy the proud and conscious satisfaction
Of placing that rsce where they can enjoy the
great blessings Of liberty and civil, Poiiucsl aud
social equality; We shall acquire Tue sdyantsg-
OF the diligence, the fidelity and the cons'ascy
Of free labor. Instead of the carrless1ess, the
inhdelity and the unstesdiness Of slave labor;
We shall elevate the character OF white labor.
nd alleviate fha sos>faI eeadifion of the yvhfls