The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-23
THsE LOUISVILLE "5OgRSAL' GIVES
49,


Ug' SLAVERY.
Ffca ne ARpHy Ercuing J0urIal
1he Louisville JoUrHai alauJoHs slavery Ia
q lCa0ing editorial in reply to a correspondent,
who urges emancipation as the only hope and
salvation of Kentucky, il frankly admits tlat tAg
"pcculiar institution" is virtuslly deld and dead
b! it's own hand. It contends that the question
is o longer how it shall be saved from utter
vI,ck, but how it shall be finally extinguished,
end With the least ar to The socid! Institutions Of
the South. Itadmits that it has proved curse
to kentucky; that "ifthe AntiSlayery Consttu.
ticu, SO powerfully advocated by Henry Clay
naty years, had been adopted, the State would
now be more prosperous, wealthy, and happy
thar It IS" But it poin'edly adds, "Mr. Clay
was de feated and slavery Constitution adopted"
Ttr Consequence has been that the energies Of
that noble State have been paralyzcd, her growth
1mpeded, nd her moral power crippled.
But how Is tue curse TO be finally and legally
removed The JOi7nol is much perpeEed for
reply. SO fer as the rebeAOuS States are con-
cerntd, cur armies are doing the work FAR more
eff, Clually than eman ipstiOn prOulamatinus can
but, "ods that paper, Kentucky 10 loyal aud
ought not 70 be reated rs II he we're not it ~ be
trusted" ave believe" it COnfndes, chat
many Of her people have favored emancipation
for years, but when rho nrz Constitution was
adorted the mode of future amendment was so
TtniCn nOR, IL could not he cDustitutiOnally
called until the year 1859" Buti indmates that
the difficulty might be solved by Congress, which
"u ny call State conventions TOR amendments,
wi ch cen treat the Constitution rs eouiyilent
10 Treaty ;" and cites d legal decision that Con-
ertss msy repeal treaty so far as it is a muni-
etpHl law, provided It's subjectmatter be within
the legislative power.
This pIonunciamento of the Journal against
slavery is deeply significant. Il proves that Ken.
tuchy IS at last awsktng to a sense Of ber anoma-
ious condition, and preparing with bad grace, it
ls true, 70 range herself on the side of the free
States. Hitherto She has ciung TO her black idol
with faiuitous tenacity. While Missouri and
Mary land were striving to rid themselves of the
ncn ter, she hngged il with the devotion of first
love. The more apparent il was thlt slavery was
doomed, the more stlenuOus!y she sou ght TO
project and defend It. While all tie rest of the
world was marching forward towards freedom,
spe alone seemed bent upon going backwards
TOW ards despotsm.
But light has broken upon her at last She
sees The perilous road she Is traveliDg-the gulf
thfi yawns before her. She comprehends finally
thh' the alternative Is slavery aud ruin OF free
don end prosperity, and is anxious 20 put herself
on he night track before it is too late. The fate
OF Virginia and Tennessee admOnshes her what
might have been her own had she gone over 70
seCessiOn-what may yet be her fate If she per
sists IN her recent suicidal course. The motive
Of elfintercst, If not the motives of patriotism
has proved too strong for fractional prelud'e
anC State pride.
The cause OF freedom moves rapidly and ire
sisiihiy onward. Four years ago Missouri an
Msryiand were slavishly we'd 70 ''the institution.
Nov both these States are not only virtually fre
bul rejoicing in their emancipation from The d,
tested tbraldom. Kentucky Is slowly follO~ln
In their wake, while the advocates Of freedom
the Rebel States may be counted by tens Of thor
saLds A few years, and slavery will be total
ano utterly rooted out from our soil, the Repu'
lie vii enter upon a new and more gioriOU
caeer, and we shall be a happy and unite
people The sun is not more sure To rise IN q
be. yens than that it is the destiny Of our psop
70 e fTee