The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-09
THE L.sI.ville se.r-,., ASIA Em..eip.-


and inflaential paper. la able advocacy Of tho
ca,,se Of education, and Of many other subjects
closely connected with the welfare Of Kentucky
and Of mankind. has rendered Il an interesting
paper to many who have no sympathy with it,
political principles. Frona the uniform course
Of the Journal in regard TO education, we had
been led to hope that the cause Of emancipation
which is so intimately connected with the educa-
tional interests of the community, would have
found In 1t warm and earnest advocate ano
friend. But we have been disappointed. With
GU, assuming the attitude Of direct and open hos
tility TO emancipation, tho Journal has taken
a position which we should suppose only de-
cided enemy to emancipation would wish to oc'
cupy. Whenever Il has spoken editorially, Its
words have been fitted only to dishearten eman-
cipatiOnists, and encourage their opponents.
We do not find fault with the Journal for pur-
suing this course, excepting so far, rs in pursu-
ing it, it does injustice 10 the cause Of emanci-
patton.
In our opinion, great injustice was done to
the cause Of emancipation in the editorial srti-
Gle which appeared in the Journal Of the 9TH
inst. From the tenor Of that article, reader
would infer tina: the friends Of emancipation in
Kentucky have no ground for confidence, and
that their cause is utterly hopeless. Z" The
emancipation Convention says the Journal,
(which met at Frankfort on the 25th Of April,
despairing themselves Of all hope of success,
did no more than recommend, &c" "Des-
pairing Of success" Why, one would suppose
from this that the Frankfort Convention was as
respondent and dispirited an assembly as was
ever convened. This will be news, indeed, 10
the members of that convention, ard Il will be
news 10 the friends Of emancipation generally
throughout the State, who, encouraged by the
high character and cheering tone Of that con-
vention, at once commenced the work of thor.
ough organisation upon the platform recon-
mended. "But," says the Journal, "that plat
form was agreed upon because the convention
despaired of all hope Of success" Not at all.
II they had despaired of success, they would
have presented no platfOrni-they would have
proposed no organisation. Twas because they
were full Of hope that they determined to
prese Mt platform, and platform wide enough
for all the friends of emancipation to stand
upon.
And what has been the response of the friends
Of emancipation through the State to the action
of the convention7 In thirty-three counties,
already, meetings have been held, delegates
nominated, and complete organisation effect
ed. In about thirty other counties the friends
Of emancipation have commenced the work Of
organisation, and we have every reason to be-
ieve that in the course of two or three weeks
candidates will be nominated in nearly all the
counties Of the State.
Scarcely day passes without bringing US in
telligence Of interesting discussions and most
cheering information in regard to the influence
Of all such discussions.
The friends Of Emancipation are full of heart
and of hope.
Bat the Journal deprecates all sseh discus
sion. 1t views "this slavery agitation as one
OF the most deplorable calamiIes that could
well befall the Commonwealth And why so
dsplOrable7 Because sat time when the
whole Constitution Is to be revised and recon
structed, a topic is rscklessly thrown upon the
arena Of such traDscendent importance that the
parties on both sides are ready TO yield their
opinions on all other questions, and sacrifice
all other interests, for success upon this one abb
sOrbing theme"
This, we confess, strikes Ne as strange reason
ing. The Constitution, "the tchole Constitu-
tion," is before the people Of Kentucky for re-
vision and reconstruction; the revision and re-
construction Of the Constitution necessarily in
volve the consideration and discussion Of the
subject Of Emancipation; that subjects admit
ted 10 be one of franseendsnf importance, OF
such transeendent importance as to take pre-
cedence in the minds Of men Of both parties Of
all other questiOnaa and yet the consideration and
discussion of this subject are 10 be viewed as
among the most deplorable calamities that could
befall the Commonwealth! This in certainly a
new feature in the theory OF Constitutional
reform, that in revising and reconssructing a
Constitution, the people of State are to be at
liberty 10 discuss all subjects except the one ad-
mitted to be of fransesadsnt importance! In
other words, Is subject schieh most in1'eratiuely
dema ads consideration is the only one not 10 be
considered.
1t is needless to say that We dissent entirely
from this theory Of Constitutional reform, be-
lieving, as we do, that In the importance of q
subject is found the reason for its considera-
ton.
We differ also from the Journal In regard to
the effects of the discussion Of the subject Of
Emancipation. IL it be true, as the Journal
states, that the parties on both sides are ready
to yield their opinions on all other questions,
because Of their conviction of the Importance
of this one question, then, as IL seems to us, the
discussion is to be regarded, not as dePlorable
calamity, but as great good. 1t has sOftsned
political ssperities, II has brought men together
who before were widely separated, and IL gives
us reason to believe that the delegates to the
Conve ntion will meet in a concIliatory spirit
which will preserve them alike from the nl-
traism Of conservatism and the ultraism OF
radicalism. This is the true spirit, the right
feeling, to animate the members Of a Conven-
ton, called to revise and reconstruct q Consti-
tuition. They should 90 to their work under a
determination to prove all things and hold fast
that which is good; to cling to nothing because
1t is old, to reject nothing because il is new.
The Journal not only depreca,es discussion,
but thinks the Emsncipationists ought "to 81.
Ience their organs, their speakers and their
writsrp." Only one thing is wanting to make
this Recommendation perfect, viz; that The