Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-03-16

have thus, without reserve, iteey eAPesseu
NV opinion and presented my views. Inc ih'ei,
esling subject of which | have 'rcaled Wouio
have admiued of much enlargement, Out nave
desired 10 consult brevity. The plan winch
have proposed will hardly be accused Of being
TOO early in lis commencement or 100 rapid IN
lis operation. II will be more likely 10 meet win
contrary reproa aches. II adopted il is TO begin
,hirty-.rur or lhriy-nine years from The lime Of
lis adoption, as The one period or The other shall
b. selected Tor its commencement. How long
time will il take 10 remove all the colored race
from The State, by The annual transportation of
each years natural increase, cannot be exactly
ascerlained. Alter The system had been in ope-
ration some years think il probable, from The
manifest blessings that would follow from II, from
The diminished value oil slave labor, and from the
humanity and benenevolence Of private indiViou-
ais prompting Liberation of their slaves and
their transportation general disposition wouId
exist 10 accelerate and complete The WORK OF CO.
lon'z3on.
That the system will be attended with some
sacrifices on the part Of Shareholders, winch
are 10 be regretted, need not be Denied what
great and beneficial enterprise was ever &C.
complished without risk and sacrliice: Eut
these sacrifices arc distant, contingent ana ~
considerable. Assuming The year leoo ior Tue
commencement of the system, all slaves born
nrior 10 that time would remain such during
heir lives and the personal loss OF the slave
holder would be only The difference III value OF
female slave, whose offspring, if she had any
born after the first day Of January. 1860, should
be free al the age Of twenty-five, or should be
slaves for lite
la the meantime, if the right TO remove or
| sell the slave out Of the Slate should he excr-
cised, that trn ng loss would not be incurred.
The slsvehoder, after the commencement OF
the system, would lose the difference IN value
between slaves for life, and slaves until The age
| Of twenty five. He might also incur some IN
considerable expense IN rearing, IRON lheir
| birth, the issue OF those who wrrc to be Tree at
| twenty five, until they were old enough 10 De
appreuliced out; bnt as il Is probable that they
would be most generally bound to him, he
woul receive some indemnity from their SER
vices, until they attained their majority.
Mos ii The evils, losses and misiollunes oil
human Lille have some compensation or allev'a-
ton. The Shareholder is generally land-hcl-
der, anc am persuaded that he would find, IN
the augmented value OF his land, some, II mol full
incemnity tor losses arising 10 him from eman-
cipatirn and colonization. He would also lihe-
| raliy sia.e III he general benefits, accruing 10
The whole STATE, tom the extinction OF slavery =
! These nave been SO often and 50 fully stated,
| that Will not nor is il necessary 10 dwell upon
them extensively. They may be summed up IN
a lew words We shall remove from among US
| the communicating influences Of servile aud
degraded race OF different color; we shall ENJOY
| the proud and conscious satisfaction oil pacing
| that race where they can enjoy The great bles-
siags OF iihef;y and civil, political and socis
equality; we shall acquire he advantage OF IN:
A., No Gl.l,t tha apru nj tftp
labor, instead OF the carelessness, The inhdelny
and he uns'eadine>s Of slave labor we shall
,levare tn character Of white labor and elevate
The social condition Of the white laborer; aus
nent The value OF ou- lands improve the agricul-
lure OF The STATE, alrac, capital from abroad te
| all the pursuits Of commerce, manufactures and
| aprcu ure redressed, "a lar aud as last as v.
| prutently could any wrongs which ,hr desceni
ans oil Africa have suffered al our han 4, and wf
should demonstrate ihr sincerity with which We
pay indlscIimlnale homage 70 The great cause o
| he liberty OF rhe human race
Kentucky enjoys high respect ard honorable
consideration throughout the Union and through
out The civilized world; but in my humble opln
ion no title which she has 10 the esteem and ad
mration of mark ind, no deeds of her formei
glory, would equal in greatness and grandeur
that Of being the ioneer State IN removing IRON
her soil every trace Of human slavery, and il
establishing The descendants OF Africa, withlr
her jurisdiction, in the native land Of their fore
fathers
haze thus executed the promise made, al
uded 10 in .he commencement of this letter
and hope that Iaye done il calmly, free from
| intemperance, and 10 wound the sensloiI
ties OF none. | sincerely hope that the question
may BE- cons 'ered and decided, without the in
fuence OF party or passion. | should be mos
happy TO have the good fortune OF coincidine
in opinion with a)ority OF The people Of
Kentucky; but, if there be majority opposed
10 all schemes OF gradual emancipation, now
ever much may regret il, my duty will be ic
bow in submission TO their will
II II be perfectly certain and manifest tina,
such majority exists, should think il better
not TO agtate the question al all, since that, il
that case, would be useless, and might aIer
else pernicious collateral influence upon the
fair consideration of other amendments which
may be proposed 10 our Constitution. Ifthcre
be majority Of the peope Of Kentucky al
this time averse 10 touching the institution o.
slavery, As il now Exists, We, who had thought
and wished otherwise, can Only indulge The
hope that at some future time, under better
auspices. and with the blessings Of Providence
the cause which we have so much at heart
may be attended, with better success
In any event, shall have the satisfaction o
having performed duty to the State, 10 the
subject, and 10 myself, by placing my sent
mcnis permanent upon record
With great regard am your friend and ODE
dient sefvan', ii. CLAY.
To RICHARD PISDELL, Esq.
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