The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-03

or the proposal oil II, awaken such pecu
liar sensibility? 1t is that the refusal is pu
on moral grounds. 1t is our fixed convic
lion that slavery is morally wrong, tina
makes our position so exasperating to lh'
people Of the South. They say, "You pro
scribe us by the proposed law. You as
sail our characters You say that we have
among us practice so bad that it cannon
be tolerated. Then we must be bad men
We cannot submit to this" For our owl
part, we are painfully sensible to this bear
ing Of our position and our argument ,o
their bearing upon many excellent, honora
ole, and Christian men. But we must say,
that the fault is not ours. We have taken
no new ground upon this matter of slavery.
1t is they that have placed themselves in a
new and a wrong position Pressed by at
lacks from the North, and indeed from the
whole civilised world, ard led on by an
eminent statesman OF their own, they have
iorsaken the old defensive ground and as
sumed the offensive. They have forsaken
the ground which their and our fathers held,
that slavery was a system entailed upon
them, aud from which they could not i'm
nediately free themselves; and they boldly
maintain that il is a most excellent, a most
admirable, most Christian institution, and
ought to be permanent; that it is perfectly
ust and right to buy and sell men like cat
tie in the market, and TO hold them in bon.
dage forever 1t is this that has brought us
into direct, moral collision as opposing par
ties.
Who shall yield! 1t is a solemn and
momentous question. We cannot. If they
will motif the Southern States choose to
break of from this republic, and to set up
a conlederacy for themselves--there are two
things, We think, not TO mention others,
which are to be commended to their very
serious consideration. First, il has been very
well asked, which OF those States will con-
sent to be border States! Will Virginia and
Kentucky, or will North Carolina and
Tennessee! They must build a wall far
higher than the Chinese wall, or they can
not keep their slaves a month. The bond
man will have but to pass an imaginary
line, to cross field, Or TO leap fence, and
he will be free. Next, the republic, that
establishes itself with the feelings and ON
the simple footing Of preference Of the
slave system. will lay itself under the ban
of the whole Christian world. We should
not wonder if some civilised nations should
refuse to send ambassadors to il. We should
not wonder if by others the very courtesies
Of private life should be denied TO its citi-
zens. The reproach Of which they now
complain would gather into weight Of uni.
versal reprobation that would be enough to
crush down any people. They may resent
the suggestion now; they may say they are
sufficient to themselves; but no family, no
community, no nation, can long stand
against universal scorn ard Indignation
The inhabitants Of such country would
gradually forsake it, or they would go down
in selfrespect, in virtue, in character, as
certainly as there are laws of the social
world that bind them in common with other
men.
These are painful things 10 say; but, in
common with many other considerations,
they persuade US that there will be no disso.
luton Of this Union 1t is painful to say
them; but on such subject, free, frank,
plain words are to be spoken. The true
courtesy between honest and honorable mer
is perfect and fearless sincerity. II we had
brothers Of our own blood in the South, VT
should say this 10 them. We should say
"You cannot separate from US; you canno
arrange any feasible plan Of separation
and you would bring upon yourselves thu
deepest injury and dishonor before the whole
world, if you could"
We say dshonor before the world. There
is no doubt about that. But we mind no
mainly, in this matter, what the world says
what the world calls dishonor. We stant
upon the ground Of eternol right. Free
dom is our natures birthright. Where i
the man on the face of Gods earth who
will say, that for the slave to break the chair
which binds him, and to flee from it, is al
unworthy deeds forbidden by nature'I
law2 Nowhere. The voice Of all thu
world thus adjudges slavery to be wront
to humanity. Freedom, we say, is our ma
lures birthright. We are SCALED to lib
erty" by the voice of Heayen--and now
emphatically, OF earth also. A cry ha
gone through the world, saying, up, ant
demand justice! Up. and be feel Justice
Empires are shaken, thrones tremble, king
grow pale at that word. Justice! 1t is tn
stability Of the universe; it il the throne 0
Heaven; it is the guardianship Of the world
il is the law Of all time; it is the empire Q
eternity
The Emancipation Of slavery In Keutseky
Several gentlemen in the city Of Loui:
vile of both political parties. with Chan
cellor Nicholas at their head, have issue
an address to the people OF Kentucky
urging the propriety OF providing in tn
new Constitution, for the gradual emanc
patton of the slaves in this State. The ia,
that most of these gentlemen are naiiv
Kentuckisns, and those who are not, al
slave holders, we should think, would Ell
title their appeal to respectful and earne
consideration. The subject itself is one I
y solemn moment, and claims the profoun
$ attention Of every patriot in The Common
!. wealth. 1t is of deeper interest in all j
!, aspects than any other which could engal
It the public mind. Ii is perhaps no COMP
!. ment TO ourselves to speak the truth, that
a is weaker in its bearing upon our NOR
n sense than upon any other. Yet it is n
e strange that an institution, sanctioned
the tolerance OF our fathers, and familiar