Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-03-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
IuPoRTANTLErrER FROM MIR. CLAY
Eli, p,eDs on the SUBJECT "t Slaue'y and Fian Of
Ensa,,eipstton.

IupoRTANTLErTER FROM MIR. CLAY
Ell, p,evs on the S,.bjc.t ot Sluus'y and Fian Of
Emancipation.
New ORLEANS, Feb IT, l649.
Dear Sir--Pfior 10 my departure IRON Dome
IN December ias in behalf vi yoursei, and other
friends, you obla ued from me promise 10 make
a public expnsl ION OF my views AMI opinions
upon a grave aud important question which, il
was then anticipated would b. much deba'ed
AND considered BY The people OF ken'ucky, during
this year. 10 consrq 'ence q the Approaching
Convention, summoned 10 amend The pfesen
Constitution. | was not enitely we'll when |
left home, and owing to thai cause, and my con-
fnemeDl several weeks, during my sujouln 10
this city, from The effects OF an accident wn.cn
beiel me have been delayed in The tulfllmeni
OF my promise, which | now propose 10 exc
cue.
The question: TO which allude is whether
African Slavery as il now exists IN kenucky,
shal be lett 10 perpetual or indefinite cohlihu-
ance, or some provision shall be made, IN The
new Constitution, Tor lis gfalua! and ultimate ex-
tine j h2
A few general observations will suffice nv
present purpose, without entering on the Whole
subject OF slavery, under all us bearings and IN
every aspect OF il. am aware that there are
respectable persons who believe thai slavery is
blessing, that the institution ough, 10 exist in
every well organized society, and that II Is even
favorable 10 the preservation OF liberty. Happi-
~, The number VINO entertain these exiravaeani
opinions is not very great, and The time would
be uselessly occupied IN an elaborate reiutation
OF them. | would however, remark lnal II
slavery be traueht vita these alleged benefits,
the principle on which il IS maintained, would
require that one poIrIon OF the white race should
be reduced 10 bondage 10 serve another portion
y.,.l.t t.4.
could not be Cd aimed; and that IN Africa, where
they may entertain as great preference Tor their
color as We do Tor ours, they would be justified
in reducing the white race TO slavery, in order 10
secure the blessings which that stae is said 10
diffuse.
An argument, in support Of reducing the a.
rican race 10 slavery, IS sometimes derived from
sheir alleged intellectual iaeriority 10 The while
races; bat, il this argumcn' be founded in fact,
Gas il may be, bur wbic1 shall no; now exam
incl II would prove entirely loo much. II would
prove that anV white marion, which had made
greater advances IN CIVILIZATION, knowledge and
wisdom than another white nation, would nave a
right 10 reduce The later to sae OF bondage
Nay further il the principle OF subluea,Ion
founded upon intellectual superiority D. tfne, AMI
be applicable 10 races ana 10 nations what Is 10
prevent lis being applied 10 Individuals! Aud
then the wisest man IN he world would have
.ightt to make slaves OF all The rcst OF mankind!
Ii, indeed, We possess this intellectual superb
ority, profoundly grateful and thankful 10 HIM
who mas Bestowed II, We ought 10 fulfill all the
obligations aui duIies which il imposes; and
these would require US not 10 subIugale or deal
uniusy by our fellow men who are less blessed
than We are, bul 10 instruct, 10 improve aid en-
Lighter hem.
\ vas, majority OF the people OF the United
States in every section Of them, believe, regret
The Introduction Of slavery INFO the colonies, IN
der The au:horuy at our British ancestors, amtGt
that single slave trcads our soil, depore the me-
cessilv OF the continuance IT slavery IN any 81
the States regard In iosrn.ion as srea, evil 10
both races aud would rejoice in the adoption o.
any safe, jus, md practicable plan Tor The remo-
val Of all slaves from among u. Hitherto NJ
such satisfactory plan has been presented WhsL
on the occasion o. the formations III our present
Constitute -! Kentucky, III 1889 inc question Of
the gradual emancip s,Io Of slavery ia that STATE
was agitated, is ri nds had 10 encounter great
obstacle ia The tact that there then existed no e.
sablished colony Il which they could b. ttanspof-
,aled Nov by the successful establishment al
Aourshins. colonies on Ire Western coast Of Al
r,ca, tina difficulty ha> been obviaied. And
confess mat, without indulsius IN any uncue
feelings o, snpers. itiun, does seem 10 that
may have been among the dispensations oil Pro
violence 10 permit Inc wrongs under WHICH All
ca has suffered, tn be iuilIt ted that her chd er
might be returned 10 their ofisina home, civilized,
irnhucd WIN M pca gl spirit ot Christianity, anc
prepared ultimately o ieierm that great Cont
nent tom ba'bari>m ami ldolatry.
Without undertaking to Judge or any other
State, II was my opinion IN l799 that Ken
tucky was in a c ndtlpn TO admit OF tie sra
dual emanc Pitioo Of her slaves, ard how
deeply do | lament that system, with ,ha,
Rod tab
been, the State would now be nearly rid Of ali
slaves. My opinion has never changed, and
have frequent, publicly expressed II. should
be most nsppy il what was lmpracticable at that
epoch could now be accomplished
After iul and deli crate consideration of the
subject, il appears 10 mo that three principles
should re II ale the establishment OF a system Of
grsduai emancipation. Tue first is. that it
should be SLOW IN lis operation, cautious and
gradual, so as 10 occasion no sion, nor
any rash or So deu disturbance in the existing
habits of society 81 That, as an iudlspeu-
sible condition, tie cmanclpated slaves should
be removed from tie Stale 10 some colony :
And, thirdly, that the expenses OF their trans
portdtion 10 suca colony iuclu .ins an outfit for
six months after Their arrival at Il, should be
betrayed by fund 10 be raised from !ae laoor
OF each freed slave.
Nothing could e more unuse than The imme-
dae Liberation OF all the slaves in the State.
comprehendins both sexes ana all ages iron
that OF tender infancy IL extreme ola age. |,
would lead 10 the mos ffishtiul and fatal Conse-
quences. Any great change IN The condition OF
socieiy should be marked nv extreme care and
ciIcumspectlon. The introduction OF slaves in.
10 the Colonies was an operation OF many wears
duration; and The WORK Of their removal from
the U S sles can only be fscted alter the lapse
OF grca, length # time.
think that period should be fixed when al!
born all I II snoGln be Tree al specIfs! age, ali
born before Ii remaining slareS Tor life. Thsi
period, would Suggest, shout be 1855 or even
1850; Ter on his aud o;ker arrangements OF The
sys,em, il adopted, incline 10 liberal margin,
so as 10 oviale as many objections, and 10 un,le
as many opinions as possible. Whether the COM
mencement OF the operation OF the system be a
lite earlier " aIer IL is not So important as that
day should be permanently fired, from which
we could look forward, with confidence, 10 The
hnal termination u slavery within the limits oi
the Commonwealth
Whatever may be the cay fixed, whether 1855
or i060 or any other day, all BORN after it, sus-
gest should De tree al the age II twenty-five, tul
be liable atter wa;ds 10 he hired out under The au-
shoriy ot The Stale, Tor term not exceeding
three years, in order 10 raise sun sufficient IL
pay The expenses OF their transportation TO The
Colony and TO provide them an outfit for SIX
months after their arrival there.
II The descendants OF lhuse who were them.
selves 10 Re tree al The age Of twenty-five, were
also TO be considered as slaves until they ataiued
the same age, and this rule were continued indef.