Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-03-23
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM
HENR CLAY.
His Views on the Subject OF slavery
and Plan Of Emancipation.
New ORLEANS. Feb. IL. 1919


opinions upon grave aud important question,
which, il was then anticipated, would be much
debated and considered BY the people Of Ken
lucky, during this year, in consequence Of the
approaching Convention summoned to amend
their present Constitution. ! was not entirely
we'll when le(l home and owing to that cause,
and my confinement several weeks, during my
soIourn in this city, from the effects Of an acc.
dent which be(el me, have been DELAYED in the
fulflment Of my promise, which now propose
to execute.
The question TO which | allude is. whether
African slavery, as il now stands in Kentucky,
shall be left TO perpetual or indefinite contn.
uance, or some provision shall be made, in the
new Constitution, for its gradual aud Ultimate
exlinclionl
A few general observations will suffice for
my present purpose, without entering on the
whole subject Of slavery, under all its bearings
and in every aspect of it. lam aware that there
are respectable persons who believe that slavery
is blessing; that the institution ought to exist
in every we'll organized society, and that it is
even favorable 10 the preservation Of liberty.
! Happily, the number who entertain these ex.
travagant opinions, is not very great, and the
time would be useIessly spent in an elaborate
relutation Of them. would, however, remark
that if slavery be fraught with these alleged
benefits, the principle on which il is maintain
ed, would require that one portion Of the white
race should be reduced TO bondage to serve an.
other portion Of the same race, when black SUBJ
ecls Of slavery could not be obtained, and that
in Africa, where they entertain as great pref.
erence for their color as we do for ours, they
would be justified in reducing the white race 10
slavery, in order 10 secure The blessings which
that state is said to dtfuse.
An argument in favor of reducing the African
race TO slavery, is sometimes derived from their
aIeGgod intellectual inleriorly TO the white race
but if This argument be founded on fact, las il
may be, but which shall not now examine, il
would prove entire v too much. Itwoud prove
thai any white nation which had made greater
advances in civilization, knowledge and wisdom
than another white nation, would have right
TO reduce the latter TO a state OF bondage. Nay,
further, if the principle of subugation founded
upon intellectual superiority be true, and be ap-
picable 10 races and nations, what is to prevent
its being applied 10 Individuals And then the
wisest men in the world would have a right 10
make slaves Of all the rest of mankind.
If, indeed, we possess the Intellectual superi.
ority, profoundly grateful and thankful to Him
that bestowed it, we ought to fulfil all the obi
cations and duties which it imposes and these
would require us not 10 subjugate or deal UNJUST
ly by our fellow men who are less blessed than
we are, but 10 instruct, 10 improve and enlight-
en- them.
A vast majority of the people Of the United
States, in every section of them. believe re-
gret the introduction Of slavery into the colon
les, under the authority Of our British ancestors
lament that single slave treads our soil, deplore
the necessity Of the continuance of slavery in
any Of the States, regard the institution as a
great evil to both races, and would rejoice in
the adoption of any safe, just and practicable
plan for the removal of all slaves from among
US. Hitherto no such satisfactory plan has been
presented. When, on the occasion Of the for.
nation Of our present Constitution of Kentucky
in 1888, the question Of the gradual emancipa
lon Of Slavery in that Stale was agitated, it:
friends had to encounter great obstacle, in the
fact that there then existed no established colo
ny TO which they could be transported.
Now, by the successful establishment Of flour
ishing colonies on the western coast of A(rca,th
difficulty has been obvued. And | confess
that, without indulging in any undue feelings o
superstition, it does seem 10 me that il may have
been among the dispensalions of Providence tc
permit the wrongs, under which Africa has suf
lered, 10 be inflicted that her children might b.
returned TO their original home, civilized, imbu
i ed with the benign spirit of Christianity, and pre-
pared ultimately to redeem that great Continen
from barbarsm and doatry.
y Without undertaking 10 judge for any othe
State it was my opinion in 1899 that Kentuck,
was in condition 10 admit of the gradual eman
cipation Of her slaves; and how deeply do | la
b ment that system with that object, had no
then been established! Ifi had been, the Stat
would now be nearly rid of all slaves. My O
pinion has never changed, and have frequent
y publicly expressed il. should be most hap
py if what was impracticabIe at that epocI
could now be accomplished.
v After full and deliberate consideration Of tn
subject, it appears to me that three principle
should regulate the establishment of system
Of gradual emancipation. The first is that
should be slow in its operation, cautiously an
e gradual; so as 10 occasion no convulsion; no
any rash or sudden disturbance, in the existn
habits Of society. Cd. That, as an indispens
,e BILE condition, the emancipated slaves should b
m removed from the State to some colony. An
thirdly, that the expenses of their transportatio
: to such colony, including an outfit for six month
after their arrival at it should be betrayed by
g fund TO be raised from the labor of each free
u slave.
Nothing could be more unwise than the in
mediate liberation Of all the slaves in the Stat
,e comprehendng both sexes and all ages, fro
that Of tender infancy to extreme old age.
: would lead to the most frighiful and fatal col
sequences. Any great change in the condu
e of society should be marked by care and ci
cumspection.-'rhe introduction of slaves in
the colonies was an operation Of many yea
# duration; and the work of their removal fro
>. the United States can only be effected after tn
= lapse Of great length of time.
think that period should be fixed when 9
e born after should be free at a specified age, q
koc "a, 1on,n;nirr e.,