The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-03-24

in;o Canada. Size does not enjoy The Sc
cury which some Of the Slave States have.
by being caveFedi in depth by two or three
slave Siales intervening between them and
free States. She has greaIer length of
border on free States, ,han any otter slave
State in the Union. Fiat border is the
Ohio river, extending from the mouth OF
the Big Sanlutky 10 the m 7uth Of The Ohio,
distance Of near six hundred miles, sepa.
| ting her from the alIeady powerful and
growing States OF OHIO, Indiana and Hi
nois.
Vast numbers Of slaves have flel from
most OF the colniss il KsAtucky from the
m ,u,h Of Big Sandy 10 the mouth of Miami,
and The evil has Increased and i, ncreas-
ing Attempts to recover III, fu5tiyes load
to the most painful and irritating collisions.
Hitherto countenance and assistance To the
fuoitives have been chiefly afforded BY per
sons in the State Of Ohio; BUTT is 10 be ap
pretended, from the progressive orposi
ton to slavery that, in process ofiime, SINH
lar facilities TO the escape of slaves, viii be
found in the States Of Indiana and Illinois
By means Of railroads, Canada can he reach
ed fom Cincinnati in little more than
twenty four hours.
In The event Of civil wal breaking out
or in the more direinl event Of dissolution
OF the Union, in consequence Of the eXis
tence of slavery, Kentucky would become
the theatre and bear the brnul of the war.
She you'd doubtless defend herself with
her known vaor ami eaIantry; but the su
perioury Of the numbers by which she
would be opposed would lay was lie and de
vastate her fair fields. Her sister slave
States would fly 10 her succor, but, even if
they should ho successful in tie unequal
conflict; she never could obtain any ndem
nifty for the inevitable lavages OF the war.
1t may be urged that we ought no., by
the gradual abolition of slavery, to separate
ourselves from The other slave States. but
continue to share with them in all their fu
tnre fortunes. The power of each slave
State within lis limits, over the institution
of slavery, is absolute Supreme and excu-
sive-eAclusiye Of that of Congress or that
OF any other State. The government Of
each slave Stale is bound, by the highest
and most solemn obligations, TO dispose Of
the question OF slavery, SO as best to pro-
mote the peace, happiness, and prosperity
of the people ofthe State Kentucky be-
ing essentially farming Stale, slave labor
is less politabie.
II, in most of the other slave States, they
fad that labor more Profitable in the cul-
tnra Of l!e staples Of cotton and SUGAR, they
may perceive reason in that feeling for
continuing slavery, which ilcannoi be eX-
Periea should control the judg ment Of
Kentucky, as to what may he h'liag and
proper for her intercs s.--lf she should
abolish slavery, il would be her duty, and
| trust that she would be as ready as she
now Is 10 defend the slave States in the en-
10y ant of all their lawful ard constitution
al tights. Her power. political and phyni
cal, should be greatly increased; for the one
hundred and ninety odd thousand slaves
and their descendants, would be gradually
superseded by all equal number of white
inhabitants, who would be estimated per
capita, and not by the federal rule Of three
fifihs prescribed for the coored race in the
Constitution of the United Stales.
l have thus, without reserve, freely ex
pressed my opinion and presented my
views. The interesting subject Of which
have treated would have admiuei OF mach
enlargement but | have desired to consult
brevily. The plan which I have proposed
will hail!y be accused Of being 100 early
in lis commencement or too rapid in lis op
Grafton. 1t will be more likely to meet
with contrary reproaches. lfaiopled, It i
10 begin thirty four OF thirty nine years
from The time of lis adoption, as the one
period Or The other shall be solecte,, for its
commencement How Tonga time it will
take 10 remove all the coored race from the
State by the annual transportation of each
years natural increase, cannot be exactly
ascerained After the system had been in
operation some years, | think i, probable
from the manifest blessings that would flow
from it, from the diminished value Of slave
labor, and from the humanity and benevo.
lence OF private individuals prompting
liberation of their slaves and their trans2or
'aion, general disposition would exist to
accelerate and complete the work Of colo
nzalion.
That the system will be attended with
some sacrifices on the part of shareholders,
which are to be regretted, need not be de-
MED. What great ard beneficial enter
prise was ever accomplished without risk
and sacrifice? But these sacrifices are dist
ant, contingent and nconsidcrabe. As
Stunning he Year 1860 for the commence
menl of The system, all slaves born prior 10
that time would remain such during their
lives, and the personal loss of the slave
holder would be only the difference in val
ne OF female slave whose off spring, ifsie
had any, born after the first day of Janua
ry 1860, should be free at the age of TWEEN