The Shasta courier., 1861-12-21
Kentucky and Emancipation.


It is said in recent dispatches. that -the
State of Kentucky is setting about, in good
earnest, the task of abolishing the Institution
of slavery in her borders, on the plan of in
continently declaring free the slaves now
held by rebel Kentuckians, and buUing and
freeing those belonging to her loyal citizens.
However this may terminate, it must be ad-
mitted that the simple fact that such plan
is discussed in Kentucky, goes long way
towards showing the great changes now de-
veloping in loyal Southern districts concern
ing this institution of domestic life in the
South, about which everybody has heard
more than enough for the last fourth of
century Before the mad revolt of South
Carolina, the question offreeing the slaves Of
Kentucky entered no mans mind. Now it
is undergoing very calm discussion in that
State, and no one objects, farther than to in
terpose a criticism on the suggested modes of
doing it, leaving the fact, to go by default,
that in some way it will be done. Very Gu
rious are the effects of this war for slavery,
when its inception and sustenance result in
abolitionism. in districts where it was most
thriving. Who can tell the number of men,
whose lives have been passed in upholding
the constitutional rights of the q South, ,"
that are now, by the recent acts of rebellion
and folly in that unfortunate section, in fa-
vor Of abolishing the institution of slavery by
the strong power of the sword all over the
United States? There was once a noble band
of influential men in the Northern States,
who, in every contest, have stood up manfully
fer all the prescribed rights of the South on
all occasions, and who, because of that very
support, have gone down to political graves,
martyrs to too devoted an adherence to
Southern rights. Look to the catacombs
that hold the political fortunes of that gallant
band, who upheld the Southern States in
their efforts to establish the Kansas BILL By
the aid of few votes from the North the bill
became law and principle of government,
to be abandoned in the South in six short
years, for the previously rejected heresy of
Intervention
The results of such deception are natural
enough. Out of this very conduct Of the ex-
treme politicians of the South. the cause of
Abolition has received a four-fold greater
strength than from every other cause ccm-
bined, and the first in the North to fy from
the support of the extreme dogmas of the
South, and become practical Abolitionists,
are those who have been heretofore deceived
by the hotspurs of that section ON the negro
question. Butler, it will be recollectsd, was
one of the Massachusetts delegates who bolted
the Charleston Convention because he thought
that some of the-rights of the sSouth'' were
being infringed. He went with the South in
support of the sectional Breckenridge, and by
that means Lincoln was elected to the Presi-
dency. Butler, however, left them when
they proposed to rebel, over the consequences
OF their own acts, and is to-day, for all prac-
teal purposes-it is not worth while to put
too fine point upon it. AN Abolitionist
Isaac |. Stevens, who bolted the Charleston
Convention as delegate from Oregon, at the
same time and for the same reasons as But
Ter, and who was, and is the Chairaan of
the Breckinridge National Committee, is an
enemy ofthe institution of slavery. Dickin-
son, who gave to Breckenridge fve~sixth of
the votes he received in the Northern States.
is in the same category. 1t is useless to it,
lustrate further. We have said that these
gentlemen, by the high handed course of a
South, maddened at the consequences of her
own deeds, have become practical Abolition.
lists. Understand us as meaning that they
would favor the confscation and liberation
of every slave of every rebel in arms against
The Government That is what rebels call
an Abolitionist, and we adopt the definition.
Let the war on the part of the South, now
waged BY them against the Government that
has protected their peculiar interests for so
long period, be continued for one year. and
we shall see that, not only will Kentucky.
Maryland and Missouri be free States. but
this institution, which is apparently so much
more valuable than the Government itself.
may be jeopardized elsewhere. Let Giddinrs
and Abby Kelly look to their laurels. Davis
and fancey contest with them the honors
of abolition.