The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-10

stiit hanfing. They forget one most important
point--thalin representative governments there
IS large mass of the people WHO not welded
70 eiiheroi the political parties made up Of poll
ticians mostly, and that in whatever way this mass
goes, it carries decision in its hands, The poIiti
cal parties in Kentucky will find themselves at an
awful discount, il they not careful, upon this
very question. Upon the great question of the
PerPetuation of slavery by constitutional proyis-
ison, OF for gradual emancipation. there eau be,
and should be no mistake as 10 the sentiments OF
Kentucky. All attempts 10 hinder discussion, to
choke off Tree inquiry, or to psrslyse public SEN
timent Will recoiA ON the heads of those who make
the attempt The people of Kentucky know their
rights, and will maintain them. We should feel
oursei unworthy of the name of Kentuckian If
we held a sentiment that we were afraid 10 avow
or maintain.
Let not the friends CT slavery imagine for mo-
ment that they can strangle discussion-the game
is up, and will be pursued.
The West Kentuckian thus speaks in regard
to the course Of "Virginia on the Wilmot Pro-
viso and Disunion:"
"She begins with becoming solemni,y: The
movement Ito dissolve the Unon,) is one Of the
highest importance, and may involve the gravest
consequence
THAT Is just our opinion, IL will involve the
gravest consequences, the least of which will be
the final loss Of all her slaves. For n0p she can
reclaim them, by law, when they escape into
the bordering free States. and all the citizens of
those States. except few fanatics, feel bound by
the Constitution to let them alone. But break
up the Union and that Constitution, and the
moment her slave sets his foot upon the soil Of
Ohio or Pennsylvania, he is irreclaimably free.
The slaves will learn this, and where desire Of
liberty now impels hundreds TO make their long
and difficult way to Canada, il will then induce
thousands to make the short and easy leap OF
her northern frontier. Besides, the people OF
those States, no longer restrained by what she
Is pleased TO call the compact between the
States, would then yield TO their natural impul-
ses to invite her negroes to their liberty And
should that embroil her in war with those
Hercuiean powers, il might be set down as one
OF "the gravest consequences" which the pre-
sent movement may involve, without any refer
N"SN ~ IA horrible domestic foe
that il would probably excite to rise ND, from
her hearthstones, TO stab and fire in the dark.
i "Fhs withered old grand dame thus goes on
to cut the ridiculous figure of supsranuuated
belle, who, unmndful thsther beauty and power
<fs gone, still thvusts herself forward to be de-
fsrred to and followed by her younger and faIrer
nsighbors: The eyes of every slaveholdinp
Slate are upon Us. By common consent, our
sister States lock to Virginia TO take the lead in
the present mcmentous crisis
eyes, madam, The eyes Of every sIayehoiding
State are upon J. u; the eyes of Kentucky, a.
least. thank God, are upon you; and that is Jus,
the apology she has to affer for declining to fol
low your lead. Did she not see that the end Of
the course which you have run, is premature
dotage and the loss of all the elements Of you,
ancient supremacy, except your arrogance, pos
sibly, she might not beg leave to take some
other. II is because shs perceives, in your
downward progress and wretched imbeciIiiy, the
fatal error ofthat principle for whose sake You
call her to rebellion, that she scorns your sum-
| mons"