The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-03-13
EMANCIPATION In KautuoIx.

CLAY on the subject of the proposed emancpatio
OF the slaves of Kentucky by the Convention Gale
to amend the Constitution of that State. We nee
not call attention particularly to this letter. TIL
importance OF the question discussed in if, tn
character of the writer, the distinguished positio
which he holds in the councils of the Republic
and the influence which he exercise over larg
portion of the people, will insure for his opinions
general and attentive considerations For ourselves
we must confess that we have not been able to flint
in the letter anything remarkable either for original
ity of conception, or depth of thought The want o
wisdom which would be manifested BY an imme
diate abolition of slavery is pointed out; and tn,
propriety of removing the liberated slaves by colo
nizaton, is strongly urged. OF the first, there il
| no fear whatever, and we imagine that the las
| will never be necessary, if, as Mr.. Clay recon-
mends, the owner retain full power over his slaves
between the time of the passage of the act and the
distant day at which it is to be carried into effect
with the right i" to SELL devise, or remove them
from the State, and in the latter without their
offspring being entitled to the benefit of emancipa-
| ton for which the system provides" Under such
scheme of emancipation, slavery would certainly
disappear from Kentucky, but it may we'll be
doubted whether hundred slaves or their offspring
would be liberated. Kentucky might by such
system improve her physical condition and increase
her political power; she might free her soil from
one hundred and ninety thousand negro slaves, and
supply their places with free white laborers, whose
political influence would be more important, and
whose labor would be more profitable; she might
relieve herself of the responsibilities of border
slave State, and of the danger of becoming the
theatre and bearing the brunt of a war waged for
Its extinction; but we doubt much whether she
would ever justly acquire any additional title to
the consideration and respect of the world or evnce
any remarkable proofs of greatness or grandeur
by passing law for the emancipation of her
slaves, while, at the same time, she provided
the means of defeating that emancipation altogether.
If the day for the beginning of the system of
gradual emancipation be fixed for the year 1860 as
recommended by the letter of Mr. Clay, and the
proprietors in the interval retain all their rights
and particularly the right of removing their slaves
from beyond the reach or operation of the system,
we can see no other result than their Punishment
from Kentucky to other slaveholding States The
evils which would flow from such a course to the
the extreme South, we have referred to BEFORE and
1t is unnecessary to particularize them herewith
lessened power of resistance, we should be exposed
to more vigorous attacks, and would have among
The number OF our enemies, and perhaps the bit
terest among them, the States which had but re-
Gently got rid of their slaves by forcing them upon
u.s. 1t may be said that this sending of slaves out
Of the State would not be done by many of the |
people of Kentucky. That they would, on the |
contrary, endeavor in good faith to carry the law
nto execution This is founded altogether on the |
assumption that the great body of the people of !
kentucky are blessed with more generosity of dis.
POSITION than falls to the lot of common mortas,
where questions of pecuniary interest are involved
Ind we have not so much confidence in improbable
ties as to repose any faith in its truth, or to rely at
Ill upon results anticipated from it.
That slavery will be abolished in Kentucky by
he coming Convention there is now no doubt: all
he leading men in the State are in favor of it it
Tor the obvious interest of the State to substitute
rec tor slave labor; the scheme may be carried
ut without much if any loss, and with show of
berality which will gain the praise of magnamity
rom the minimizing. If the result were even
oubtful before, the stand taken by Mr.. CLAY, rem.
ers 1t so no longer. And now, in view of the Ger.
inty Which stares them in the face, it becomes the
uty OF other States to take care of themselves to
rotect their soil from this new and dangerous in
aston OF hundred and ninety thousand of the
opulation which Kentucky finds so worthless that
he will no longer tolerate it within her borders
icy must erect barriers against this threatened in.
ux of an off-cast surplus of humanity, which can
them no good, and may in every way do them
vii. If Kentucky will abolish slavery, force her
take all the responsibilities of the act-if she
Ill join the Northern allies let her do so ct her I
vn cost-if she be anxious no longer to make
'mmon cause with the South, she has the right to
} over, but there is no reason why the other
oathern States should build bridge to facilitate
er passage.
If any body imagines that we have any obiec.
ons to the emancipation and colonization of the
sves of kentucky, as recommended in the letter {
Mr. Clay, he is mistaken Such course would
raps be the best thing that could happen for the
ate, Its freemen and its slaves. Our objection
IS not to the act fairly done but to the pretence
doing what in reality will not be attempted. a
he recommendations of the letter are all very
od, with the single exception which we have |
ted, and that like the rod of Aaron promises to f
ALLOW up all the rest-or at least to pervert and o
1der them abortive, so far as emancipation in q
It Is concerned. But we have no disposition to =
large upon this topic at present-the letter will
every where read-it will be every where dis n
scotland it will in all probability have an i'm. o
rant bearing upon the solution of the great social
'blem OF our country.
Readings of Shakespeare l.
ne following correspondence between many gentlemen :
hs city and Mr. MAcREADY. has been handed us for =