The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-11-14

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Henry Clay in bis New Orlsans later
Of February II, ls4s, to Richard Pindell
Of Lexington, Ky, says:
81 am aware that there are respectable
persons who believe that slavery b :
blessing that the ins'itution cagkt to ex-
is, in every we'll organized society. and
that it is even favorable to the preservation
OF liberty. Happily the number Who en-
tertain these extrsvagant opinions 10 not
v,ry great, and the time would be need
lessly occupied 10 an elaborate refutation
of them. / would however remark that,
if slavery BE- fraught with these alleged
benefits the principle on which it is main
tained would require that one portion Of
the white race should be reduced to bon
dagc 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 great preference for
their color as we do for ours. they would
not be justified in reducing the white race
to slavery in order to secure the blessings
which that state is said 10 diffuse.
Gan argument 10 support of reducing
the African race TO slavery is sometimes
derived from their intellectual inferiority
to the white races bat il this argument
be founded in fact, (as it may be, bu'
which shall not now examine, il would
prove entirely too much. 1t would prove
that any white nation, which had made
greater advances in civilization, knowledge
and wisdom than another white nation
would have the right to reduce it to bon
dage. Nay; further. II the principle Of
subjugation. founded upon intellectual
superiority be true, aud be applicable to
races and to nations, what is to prevent
its being applied to indiyiduslsy And
then the wisest man IN the world would
have right TO make slaves Of the rest OF
mankind.
"if. indeed, We possess the intellectual
superiority, profoundly grateful and thank
ful to Him who has bestowed it, we ought
TO fulfill all the obligations and duties
which it imposes, and these would not n
quire US to suijngate or deal unjustly by
our fellow meii sho are less blessed thar
We are, but Instruct, improve and enlight
en- them
"A vast majority OF the people of lhs
United Statts, in even, section Of them
believe regret the Introduction of sla
very into the colonies under the anthorit,
OF our British ancestors lament that 4
single slave tresds the soil; deplore the
necessity of the continuance of SLAYER,
IN any of the States regard the institu.
ton as great evil TO both races, and
would reJnce in the adoption Of any sal.
and practicable plan for the removal al
all slaves from among US
without undertaking to judge for any
other State, 1t was my opinion in 1899
that Kentucky was 10 condition to admit
OF gradual emancipation of her slaves ;
and bow deeply do lament that a sys-
TEN with that oble 4 had not been then
established. Ii it had been, the State
would now b. nearly rid of slaves. Nv
opinion has never changed. and | have
frequently publicly expressed it. should
be most happy if what was impracticable
1t that epoch could nov be accom-
plished.
Most of the evils, losses, and misfr
tunes OF human life have some compensa
lion or a'leyiation The slayehojde, il
generally landowner, aud am persua-
ded that he would 6nd In the augmented
Value of his land some if not full indem-
nifty for all his losses arising from emap-
cipation and colonization. He would also
literally share in the general benefits acl
cruing to the whole State from the ex.
tinction of slavery. They may be summed
up in few words. We shall remove
from among US the contaminatiug infIuen.
ces of serviie and degraded race of diff
ferent colors We shall enjoy the proud
and conscious satisfaction of placing tha,
race where they can enjoy the great bles-
sings OF liberty and civil, political and
socia! equality; we shall acquire the al
vantage of the diligence, the tideilitv and
the constancy Of fres labor; instead Of the
carelessness. tie inidelity and the un.
steadiness of slave labor we shall elevate
the character Of white labor, and elevate
the social condition of the white laborer.
augment the value OF our lands, improve
the agriculture # the States, attract c,p .
tai from abroad to all the pursuits of com.
merce, manufactures and agriculture re-
dress, as far and as fast az We pru.
IDENTIFY can, any wrongs which ths deceu
dan;s OF Africa have suffered at our hands
and we should demonstrate the sincerity
with which we pay indiscrimina,e HON. |
age to the great cause of the libsrty
of the human race
Kentucky enjoys high respect and
honorable consideration throughout the
civilized worli; but, in my humble opin. |
ion. no title which she has to tho esteem |
and admiration Of mankind, no deeds Of
her former glory. would equal in or, a,ness !
and grandeur that of being the pioneer
State IN removing from her soil ever, |
trace OF human slavery. and in establish. |
ing the deceDd.urs Africa wi lin her in.
rlsoiction In The na..ve lad Of their fore
fathers.
III there be majority Of the people Of
kentucky. at this time adverse TO tomb.
ing the institution of slavery as il now ~.
lists, We who had Thought and wished 9th.
erwise can only indulge the hope that III
some future time, under better au.p;es.
and with the blessing of Providence ~
cause which we have 30 much at heat
NAV ha attand.d wifh hxtfa. sro.xa