Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-11-10
saIen, ohio, Nevember ne, ssA0,
kentucky Convention.

INV III W cAANH NN VI
kentucky. Though, as has already been sta
ted, not q single Emancipation candidate was
elected, yet there is much difference of opinion,
even among the shareholders VIII compose that
Convention. Much has been said concerning
Slavery as well in its moral as in Its political
bearings. Though oil the members, We believe,
are shareholders, many of them admit that sla-
very is, in itself, an evil-an outrage upon hui
mainly. Others contend that the system is not
immoral-that it is in accordance with the high
est right, and calculated to promote the best in
forests both of master aud slave. These, of
course, quote Scripture in proof of the divinity
of the peculiar institution. All, however, seem
to agree that, at present, nothing should be
done towards Kidding their State of the vile sys-
tom of human bondage.
On the 10th of October, Mr.. Grey submitted
a proposition that the Article of the Constitu-
ton relating to slavery should never be chan
ged unless by a vote Of "twolthirds of each
House of the Legislature at two successive ses-
sions, and by a vote of two-thirds of the people
at two successive elections" This would vir-
tually place the amendment of the Constitution,
in this respect, beyond the power of the people.
A series of provisions was also presented by
the Committee on the revision of the Constitu-
ton, relative to slavery, to the following effect
That the General Assembly shall have no
power to cmancipato the slaves without the
consent of their owners; and that masters shall
be prohibited from emancipating their slaves,
unless they make provision for their removal
from the State, and against their return.
That power shall be granted to the Legisla-
ture to prevent the importation of slaves into
the State, and to provide for the removal of the
free colored population and that the Legisla-
ture shall be required to pass laws making it
felony, punishable by penitentiary, for any free
colored person to emigrate into the State, or for
any emancipated slave to remain within its ju-
risdiction.
Mr.. Turner submitted a proposition to pro-
hibit in the Constitution the Importation of
slaves, as merchandise. Mr.. Turner, slavehold-
er as be is, sees in the signs of the times the GER
tainty that slavery in kentucky cannot exist
forever, and appears DESTROYS that the number
of its victims shall henceforth diminish rather
than increase.
"There is about sixty-one millions of darars'
nfodnces icss tbon tbroo nor cont rroTttte H.
capital invested, or about half as much as the
moneyed capital would yield. But suppose the
nett profit to be three per cent, it is PROPOSE
ton that is susceptible of demonstration, that it
IS not our interest to increase this property. /
have made a little calculation, which l will sub
init to the Committee; and, l believe, if there
be any error in it, it will be found on the side
Of making slave labor more valuable than it
really is; and, by that calculation, l cannot
make the profit to be moro than three per
cent. -
"Wcll, then, in a ~pecuniary point of view, as
a mere calculation of dollars and cents, if am
right in my estimate, it is not our interest to in
vest moro capital in slave property. 1t is against
tho interest of the Commonwealth to do it;
manifostly SO, if l am right, or anywhere near
right"
After arguing at considerable length that
slave property must ere long become even less
profitable than at present, Mr.. Turner says
snow, 1 make use of one observation which,
probably, some gentlemen may take exception
to. l say, there is no man living, that sees in
the hand of Providence what l see, that does
not perceive that there is q power at work above
us that is above all human Institutions, and one
that will yet prevail, even in Virginia, Mary
land, and Kentucky. Yes, there is a power at
work which is above all human power, and one
which we cannot resist.
81 do not say that l desire this but that it
is coming-that it is as steadily marching upon
us as VIC arc marching forward to the grave, and
that we do not know when it will come is per-
fectly certain, from the evidence around us; and
should We go on investing our capital in this
property, we shall find this to be the case
Why, sir, in the State of Maryland, there is al
ready a great diminution in the value of that
kind of property. l do not say that there is a
positive diminution in the State of Virginia, bat
it ceases to increase to tho extent that it did for
merly. The shadow upon the sun-dial is adj
vmcing sufficiently TO show that this is not
growing or increasing in that State; at all
events, that the increase is not so great as in
times past. And the same thing has already
commenced in kentucky; and this proceeds
from the power which we cannot resist. We
may tic it up-I desire that it should be restrict
rd by whatever legislation we may adopt upon
that s~ubject-but when the Deity has sent forth
his fiat that this institution is to cease. Il will
cease, and no human effort can arrest it,"
The slave trade between the States he de-
clares to be no better than the Foreign Slave
Trade, in relation to which he says:
"The whole civilized world has turnedits back
upon the African slave trade; even Portugal is
now coming into civilization and Christianity
upon this subject, if l may be allowed the ex-
preston; she is placing herself by the side of
England, and OF France, and of all the onlight-
ened nations OF the earth. And what Is there
IN the African slave trade that is worse than to
go into another State and to bring slaves from
thence, tearing mothers from their children.
separating husbands from their wives, without
any offence charged against them driving them
along in chains, as if they wore beasts of prey !
Is 1t not a scene that human nature reyolts at
the slSht or Is 1t not a scene that no man, I'M
less no is determined To engage in this tyaf6c.
can look upon without feelings deep and now.
erfuli But what is there in the African slave
trade which makes it moro inexcusable There.
by tho laws of Hnr- "a nrantinol 49,