The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-08-04
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There are some things connected with the Do
sition OF those who oppose EmaneipaGion.
which, It seems to me. mast produce IN he
| minds Of calm observers, fear and astonishmeat
These opponents Of Emancipation appear 10 %
unwilling 10 trust the people Of Ksniacky, with
the management OF the monsirOus InsttutOs
Of slavery In our State; although the most "a
cred interests Of Kentucky, nov and through
all time, are deeply involved in the proper man
agement Of this Institution.
/ will refer to the conduct Of our ate Lsvs,-
lature, ~ one evidence Of the unwiniagnes. o,
our opponents, that the people should r-gul.l.
everything in relation to slavery, although th.t
Legislature had no more righEfal authority than
the Emperor OF Russia, over the perpetualiOa
or aorogstion Of slavery among Us; yet, with
despotIc arrogance never before witnessed in
Kentucky, and seldom, il ever, in any country,
g.orying as Ne do, in the possession Of untram-
eied liberty, they have presumed TO dictate 10
the people what shall be done in the esminK
Convention on that subject That Legislature,
an assemblage Of weak and reckless public SER
wants, rising up in proud opposition The sovsr.
eign people, and in rebelliOas disregard Of the
very spirit and frame work Of our fres iastitu-
tons, have dared, in effect, 10 say to these peO-
pie; "fou must not, in your Convention y, called
TO amend and remodel the Constitution Of Ken
lucky, touch In any way the right to hold
slaves; We know your interests better than Yea
DO yourselves, and We interdict the cOnsdsra-
ton Of that subject in your Convention" Does
not s-eh eandnet. although weak aud reckle.s,
prove Clearly that the last Legislature were IN
willing to trust the people with Encouragement
Of the subject Of slavery
But again; our opponents contend with great
warmth, that none but Shareholders have right
to interfere In our State, with the subject Of
slavery. That they alone, who own property
In slaves, understand and are interested in this
subject, and should have The exclusive manage
ment Of it. Thus they wsuld deprive the great
majority Of the people Of Kentucky, Of the
right to act or speak on this subject, and thus,
30 Tar 40 slavery Is Concerned. they would dis
franchise At least foaT-ffshs Of all the free ciIi-
zens Of inland; underline untrue and delasive
observation, that these fOur-hfihs have no In
Ierest in the Institution Of slavery, and do not
Understand II. As II an Institution which must
Of necessity, and does undoubtedly affect. bsa-
eheially or adversely, the industry, education,
morality, wealth, and numbers Of our people:
and the value and the fertility Of cur lands, and
the quantity, the richness, and price of OsrprO-
ducts, throughout the whole State, could be
otherwise than deeply interesting, to ali the
people OF the State, and could be altogether
misu nderstood by them Such cannot Be the
case. Our cOuntrymen al have deep lnteres,
In the existence or non-existence Of slavery
amongst nc, whether they be slayehOldiag or
otherwise. And surely. the notion thai the en-
lire management Of the slave question, Of right
belongs TO shareholders alone, can spring from
no other source. than an unwillingness TO sab
nsit the whole question to the decision Of the
people at large.
Again, our opponents are continually En-
claiming, that it Is wrong to speak or wnts on
The subject OF Emancipation, because Il vii
excite the people and produce agitation In The
public mind And various sxPediens have
eeen resorted to. for the purpose Of preventing
from appealing to the people,
on this great question, In order that they, E6o
are The fountain Of all power and authority on
the subject, and whose intsrests are more deep
" concerned In Its right determination, than
the interests OF a minority can possibly Be-
should speak out. and decide whether slavery
shall be Perpetual In our Stale, or whether
something shall be done that looks toward u
Why this uneasiness on the part Of
our oPponentsf Why this unwiliingness, that
discussion on this, as on oil other sR1jeels'
should be free and Open1 Why shOald not ne
public mind contemplate this matter, IA al 10
tendencies aud resultsf Woaia u
not seem that as anreservet freedom Of diseas-
non, written and oral, should be INDUCED aPoa
he question Of slavery, a. 10 INDUCED upon al
'thersi But our opponents think that me
people ought not 10 discuss, and consequently
not consider or act. In references TO this trans
ssndently important and interesting saeleel-
Now, whatever reason may operate on ihe1
Minds, does k not appear II they are Hnwhl-
ng to trust the peoPlel
The advocates Of slavery also contend thai
he new Constitution must not contain Ehat
sailed the open clause; or in other WORDS ma.
must not contain q clause authorising speciA
amendments 20 that Constitution, 10 be saou1-
ed TO, and voted on. by the people; and thus %
pecIally adoptedo or rejected, As parts Of MAJ
be Constitution; without the trouble OF eau,
ng Convention, TO whom shall Be sabmittea
he whole Consultation, for amendment, ehangs
70 modification, a. 10 at present neeessary'-
md the advocates Of slavery oppose this open
iause, by which special amendments misn'
hus be made 10 the new Constitution, sxPfss
y upon the ground that IL will leave shs door
pen for the annual discussion Of the saosee'W
avery and Emancipation. Thus ssying' IN
lmost 50 many words. they are not vilhns,
ountry, should be constantly open for Discus
on by The people. Now, the advocates Of sd
~ snsosg he blacks, contend stoauy' ma
'sy are the best friepls, the 6rmsststay o. no
ny assoag The soAifss; but Iwoald entrsai mem
} consider, how long the liberty OF ths s1l''
Ill remain after they have lost the eonsutnes
berry Of epeech, and Of the press, upon
sheets; or through neaiigsnce, or sPatny,
ave csassd 70 use such liberty. Let ma gay
,ms, and shortly ail-grasping power VII
me dominant, over regulated liberty s.1 -
,tism VIII triumph on The dssruesoa o. ~
N s..so-