The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-29
Kentucky Constitutional Csnention.
OUR FRANKFORT CORRESPONDENTS.


The Slavery Q~estion-Points m thu Discusst0S
thersof-Gems of the Debats-Statng Gases
The Weather, &c.
When last l wrote you, believe romised you
some notice Of the interesting, ant In many re-
spects, peculiar discussion that has ocurred in the
convention on the slavery question, embracing in
Its range every possible phase and )rm In which
that question can possibly be preseled. Indeed,
was not aware that it could be mde to assume
30 Protean an aspect. But it haSeen said that
tho Kentuckians are ingenious peple, and this,
perhaps, is to be taken as another eidence of that
fact.
The discussion, without being characterized by
any very great ability, was attractie from the pc
culiarity OF the sentiments avowc. | could not
help wishing, occasionally, for theresence In the
galleries OF some of the fanatic abdtonsts of the
East, IT for nothing else Than te sake of the
amusement winch the expressions of their indig-
nation. wonder, and astonishmet, would have
afforded l shall not attempt to gre you any con-
nected summary of the debate, ut will merely
give YOU such an anslys of the Arguments as will
DO sufficient to develope the Fomnent points
made.
Let me premise by saying tha there has been
pro-slavery sentiment adopted il the convention.
And, as the slavery queston-enancipation or no
smaRcipation-was the great, tn absorbing issue
in the election of the delegates, much so, as 10
obiterate, in many instances, he old party land
marks, and to result in the reurn of democrats
from strong, undoubted, and heretofore answering
wing counties, 1t IS no donbt, true that the dele
gates fairly and fully represent what may be con-
sidered the matured public sentiment of the
people of the State ON this important ques-
ton. Those, therefore, whetherin or out OF Ken
lucky, who have looked forwar, to the results of
the action of the convention as in any way con-
ducive to the abolition Of slavery in the State,
will be most utterly disappointed. Not single
man In the convention has as yd avewed himself
IN favor of any plan of emancipation.
The general tenor of the arguments have been,
that slavery, as it exists in Kentucky, is the best
possible condition in which the lave can be placed,
and that 1t Is a blessing alike tothe white and the
black man-that the condition of the tree negro,
from the TACT that he yerobain any social or
political position, and is, therefore, deprived of all
the stimulus to good conduc, hat ambition offers,
Is Infinitely worse than that OF the slave,
while his proneness 10 nee and crime Is
venience to the whites, that he should be
allowed 10 remain in the Safe. The same con-
sdeIatlons OF humanity TO The slave and regard
for ire master, also require, that these numbers
should never be allowed 10 increase. Therefore,
emancipation could never be practicable, or sup
portable, unless provision was also made at the
same time, tor the removal from the State OF the
slaves TO bs emanclpated IL was held that slavery
exalted and ennobled The character OF the white
man. and preserved an equality the social system,
so Tar as the white race was concerned, totally I'M
known in the free States. In the one, there were
but two casses-the white and the black man;
while In the North there were many distinctions,
resulting In the degradation OF the white laborer 10
position even below that OF the slave. Where
slavery existed, the people were characterized by
generous, hospltable, and chlvarous sentiments TO
far greater extent than where II did not exist. IL
also developed TO tar greater extent, the intellect
and ability OF the people, the history OF this
Union exhibited, IN the prePonderance of distIn-
guished men from the South, who had directed
the councils OF the republic. IL was held, also, that
emancipation would have tendency 10 sever all
the associations OF Kentucky with her old and fast
and tiled frienos, the other slave States of the
Union, and 10 connect her with those who have
ever varied upon her, and are foreign to her
institutions and associations. Ii would also tend
TO over.popuate the country, by the influx OF
emgrants who would then pour into the State,
and thus lead to the reduction of the value of white
labor. And hnally, that u would be seizure OF
the private property of the citizen, which no public
could possibly demand, that would be In direct
contravcnlon OF the clause ut the constitution OF
the United States declaring that the obligations OF
contract should not be impaired.
On the question Of the further Importation OF
slaves there was considerable diversity of opinion
BY party II was held that the natural increase Of
the slaves IN the South was as rapid as was Proh-
table, and that 10 increase number be TO decrease
their value, and, also, that as good slaves would
bring higher price in the cotton and sugar States,
that those brought 10 Kentucky would be OF the
worst class, VINO, by their intercourse with those
olr 1u he &fsfa ham, xlat nua
and ungoyernable. On the other side, II was urged
that there should be no monopoly IN this descnp-
ton Of property, but that every one who desired a
slave for his own use should have the privilege Of
purchasing II where he might deem proper. To
restrict that privilege, would be TO create mono-
poly and n slaveocracy In the State, that ought
never TO be permitted.
These were the maia arguments and points in
the discussion; and the subject is interesting
one, you will allow me to illustrate them by
such quotations from the speeches as bear directly
on those points and arguments. They will be found
TO advance opinions ~ many instances alike novel
and ingenious, and will serve TO exhibit, better
than anything else, the peculiar ideas entertained
n the Stale on the sabIcct You may style these
extracts, If you please,
GEMS or THE DEBATE.
l. Slavery as an abstract question, and as II exists
IN Kentucky. Mr.. DlXoNi -
"I would II bad the power, make all mankind free
would have such thisg ~ slavery or inequality
would have equal rights measured out TO all, but in
Of man We to LOOK at the condition Of things
they TO adapt the laws to the condition Of
those to be goyerned-I shall attempt to show that
slavery IL not " exists nos In Kentucky,
but that " II blessing do not mean 20 say az re-
marked before that -ould be better n there
spch thing slavery On the face Il the earth. do
mean 60 say that slavery exists Ia keBtucky-in
view q all the circumstance around " in vew OF the
wretched condition Of the slave his relation TO his
master the peculiar organization Of the two races the
utter mpossibity that the can rise 70 an equality
In the scale OF iy aud dgsiy With the other the
fact that the slave whether you cal him feen or
not IL stil but slave. the wreehed oncsst ,lave-l
say u becomes question Of grave imp orauce TO Ken.
lucky whether II - not blessing alike Go the slave
aud the white nan that no IL a slave y
H. The position of Kentucky on the slavery ques-
tor. Mr. GLARKE,-
"The broad Ohio rolling its waves from almost the
outtetn extremity q the state 20 ts eastern bOrdeI
separates Kentucky fro the free States and her
bers Of Coz gress and the member of Congress fr0n
every slave State In the Union t hat when the great
natural barrier, the line ~ fepsraitUp between the
elay. the free states struck down. there
danger They felt that ttere scarcely slave State
In the Union that would not 90 by the board la lee.
than twenty yesrs, II kentucky abandoned her old
friends who had stood by her IN every emergency aud
atli n vi he'd AIRED