The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-03-23

tl0n as great evil to both races-and
would rejoice in The adoption of any safe,
just and practicable plan for the removal
OF all slaves from among us. Hitherto no
such satisfactory plan has been presented
When, on the occasion of the formation
of the present constitution of Kentucky,
in 1893, the question of the gradual g.
Emancipation of slavery was agiated, its
friends had to encounter great obstacle
in the fact that there then existed no es.
tablished colony to which they could be-
transported. Now, by the successful es-
tablishment Of flourishing colonies on the
Western coast of Africa that difficulty has
been obviated And confess that with
out indulging in any undue feelings of
superstition, it does seem TO me that it may
have been among the dispenSations of
Providence to permit the wrongs under
which Africa has suffered, to be inflicted,
that her children might be returned to
their original home civilized, imbued
with the benign spirit ofChristianty aud
prepared, ultimately to redeem that great
lIuill UdI UHllStu uUu luOldlIH.
Without undertaking to judge for any
other State, il was my opinion, in 1899,
that Kentucky was in condition TO ad g.
nit of the gradual emancipation Of her
slaves; and how deeply did lament that
system with that object had not then
been established! Ii it had been, the
State would now be nearly rid of all slaves
My opinion has never changed, and
have frequently publicly expressed it.
| should be most happy if what was i'm
practicable at'that epoch could now be
accomplished. .tr
After full and deliberate consideration
ofthe subject, it appears to me that three
principles should regulate the establish
ment of a system ofgradual emancipation.
The first is that it should be slow in its
operation, cautious and gradual, so as to
occasion no convulsion, nor rash or sud-
den disturbance in the existing habits of
society; Cd. That, as an indispensable con-
dition, the emancipated slaves should be
removed from the State TO some colony;
and Sd. That the expenses of their trans
portation to such colony. including an
outfit of six months after their arrival at
it, should be betrayed by fund to be
raised from the labor of each freed slave.
Nothing could he more unwise than the
immediate liberation of all the slaves in
the State, compreheuding both sexes and
all ages, from that offender infancy to ex-
treme old age. 1t would lead to the most
frightful disorders aud the most fearful
and fatal consequences. Any great change
in the condition Of society should be
marked by extreme care and circumspec-
tion. The introduction of slaves into the
colonies was an operation of many years
duration; and the work of their removal
from the United States can only be effec-
ted after lapse ofa great length Of time.
| think that period should be fixed
when all bern after it should be free at a
specified age, all born before it remain
ing slaves for life. That period | would
suggest should be 1855, or even 1861 for
on this and other arrangements of the sys.
tenn, if adopted, incline to liberal mar
gin, so as to obviate as many objections,
and To unite as many opinions as possible.
Whether the commencement of the op-
Grafton ofthe system be a little earlier
or later is not so important as that a
day should be permanently .fred, from
which we could look forward, with conf.
dence, to the final termination of slavery
within the limits ofthe Common wealth.
Whatever may be the day fixed, ,wheth-
er 1855 or 1860, or any other day, all born
after it, suggest, should be free at the
age of ftweuty. be liable to be hired
out, under the authority of the State. for
a term not exceeding three years, in or
der to raise sum sufficient to pay the
expenses of their transportation to the
colony, and to provide them an outfit for
six months after their arrival there.
| the descendants of those. who were
themselves to be free, at the age of
twenty five, were also to be considered
as slaves until they attained the same age,
and this rule were continued indefinitely
as to time, it is manifest that slavery
would be perpetuated instead of being
terminated. To guard against this conse.
quence, provision might be made that the
of those who were to be free
at twenty. five should be free from their
birth, but upon the condition that they
should be apprenticed until they were
tWeniy.one, and be also afterwards liable
to be hired out, period not exceeding 8
years, for the purpose Of raising funds to
meet the expenses to the colony and their
for the first six months. The
Pennsylvania system of emancipation fix.
ed the period of twenty. eight for the lib
Grafton of the slaves and provided. or her
courts have since interpreted the system
to mean, that the issue of all who were to
be free at the limited age were flom their
birth free. The Pennsylvania system
made no provision for colonization.
Until the commencement ofthe syste m
which | am endeavoring to sketch, | think
all the legal rights of proprietors of
slaves, in their fullest extent, ought to re-
main upimpaired and unrestricted. Con-
sequently they would have the right to
sell devise or remove them from the State;
and in the latter case, without their off,
spring being entitled to the benefit of G.
for which the system pro-
vides.
The colonization of the free blacks as
thew SuccessiVelv arrive from wear tn