The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-07-28
From the Louisville COURIER

From the Louisville Courier
The Principle Of I,msncipa,Ios.
We never felt the least suspicion that we had
the mark OF the serf aroond our throat until we
were denounced as "bigos," "'fanstics," ssbree-
ders of mischier," "men of no sense" and many
other honied pbsases of that KIND. We have been
reared under ih.. Constitution Of Kentucky and
thought thai men had right 10 form opinions and
express them, and thai in The exercise Of reason.
Judgment, truth aud honesty, we could act upon a
clearly recognised political principle. Il never
entered into our heads for q moment that ',fanai.
icism, bigoiry" 81 ''breeding Of mischief" were
elements of such a noble cause as that of einan-
eipaiion, and we could not suppose that there was
any great erminaliiy in being faithful 10 truth.
But alas! we did not know then that We had been
sold, that we were serfs, with masters we did not
know, and who ordered us shout es though they
had bill OF sale aud warranty for us.
But we intend 10 resist this oppression. Since
Pro-slaveryism is not content with hectoring and
bullying its black chaitels, but must Law its Iash
on the backs of the whites too, we find an addi-
lona reason for fighting il, and we feel our strength
renewed for the conflict by The attempt to enslave
me emancipation party oil this city. We can
STAND great deal, but we are neither slaves nor
dogs yet, 10 be scowled into silence. We do not
wish 10 do thing upon which our children shall
look, and blush al The degradation OF a parent
Never will we permit such 5nfamy 10 be ours: the
late OF the Neapoilans was enviable compared 10
IT. We feel no kind Of inclination 10 lei poets
sing Of US
"Lettheir fate be mock word.-let men OF all lands
Laugh out, with scorn that shall ring 10 The poles
when each sword that the towards let fall from their
hands
Shall be forged into letters to enter their souls.
nat then-oh disgrace upon manhood even then,
You should ater, should cling your pitif BREATH
fewer down into beasts, when you might have stood
And prefer the slaves lfe OF damnation 10 DEATH
Us srange-itis dreadful;-shout, tyranny. shout,
htough your dungeons and palaces Freedom is o'eI'
u mere myers one spark Of her light. tread IL out
hdretufn TO your empire Of darkness once more"
But we are breeders of mischief, because we
are determined TO be freedom Kenluckians, be-
cause We are honest in our political sentiments,
ana ale determined TO stand up firm, unfiinching
and answering IN our political principles. When
We ATE craven enough 20 be- denounced aud Wilt
ned into desertion OF holy and just cause, We
shall disclaim the honorable name OF KenTuck.
ans, for though we may degrade ouIseif, we shall
BRING no stain upon the honor OF Kentucky. When
we submitto hard names instead OF bard Arguments,
we are prepared 20 be slaves, and shall acknowl-
edge the mandates of master, but while we pre-
lend TO be free, We intend 10 act as q freeman, as
Aentuckian.
Henry Clay, that name dear 10 the people Of
hentucky, was once put IN The category that the
party in Louisville are threatened
Sith--he was denounced as "bigot, fanatic,
breeder OF mischief" for the same thing that we
nave had those beautiful things showered on our
reads, and his noble soul thus seoIned the foul
mputation:
''we are reproaehed with doing mischief BY the All.
ating OF tLts question (sayery.) Collateral eonse-
luenoes we arr not responsible for isnot this socie
y, which has produced the great moral revolution,
shieh The age exhibits What would THEY, who thus
roach US, have done3 II they wcald repress all ten
leneles towards Liberty, and ultimate emancipation,
hey must 60 more than put down the benevolent ef
orts Of this society They must go back the Of
'ur liberty and independence. and muZte the cannon
which thundex It's annual joyous return They must
evive the slave trade with all its train OF Atrocities
hey must blow out the moralights around US and
ipsulsh that greatest torch Of all, which America pre-
ents 10 oenighied world. pointing the way To their
ishs, Their hoertes and their happiness. And when
hey have achieved all these purposes, their work will
ret b. Incomplete. They must penetrate the human
ou aad eradicate the light Of reason and the love OF
berry. Then and not tin then. when universal dark
less and despair prevail, you psrIetuate slavery
nj represS alsyupathes aud all humane and oeneso-
az efforts among trsemen, In behalf al the unhappy
'ortloh OF our q &C d0iu,sd 10 bondage"
Ia these lofty. eloquent tones he troke the lssh
Il the political man diver, and in the same Ian.
aage We uuery scOIn and Ioalhe the attempt 70
row-heai US out OF our honor and integrity.
We feel too, as Mr.. Clay did in 1877, when he |
aid; ''lf could only be instrumental in Kidding
Il this foul blot" slavery that reYered State thai
ave me birth, nOnid not excAdRge Me proud sat |
sfaetioa vhieh should enjoy, for the honor Of all
ne tTiHmphs ever deereed 10 he most successful |
oHqxeTer." Did Henry Clay ever counsel dishon- |
II 10 hentuckyi Did he ever ''breed mischief in |
er society," Is he "isnatic," "bigot,s
man OF no senser' II these terms belong TO him |
or holding such sentiments rs we hold, aud coun- |
elliDg such action we do, they were not hor- |
me enough TO prevent him from being supported |
Of the Presidency, BY those who denounce us.
Even lhal Divine Institution 10 which the world |
indebted for all the happiness il possesses, and
% which IL looks for all that il is 10 have hereaf
er, met with such a reception as emancipation /
a he Dc of Of "a -.
ngs who derounce most exiTavsgantly anything |
hat is contrary 10 their notions. The keen
hrewd, wise, prudent, cautious Thessalonians
'hen Paul and Silas visited their city, declared |
hat ''these that have TUNED the world upside |
own, have come hither also, and al Athens, the |
ame discreet kind OF Conservatism, that was big |
With its own wisdom, wished 10 know, ''whai
Fil this babbler say" alluding 10 Paul. But the |
editions of Paul, which TUNED the world upside |
o ~n, and the babbling he uttered at Athens, have
urvived the empires Of Greece and Rome, and
ave filled the world with philosophy, worth |
billions Of all that was known TO Athens and /
lone. The conservatism that denounced Paul /
nd his doctrine went away with the perishable /
lings of the earth. and his seditiun and babbling
ave filled the world with Joy, peace, happiness,
nd eternal hope.
The cause OF emancipation must go onward. II
as all the elements of vitality in Il, aud cannot
e put down. Defeat il to-day, and il rises to.
lorrow 10 renew the conflict; beat il down in the
iorning, and it is ready for the fight in the even
lg again. IL Is the cause Of progress, and cannot
e defeated. II we cannot command success we
ltend TO deserve it II we are defeated now, our
uccessors shall view the field of our strife, with
he feelings that the Spartans surveyed the pass OF
hermopyls. There will they renew their hopes,
we fight valianuy.
We urge upon every emaneipationist every
here in Kentucky 10 record his vote in favor OF
he cause, and let the convention see the aggre-
ate strength oil the party. We hope no one will
Ill 10 deposte his yote-lhe future Of Kentucky
hands OF the emancipation party.