The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-10
HENRY CLAY'S LET1HR
EMANCIPATION,
&c. &c. Sc.

PIrTsBURGH, March D, l849.
from tho Lexington Observer and Rsportsr.]
New OxLxArs, Feb. IL, lS49.
To RICHARD PIrDELL ESQ:
Dear Sir:-Prior to my departure from home In De
oember In behalf Of yourself and other friends you
obtained from promise to make public exposition
Of my views and opinions upon grave and mpor .aut
question, which It was then anticipated would be
much debated and considered BY psspls
during this year. In consequences Of the spproschisg
convention summoned to amend the present consti.
tuition. l was not entirely well when left homo,
and owing to that cause, and my several
weeks during my sojourn In this CITY, from the effects
Of an accident which befsl me, have delayed been
In the fulnment Of my promise, which nov propose
to execute.
l. The question to whichI allude Is whether African
slavery exists in Kentucky, shall DO left to
perpetual or indefinite continuance, that or some
provision shxll be made In the constitution for
Its grsdual md ultinste extinction?
Few general observations will suunoe my present
purpoes without entering tho whole SUBJECT OF sls-
very under ell 1t. bearings and In every aspect Of It.
am that there are respectable persons who BE-
hsve that avery IA blessing that che institution
ought to Exist In every well organised society, I'D
that is favorable TO the preservation Of liberty
Happily, the pumbsr who entertain these extrsvsgant
opibions not very great and the time would bs
l.ss'y occupied In an elaborate refuston Of them
would. however, remark that, II slavery be frAught
with there alleged bepedts the principle whish It
IL maintained would require that enc portion Of the
white race should be reducsd euaags
th.r poron Of the same raos when black subjects Of
slavery could not be- obtained and that In Africa,
where they may entertain a. great . preference for
their coltr do for ours they would ~ ju'tfsd
reducing the white to slavery 10 order
the blsssiEgs which that state Is sa,d to diru.e
8 An argument In support OF reducing the Afrcsn
to slavery, IL sometimes derived their legged
in Gle infeiorIy TO the white races; but II this
Argument be founded fact (ss 1t may oe but which
shall not now exsmins) It would prove entirely too
much. 1t would prove that every white nston which
had made greater advances in tion uowlsdRe
ara tdom than white nation would have the
right to reduce the latter to state Of bondage Nay
further, II the principle Of subjugshon founded up,n
Intellectual superiority be trus and be applicable
applied to individuals? And then the wisest man IN
the world would kAve right to make slaves Of oil the
rest Of manknd
A. IT, deed We possess this intellectual superiority
profoundly grateful and thankful to HIM who has be-
slowed It. ought to fulfil all the duties and sbl'ss
tiops which 1t imposes and tosse would require not
to eubjueAte or DEAL unjustiy By our fellow no
leks blessea than are but to instruct to I'm.
prove and to eDlivhten them.
vast majority Of the p.opls Of the utsd States
believe, regret the Introduction OF slavery int, the
colonies lame mt that single slave trea Is our so de-
any # tho States regard the institution o. u great
evil to both and would rejoice the adoption Of
any .rfe just ard practicable plan for the removal Of
tory an has been presented When on the OCCASION
Of the formation Of the percent constitution OF Kea-
tncky, In 1882 the question Of the gradual
tiop II slavery IN she State sststsd It's friends
bad TO epcob inter- great obstacle. In the fact that
there th-n exs'~d no established colony to whoh they
oou M transported.
Nov, BY tbs success full establishment Of aourishing
colonies the Western coast Of Africa that ain ,uity
dueDg in any undue feeling OF sup~rsttioa IL docs
ee' u to me that u may have bee among the dspen
sstoss o. Piovid. noe TO permit the wrongs under
wsioh Africa has suffered, to ~ Inflicted, that her
children might b. returned their original home. ci-
vilised ara imbued with the benign spirit Of chris
tsn,ty, ana prepared slsa,sy to redeem that great
ttvo freu hayb art nd
8. without undertaking tn judge for any other
State, It vas ny opinion In 1850, that Kentucky was
In condition TO admit OF the gradual Of
her slaves; and how deeply do lament that system,
with that object, vas not then srxb i,a-d II Il
opinion has chs nsed and have fr-questly pu5.
holy expresesd it. should be most HAPPY what
inp'seiicsble At that epoch, oond nov be accom-.
T. After foil and Dc ibersts consideration ofthe sub
jest apps ars TO three should regulate
the s'f.S Sn :y.ss% Of srsdo: sm.nop.
ton. cautious and gssus 40 ~ Co aston no oon-
vulrion per any rash or sudden di.turbsnss In tue
exiting hs bite ri socety. Second that - an iudis.
peprsbls condition the ipsted saves should be
removed rom he State 70 some colony And hirdy,
eip-nses Of their ssporation to suon colo
ny iocludu an outfit for this their arri-
VA 'boud b. defra'. by fund to be raised from the
labor Of each freed slave.
No'bipg ooD'd be more unwss than the imms-
date liberation Of all tho slaves Ia STATE oomprs
heDdss both ssx-s ano oil sgss feon that Of tender
infnpcy 70 sstrsne od age IL would lesd TO tho most
IL tn. coboition Of socieIy shsuld bs marked BY OK
IRENE care arc ciroum pection Tho introduction OF
slavery into the ooloniss operation OF many
y.sIs dsrston; and tbe work Of their r~movs, from
tn. Uiitd Sr@c' only b effected afsr the lapse
Of srest ltng' b OF TIM.
. Itbns that . period should bs hxed whsn all
borr after It thou BE- fee ~ specified sse; all I'm
before II, i-maitios slaves for life. That period
would tuegVst tbouId b. 1885 even 1890, far on
THE aDt Der arrangements Of the system " stoptsf
incline TO . ik~rs, margin, to obvsts a. many
objection. and 70 unts rs many opinions IS possible
neither the comm. ncem-nt Of the operation Of the
sysfen BE- little earlier later. Ii not so important
"a that day should h. psrmassptIy 6xsA from wh'oa
80 could look forward with confidence TO the dual
termination Of slavery within the limits OF the oom-
mou~.ath
h IA dxed whsthar oY