Lower Sandusky freeman. (Lower Sandusky [i.e. Fremont, Ohio]) 1849-1849, 1849-03-17
From the Cincinnati Chronicle.
LETTER FROM HENRY CLAY. E
On the Emancipation of Slavery i'm the
state of Kentucky.
Nav ORLEANs. Feb. l7th. i

In December last, IN behalf of yourself and other
friends. you obtained from me promise to make a
public exposition of my views and opinions upon a
grave and important question which, it was then
anticipated, would be much debated and considered
by the people of Kentucky during this year, in
consequences of the approaching convention, sum
moned to amend taeir presept constitution. / was
not entirely well when Ileft home and, owing to
that cause, and my confinement several weeks dur
ing my sojourn in the city, from the effect of an
cident which 1efe. me, 1 have been delayed in the
ful6lment of my promise which now proceed to
execute.
The question to which l allude, is, whether Af-
rican slavery it now exists in Kentucky, shall be
left to aperpetua or indefinite continuance or some
provision shall be made in the new constitution for
its gradual and Ultimate extinction?
A few general observations will suffice my pres
ent purpose, without entering on the whole subject
OF slavery under all its bearings and in every aspect
. of it am aware that there are respectable per-
sons who believe that slaveryis blessing that the
institution ought to exist in every well organized
society," and that is favorable to the preser
walton of liberty Happily, the number who enter
tali these extrlvagant opinions is not very great,
and the time would be useessly occupied in an
elaborate refutation of them. | would, however
remark that II slavery be fraught with these alleged
benefits, the principle on which it is maintained,
would that portion of the white race should be
race, when black subject of slavery could not
be obtained; and that in Africa, where they may
entertain great preference for their color as we
dofor ours, they would be justified in reducing the
white race to slavery, in order to secure the bles-
sings which that state is said to diffuse.
An argument in support of reducing the African
race to slavery, is sometimes derived from their al
legged inte ectua inferiority to the white races; but
if this argument be founded on fact (asit may be,
INT yvb hall \
tirely too much. 1t would prove that any white
nation which had made greater advances in civili-
Iization, knowledge and wisdom than another-white
nation, would have the right to reduce the latter to
state of bondage Nay further, if the principle
ofsubjugation founded on intellectual superiority
be true, and be applicable to races, and to nations,
what Is to prevent its being applied to individuals
And then the wisest man in the world would have
right to make slaves of the rest of mankind
If indeed we possess this intellectual superiority,
profoundly grateful and thankful to- HIM who has
bestowed it We ought to fulfill all the obligations
and duties which it imposes; and these would re-
quire us~not to subjugate or deal unjustly by our
fellow mon who are less blessed than we are, but
to instruct to improve, to enKghten them.
A vast majority of the people of the L. Safes, in
every section of them, believe regret the intro
ducon of slavery into the colonies, under the au-
thority of our British ancestors lament that sin
gle slave treads soil, depore the necessity OF
the continuance of slavery in any of the states re
gard the institution great evil to both races,
and would rejoice in theadoption of any safe Just
and practicable plan for the removal of all slaves
from among us. Hitherto such satisfactory plan
has been presented When on the occasion of the
formation of our present constitution of Kentucky.
in 1899. the question of gradual emancipation Of
slavery in that state agitated, its friends had
to encounter great obstacle in the fact that there
then existed no established colony, to which they
could be transported. Now by the successful es-
Enlistment of hourishing colonies on the western
coast Of Africa, that difficulty has been obvated-
Aad | confess that, without indulging in any un-
due feelings of superstition it does to that
it may have been among the disponsations of Prov
idence to permit the wrongs under which Africa has
suffered, to be inflicted that her children might be
returned to their original home, civilized, irubued
with the benign spirit of christianity and prepared
ultimately to redeem that great continent from bar
barism and idolatry.
Without undertaking to Judge for any other state
it was my opinion in 1899 that Kentucky was in a
condition to admit of the gradual emancipation of
her slaves; and how deeply do lament that sys-
tenn with that object had not then been established
1fit hal been, the state would be nearly rid OF
sall its slaves My opinion has never changed, and
have frequently publicly expressed it [ should
be most happy if what was lnpracticable at that
epoch could now be accomplished
After full and deliberate consideration of the sub
ject it appears to me that three principles should
regulate the establishment of system of gradual
emancipation. The first is that it should be slow
in its operation, cautious and gradual SO as to ecca
sion convulsion, any rash or sudden disturb
ance in the existing habits of society. 3D. That As
an indispensable condition, the emancipated slaves
should be removed from the state to some colony.
And thirdly, that the expenses of their transpor-
tatien to such coiany, including outfit for six
months after their arrival at it. should be betrayed
by fund to be raised from the labor of each freed
slave
Nothing could be unwise than the imme-
date Liberation of all the slaves in the state,
pretending both sexes and all ages, from that of
tender inf rney to extreme old age 1t would lead
to the oSt frghtfu disorders and the most fearful
and fatal consequences Any great change in the
condition of society should be marked by extreme
care and crcu Inspection. The ntro3u,t of slaves
into the colonies was an operation of many years
duration; and the work of their removal from the
United States only be Effected after the lapse of
great length of time.
l think that period should be fixed when all
born after should be free at specified age, all be-
fore it slaves for life. That period would suggest
should be 1885 or even 1867 for on this and other
arrangements of the system if adopted incline to
a liberal margin, 50 as to obviate as many objee-