Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-03-16
LETTER FROM HON, HENRY CLAY on
Emancipation in Kentucky.
NEw ORLEASs, Feb. IL. 1919.

in December last, IN behalf OF yoursei Hnu ON
or friends, you obtained from me promise 10
make public exposition Of my views aud opin-
ions upon a grave and important subject which
II was then anticipated, would he much debated
and considered by the people of Kentucky
during this year, In consequence of the mp
proaching Convention summoned to amend the
present Constitution. | was not even truly well
when left home, and owing to that cause, and
my confinement several weeks during my So
journ in this city, from tho effects of nm neci-
dent which beiel me, have delayed the full
illment of my promise, which now propose
TO execute.
The question 10 which allude is whether
African Slavery, us II now exists in Kentucky, /
shall be left to perpetual indefinite coniin-
uance, or some provision shall be made in the |
new constitution for its gradual and ultimate /
extinction?
A few general observations will suffice my |
present purpose, without entering on the whole |
subject Of Slavery, under all its bearings, aud |
in every inspect of il. am nware that there
are respectable persons who believe that Sla-
very is n blessing, that the Institution ought to !
exist in every well organized society," aud TINT
il seven favorable 10 the preservation of liberty.
Happily, the number who entertain these ex-
travngant opinions is not very great, and the
time would he uselessly occupied in an elnbo-
rate refiitation fthem. ! would, however, re-
mark thar, il Slavery lie fraughs with these al-
legged benefits, the principle on which il is
maintained would require that one portion of
the white race should DO reduced TO bondage
10 serve another portion Of the same race, when
black subjects Of Slavery could not be Obtained,
and that in Africa where they may entertain ms
great preference for their color us we do for
ours, they would be justified in reducing the
whites TO Slavery, in order to secure the bless
ings which that state is said to diffhse.
An argument, in favor of reducing the AZ
fficnn race to Slavery, is sometimes derived
from their alleged intellectual inferiority TO the
white races; but, IL this argument he founded
in fdct, las it may he, but which shall not now
examined II would prove entirely too much
1t would prove that every white nation, which
had made greater advances in civilization,
knowledge and wisdom, than another white ma.
lion, would have right TO reduce the latter to
n state Of bondage. Nay, farther, if the princi-
pie of suhiugation founded upon Intellectual
superiority be true. and be applicable to rares
and TO nations, whit is to prevent its being an
Piled to individunls' And then the wsest men
IN the world have right to make slaves of nll
the rest of mankind.
u indeed, we possess this intellectual superi.
oriiy, profoundly grateful and thankful to Him
who has bestowed it, we ought TO fulfil all the
duties and obligations which il imposes, n nd
these would require us not TO subiuraie or deal
than we IRE, but TO instruct, to improve and TO
enlighten them
a vast majority of the People of the United
States, | believe, regret the iptroduct;op NJ ala.
very into the Colonies, lament that single slave
trea'is our soil, deplore The necessity of the
continuance of Slavery in any of The States, re-
CARL the institution rs a great evil to both races
and would rejoice in the adoption of any safe,
Just and practicable plnn far the removol oc al
Slaves among us Hithrrtu M anil, s,,,s,;,c,or,,
plan has been presented. When. on The ocrn.
sion OF the formation of our nrpsent Cnps,i,u
ton of Kentucky in 1929 the oues,ion or lin,
gradual emancipation of Slaves In tho STATE
was agtaied, its friends had 10 enronn,sr
great obstacle, in the fact that there then eY;,,sd
no established Colony TO which thew coull lao
transported.
Now, by the successful est,hlish,ne,, or
fourishing Colonies on the Western Cons, M
Africa, that difficulty has been obyin,ed. And
confess that, without indulging in any undue
feelings of superstition, il does seem To me tbut
il may have been among the dispensations Of
Providence to permit the wrongs under which
Africa has suffered TO lie inflicted, that her
children might be restored To their original
nome civilized aud inbned with the benign
sp'rlt Of Christianity, aud prepared ultimately
10 redeem that greai Continent from barbarisn
and idoatry.
state, 1t was my oPlnion in 1893, that Kentucky
was IN state TO adult Of the gradual enanc-
patton OF her slaves; and how deeply do |
lament lhnta system, with that object had not
neen Then established. II II had been, the
state would now be nd OF slaves. My opinion
has never changed, and hive frequently
puellcly expressed IL should be most happy
u what was imprnclcable at that epoch could
oe accomplished
amer iuh and deliberate consideration ofthe
SUBJECT 1t appears 10 me three principles should
regulate tue establishment OF a system Of Grad
nu' emancipation. The frsl Is, TINT il should
DC SLOW III It's operation, cau'lons, and gradual,
10 rs 10 occasion no CONFUSION, nor any rash
or sudden disturbance IN the existing habits Of
society second, That as an Indispensable
eouu'''on, me einancipaled Saves should be
removed from fhe State 10 SONS Colony
AND, thirdly, TIN, the expenses of their trans
pof'a'ion TO such colony, including an outfit
lot SIX months after their arrival, should he
derayed ny fund TO he raised from The labor
OF earn freed slave
Nothing could be more unwise than The
Immediate liberation Of all the slaves in the
State, COMMUNICATING both SEXES aud ali a,es
from that Of tender infancy TO extreme old age
lQuh IN ka a.l..a. 4 4.