The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-08-11


stump" in The way OF playing slave merchant,
under the pfetext Of special agencies for psrIicu-
ar individuals. IL may be said that this would not
ne honest. Are we not told that the law Of '33
vas evaded, and are We TO expect better things un-
der the act Of '49i
We are told that the slave merchant was in the
habit OF going 10 Maryland and Virginia, and buy.
lng negroes aud bringing them TO Kentucky, and
selling Them here, subsequent TO the Act Of 49,
with lmp1nity, because, as is alleged, there being
aversion 20 the Act, but few persons could be
willing 10 inform against the negro-buyer, and
moreover, the witnesses of whom The purchases
we're made in other States not being within the
each OF the process Of the courts of Kentucky,
the indictments could rarely, Il evef, be sustained
for want of proof. Are not all these difficulties
presented in iull force, TO successful prosecu-
lions under the Act of 49i Il will certainly be as
Iifiicult 10 procure the attendance of Witnesses
from other States, under the last as the first.
The Act OF A9, apple TO the citizens of this
State, must operate, ia many inslan ces, with great
hardship. We know that men owning house and
lot or small farm, meet with misfouunes, and be-
come embarrassed perhaps by security ship, or 9TH
er unavoidable causes, under circumstances rem.
ieTing il necessary for the debtor, in order TO save
a home for his family, TO surrender or give n pan
Of his slaves TO his creditors, in satisfaction OF
their demands, yet an the law now stands, no such
arrangement can be made as long as the debtor
has particle OF property, real OF personal, sub
Iect TO the debt.
We are told that this provision was intended TO
prevent an evasion Of the law, and restrict the
Importation OF slaves. This is tho merest scare
crow. Persons having means, and wishing 20 i'm
port slaves from abroad, will not be in The least
restrained by this provision. Nor will any one
scarcely ever think of it until smarting under its
effects. Its severity will be more frequently Wis.
tied upon those who least deserse punishment,
whilst II leaves the door open 10 The preparation
of frauds, under the Act. For, although the i'm
porter is prohibited from selling any of such slaves,
Tor the term Of years, in Kentucky, he may
take or send them TO the South, and there sell
them in sixty days.
The true secret OF the passage Of this act was
a desire on the part of those who advocated IL,
tn increase the number OF slaves among US by i'm
portations from other States. To accomplish this
object every sort Of argument was employed. II
was alleged 10 be necessary for the protection oil
the act Of 80. II was said TO be due 10 the poor
man TO enable him 10 buy slaves cheaper in other
States than he could get them in Kentucky. MIR.
Wood, OF the lower House, arguing in favor OF the
bill, says: awe want TO buy in my section of the
Safe, but we want TO buy them tslaves) where
we car do Il most adyantageously." Said he was
opposed 10 any monopoly OF the kind In Kentucky,
aud wanted an open market in which 10 purchase
Records, in Hughes resolutions, expressed the
belief that, upon It's passage, or the repeal o.
the act of 80, the great increase OF slaves woulG
| so reduce their value as in time 10 bring about
6nal termination OF slavery In Kentucky. Sena
tor Gray was IN fayor Of Increasing the slave pro
perry in the State, az BY ., doing The slaveholden
would be multiplied, and their forces increases
sgains, the enlancipstionisls. Barbour, OF tn
/ senate, spoke with great earnestness in favor o
lths lew Of ~ tind nia he liGhe efs ysvsan