The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-03


to be settled by our postenty.
This plan proposes-to stop the introduction oil
slayes-to allow masters to liberste as under the
present constitution-too rdaIn that all born after
given time, shall be free at given age; II found
in the State at, or after that age; to take all
such under public control, and remove them TO
LIBERIA OF elsewhere if they prefer, as they be-
come possessed by their own hire or industry, OF
by gift, mot by taxation State contIlbution) Of
the means of transportation. and subsistence Tor
reasonable time-with power in the legislature
or the courts, TO relax the rgor of this law OF re-
moval in special cases.
Now, gentlemen, suppose that the great body
Of the people should favor this plan, and causeit
10 be engTafted on the new Constitution. You
say, perhaps, it IS wild superstition. That lsa
matter of opinion. I am clear that If the per-
sons now friendly to the general idea of gradual
emancipation, would openly take ground Tor IT,
and wisely and faithfully exert themselves to
promote it, they would come out, at the August
election, with an overwhelming majority. On
another occasion shall be very willing to state
my reasons for thinking so. But suppose that
this plan were adopted In that case we would
have no more slaves brought into the Common
wealth, or if any were struggled in, the number
would be too small to amount to anything. This
would be great onward step. Even the law OF
1888, now, within few days so modified, as to
be considered by all parties, in effect, repealed
not TO the credit of the General Assembly-but
by the Iousing Of the public mind much to the
advantage of thefnends of emancipation. Even
this law of 80 has not been without its influence
in retarding theincrease of the slave population,
notwithstanding the inadequacy of the restraints
which 1t imposed, and the facility with which
they could be relaxed. But if the Constitution
absolutely forbade the introduction of slaves,
that source of increase would be driedup.
Again, am persuaded that in that state Of
the public mind, which would accompany the
adoption ofsuch plan, there would be a very
wide and large increase of voluntary emancipa-
patton. Many of the slaves emancipated would
go at once to Liberia-htted out by their former
masters-often gong it may be, as the condition
Of their freedom. Some Of them would find their
way into adjacent States. Where did all the
free negroes in Cincinnati and other parts Of
Ohio, and other free States, go FRONT l remem-
Der few years ago seeing such persons from
Kentucky in the heart Of Illinois. As to their
being allowed to go into other States, you admit
that "Ohio has shown disposition to relax her
black laws" HAS not Ohio absolutely repealed
themO "But," you add, "that is through the
influence of powerful faction, who, on account
Of their hatred to SHAREHOLDERS, have contracted
a great Partially for the negro. heirinfuence
will not last" This is a matter Of opinion
again. Suppose deny that what you impute
was the motive in this legislation How would
you prove it, Suppose / meet your confden,
prediction of a waning influence; and as boldly
say, twill lastf HOW'LL you disprove my pre-.
diction? lhave no question that in the supposed
state of the case, many freed negroe. would i'm.
perceptibly find their way out of Kentucky; the
more especially, as in all probability the course
Of legislation would discourage their settlement
here. Some Of them would, as some do now,
even find their way into slave States. But all
these sources of emancipation and removal are
confessedly of little importance, when compared
with some Others. They are but feeble drains,
though not to be despised. The sluices that NAV
let of the flood, will now consider.
When IT is determined that all born after q
certain day, shall be free at a certain age
though the day be ever so remote, and the age
ever so advanced--the lifetime ofslayery in Ken.
lucky is measured of. 1t is easy, therefore,
merely to bring the system to an end. And il
you will allow time enough for society to adjust
itself to its new position, there will be no great
Inconvenience felt by the gradual change. And
| If you will allow TO the master a sufficient con.
troll over the slaves, whose persons and whose
posterity are to pass from under the yoke, you
do him no damage, OF if any, so minute in itself,
and so gradual in its operation, as to be hardly
appreciable. Besides, that he will share like
others in the general benefits that are to follow;
the greater prosperity and brighter glory of the
Commonwealth. Besides, too, if these things
were not so, the masters Of slaves are so few in
comparison with all the rest of the people, that
| If the Others are convinced that the change will
be for the general good, the few are bound on
every principle justice, patriotism and philan.
thropy, to yield to the wishes of the many; the
more especially, if abundant time and opportu-
nifty be afforded them TO place their property
beyond the reach of the new order of things,
and, if they choose, to get out of the way of hui
man progress. This plan, think, meets all
thesepoints. 1t provides that all born after a
gwen time shall be free at a given age.
prorided, they are in the State when they attain
that age OF Afterwards.
This is amost important feature of the scheme.
Two grand objects, are contemplated. One is
to abolish slavery in Kentucky. The other is
to remove the slaves from the State after they
become free. All other plans which have come
under my notice seem to me defective in this
second particular, because they simply provide
that all born after given time shall be free AZ
their birth, or at certain age; and either con-
template no plan of removal, OF propose that
they shall be removed under thepublic authority.
This plan, on the contrary, leaves all the after.
bonn under the control of the master up to the
day on which they shall be free. So that at any
time, previously, he may remove them in anv
way and to any place he chooses, just as he may
now do with his slaves.
A writer in the Lexington Observer-who
modestly withholds his name-setting forth SUBJ