Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-06-02
EmancipatiOn Movement.

Emancipation Movement
The movements now being made in Kentucky,
and manifestations in other slave-holding States,
ON the subject of negro emancipation should
awaken the people of Arkansas TO their true posi-
ton. Is Arkansas to continue slave State p
Can our citizens afford to yield up million of
dollars worth of property without a consideration,
to crafty the blind fanatic zeal OF the citizens Of
other States? Will they do it? Have the cit-
zens of other States, the right to expect such
sacrifice of US?
These questions, we expect to hear answered in
accordance with the rights and interests Of Ar
kansas. Then, if il is determined that ours is
slave State, to continue one, and slave property to
be recognized among US, it becomes us to main
tain our institutions and to prevent as far as the
power lies within our jurisdiction, the depreciation
of the value of such property, by wholesome laws
Every species of property is entitled TO protection
from our laws.
1t is evident that if the border slave States are
permitted TO bring their slaves into this State, for
purposes OF commerce, the competition of such
an nundaiIon Of that species of property. will re-
"oSS tIc Nauo Vi tHlS KIM OF property
now IN the State. and worse than all, by increa-
sing the of free soil States we render more
formidable the enemies 10 our institution and by
prescribing the number Of slave Suites, we wea-
ken the interest of this institution, and render
them less capable Of maintaining their rights
against the encroachmens Of The " free soil' ava
lanche.
VI course, we cannot prevent other States from
emanc ncipating their slaves, but we can prevent
them from ridding themselves Of what they con-
slider an evil, by transferring it TO our limits.
The policy Of Kentucky at this time is not
prompted by purely phiianhropic feeling, but il
is plain TO all, that much of self interest and self
protection are blended with their pseudo benevo-
lence. The emancipationists in that State, pro-
pose 10 sell out their slaves u.s. for number of
years, by which time they expect to be rid of
them but not to have diminished slavery by it,
Thus they are willing to impose upon US, at our
expense, what they consider burthen; and in
few years hence they will turn round, like the
citizens Of other States who sold out their slaves,
and wage war upon our institutions.
Our policy is 10 prevent Kentucky from becom.
ing free State as far as it lies in our power
We can pass laws TO prohibit the importation of
slaves under any pretence, except where ndi-
vlduals move TO this State with this species Of pro-
Perty, with the intention Of becoming permanent
citizens. And TO prevent violation of The in.
tegrlty OF our territory, by emancipators, TO
prohibit the alienation of their slaves until thew
have been residents several years. If all the
southern States will pass such laws, we will soon
see the spirit of emanc patton put down in Ken
lucky and other slave-holding States. Compel
them to keep their negro population among them
selves, whether free slaves. If they do not
like slavery let them set their negroes free and
live among that deIectabIe population.
We arc glad to that some of our citizens
are beginning to move on this subject. The cti.
of Union county have taken the Introductory
step, and we hope soon to see other parts of the
State following suit.