Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-03-22
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN


never could obtain any indemnity for the newt
able ravages Of the war.
%. 1t may be urged that we ought not, by the
gradual abolition Of slavery, to separate oursel-
yes from the other slave States, but continue to
share with them in all their future fortunes
The power of each slave State, within its limits,
over the institution of slavery, is absolute, SUI
preme and exclusive-exclusive of that of Con-
gress or that of any other State. The govern
ment of each slave State is bound by the high
est and most solemn obligations to dispose Of
the question of slavery so as best to promote the
peace, happiness, and prosperity of the people
of the State-Kentucky being essentially farm
ing state, slave labor is less profitable If, in
most of the other slave states, they find that la
Dor more profitable, in the culture Of the staples
of cotton and sugar. they may perceive reason
in that feeling of continuing slavery, which can.
not be expected should control the judgment of
Kentucky as to what may be fitting and proper
for her interests. If she should abolish slavery,
it would be her duty, and trust that she would
be as ready as she now is, to defend the slave
States in the enjoyment of their lawful and con-
sttutional rights, and her power, political and
physical, would be greatly increased: for the one
hundred and ninety odd thousand slaves and de-
scendants would gradually be superseded by an
equal number of white inhabitants, who would
be estimated per capita, and not by the federal
rule of three-tflhs prescribed forthe colored race
in the constitution of the United States.
49, | have thus, without reserve, freely ex-
pressed my opinion and presented my views
The interesting subject of which have treated
would have admitted of much enlargement, but
have desired to consult brevity. But the plan
which have proposed will hardly be accused of
being toe early in its commencement or too rapid
in its operation. It will be more likely to meet
with contrary reproaches if adopted. 1t is to
begin "a or SO years from the time of its adop-
ton, as the one period or the other shall be Sc
lected for its commencement. How long a time
it will take 10 remove all the colored race from
the State by the annual transportation of each
years natural increase, cannot be exactly ascer-
tanned After the system had been in operation
some years, think it probable, from the mani
fest blessings that flow from it, from the dimin-
ished value of slave labor, and from the humani-
ty and benevolence of private individuals prompt
ing liberation of their slaves and their trans
portaton, general disposition would exist to
accelerate and complete the work of colonial
ton.
"a. But that the system will be attended with
some sacrifices on the part of Shareholders,
which are to be regretted, need not be denied.
What great and beneficial enterprise was ever
accomplished without risk and sacrifice? But
these sacrifices are distant, contingent, and in
considerable. Assuming the year 1860 for the
commencement of the system, all slaves born
prior to that time would remain such during
their lives, and the personal less of the slayeho-
der would be only the difference in value of a
female slave whose offspring, if she had any,
born after the first day of January, 1860, should
be free at the age of twenty five, or should be
slaves for life. In the meantime, if the right to
remove or sell the slave out of the State
should be exercised, that trifing loss would not
be incurred. The stakeholder, after the COM
mencement of the system, would lose the diff
ference in value between slaves for life and
slaves until the age of twenty five. He might
also incur some lnc0nsiderable expense in reach.
ing, from their birth, the issue of those who
were 10 be free at twenty-f until they were
old enough TO be Appended out; but as it is
probable that they would be mJst generally
bound to him, he would receive some indemnity
fortheir services until they attained their ma or-
ity.
%. Most of the evils, losses and misfortunes
of human lite have some compensation or allevi-
alton. The STAKEHOLDER is generally landholder
and am persuaded that he would find in the
augmented productiveness of his lands, some, if
not full indemnity for losses arising to him from
emancipation and colonization. He would also
literally share in the general benefits accruing
to the whole State from the extraction Of slavery.
These have been SO often and so FULLY stated,
that will not nor is it necessary to dwell upon
them extensively. They may be summed up in
lew words. We shall remove from among us
the communicating influence of servile and de-
graded race of a different color! We shall en-
Joy the proud and conscious satisfaction of pla-
cling that race where they can enjoy the great
blessings of liberty, and civil, political and So
cial equality; we shall acquire the advantage of
the diligence, the fidelity and the consistency
of free labor, instead Of the carecssness, the in
fidelity, and the unsteadiness of slave labor; we
shall elevate the social condition of the white
aborcr; augment the value of our lands, i'm
prove the agriculture of our State, attract capital
from abroad to all the pursuits of commerce,
manufactures and agriculture; redress, as far
and as fast as we prudehtly could, any wrongs
which the descendants of Africa have suffered
at our hands, and we should demonstrate the
sincerity with which we pay indscriminate ho-
mage TO the great cause of the liberty of the
human race.
&c. Kentucky enjoys high respect and hon
orable considerations throughout the Union and
throughout the civilized world but, in my opin-
ion, no title which she has to the esteem and
admiration of mankind, and may say, no deeds
of her former glory, would equal in greatness
and grandeur that of being the pioneer in re.
moving from her soil every trace of human
slavery and IN establishing the descendants of
. Africa, within her jurisdiction, in the native
lands of their forefathers.
81. have thus executed the promise made
alluded to in the commencement of this letter,
and hope have done it calmly, free from in
temperance, and so as to wound the scnsibllities
of none. sincerely hope that the question may
be considered and decided without the influence
of party or passion. should be most happy to
have the good fortune of coinciding in opinion
with majority of the people of Kentucky; but
if there be majority opposed to all schemes Of
gradual emancipation however much may re-
greet it, my duty will be to bow in subsection to
their will. If it be perfectly certain and mani.
fest that such majority exists, | should think it
better not to agtate the question at all, since
that in that case, it would be useless, and might
exercise pernicious collateral influence upon
the fair consideration of other amendments which
may be proposed to our constitution. If there
b. majority of the people of Kentucky at this
time adverse to touching the institution of sla-
very as it now exists, we, who had wished and
thought otherwise, can only indulge the hope
that, at some future time, under be tier auspices,
and with the blessing of Providence, the cause
which we have so much at heart may be atten-
ded with better success.
%. In any event. shall have the satisfac-
ton of having performed duty to the State, to
the subject and to myself by placing my scnti-
ments permanently upon record.
%. With great regard, am your friend and
obedient servant II. CLAY.
RAILROAD MEETING.