Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-03-22
Saturday, March II,
LETTER OF THE HON. HENRY CLAY
New ORLEANS, Feb. II, l949.

10 hCIARD fINDELL, ESo.-Icar Slr,-
Prior TO my departure from home in Decem-
ber last in behalf of yourself and other friends,
you obtained from me promise TO make
public exposition Of my views and opinions up
on grave and important question which 1t
was thus anticipated, would be much aPita,ed
and considered by the people of Kentucky du-
ring this year, in consequence OF the approach
ing Convention summoned TO amend the pres
ent Constitutions was not even well when
left home, and owing to that cause, and my
confinement, several weeks during my sojourn
in this city, from the effects of an accident
which bcicl me, have been delayed in the
ulflmcnt of my promise, which now propose
to execute.
The question TO which aIludc Is, whether
African slavery, as it now exists in Kentucky,
shall be left TO a perpetual or indefinite contn-
uance. or some proviso shall be made in the
new constitution for its gradual and Ultimate
extinction
4 few general bserva,iona will suffice my
presen, purpose, without entering on the
whole subject of slavery, under all i,s bearings
and in every aspect Of it. ] am aware that
there arc respectable persons who believe that
slavery is a blessing. that the institution ought
10 exis, in every well organized society, and
that it is even favorable to ihc preservation
of liberty. Happily, the number who enter
tain these extrlvagant opinions Is not very
great. and the time would be uselessly occu-
pied in an elaborate refutation of them. ]
would, however, remark that, if slavery be
fraught with these alleged benefits, tho princi-
pie on which il is maintained, would require
that one portion of the white race should be
reduced to bondage to serve another portion Of
the same race, when black subjects Of slavery
could not be obtained, and that in Africa
where they may entertain as great prefer
ence for their color as we do for ours, they
would be justified in reducing the white to
slavery, in order to secure the blessings which
that state is said to dlluse
| An argument in favor Of reducing the Atn-
can race to slavery, is sometimes derived from
the alleged intellectual inieriority TO the white
races but, if this argument is founded IN
fact, (as it may be, but which shall not now
Examine, )it would prove entirely too much 1t
would prove that every white nation, which
had made greater advances IN civilization,
knowledge and wisdom than another white ma
ton, would have a right to reduce the latter to
bondage. Nay, further, if the principle OF
subiugaton, founded upon intellectual superl-
ority be true, and be applicable to races aud to
nations, what is to prevent its being applied TO
individuals And then the wisest man in the
world would have a right TO make slaves of all
the rest of mankind
\ II, indeed, we possess this intellectual supe-
'riorty, profoundly grcatfu and thankful 10
Him who has bestowed it, we ought to iultiI
all the duties and obligations which 1t impos-
cs; and these would require MS not to sublu.
gate or deal unjuslly by our fellow men who
arc less blessed than we arc. hut to instruct
| to improve and to enlighten them.
i A vast majority of the people Of the United
! States, believe, regret the introduction o
! slavery into the colonies, lament that a snc i
! slave treads our SOIL deplore the necessity o
1.-The continuance Of slavery in any oflhc States
regard the institution as great evil to boil
races, and would rejoice in the adoption ofanl
safe, lust and practicable plan for 'Se ,cmova
ior all slaves among us. Hitherto no suci
satisfactory plan has been presented -
When. on the occasion Of the formation of on
presen, constitution Of Kentucky, 1890 th'
question of gradual emancipation of slavery II
1.-The State was agilatcd, its friends had to en-
counter great obstacle, in the fact that ther
Then existed no established colony to whlc
,hcy could be transported
II Nov. by the successful establishment q
b ll1outishinc colonies on the western coast OF NJ
lricl, tha, difficulty is obylated. And ! comics
THAT, without induglug IN any undue feeling
Of superstition, i, docs sccm to me that
may have been the disponsaton OF Pioyldcnc
10 prevent the wrongs under which Africa h'
U suffered. 70 be designed that her chlldrc
nigh, be returned to their original home, ciyl
ized. irnbued With the ben gn spirit Of Christ
y, an,iy. and prepared ultimately to redeem III
/. grc,, continent, rom barl'a'i'm 'nd idoI 'rv.