The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-01-19
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secent declaration and sclio,
Convention 10 but the tier,
eipks propouodod BY the leo
that State forty years ago
Outstanding the ,yst.patic el
- aAve propaga adists Of Ii
- that time 70 tile present /,
she ideas Of Liberty sfsd over
advocates, large proportion o
n Of Tennessee still cherish n,
- principles Of freedom ins.illet
9crished by their fathers. Sine,
nlniaation Of the schemes ofish,
~ propsgandists in this desolatins
var, loyal Tennesseeans are rapid,
rning to their first love, and We doubi
the action Of the State: Convention
sat Nashville, 10 dec.ariag Tennessee
49, State, will be enthusiastic ~ =. Q.
onsd BY the people of thas State at the
Ssal,.
That this action is in accordance with
yhe time honorod principles Of the pc o Il
~ Tennessee is demonstrated BY the I'll.
! loving report of Comniltee en- Slaverv
v the Legislature Of TennesseA in 1921:
The committee to whom was referred
the petition of number OF citizens of
this State, praying that the legislature
would take into consideration the situstion
Of the pc pie OF color, held in slavery in
. oar highly favored aud dprofesspng country,
and.to devise some plan and TIass it into
Law for their relief: such as allowing mas
Z ters, who are convinced Of ths inpfoprie.
ty Of holding slaves, to emancipate them
on terms tha. will not involve themselves
or their estates, for their maintenance:
provided the court should ba OF opinion
that the slaves SO offered for emancipation
are, in all probability, capable Of maintain.
ing themselves.
, "And suggesting the justice and good
policy of The eg'siature-declarins in the
language and spirit of the Declaration of
independence, that all men are and ought
to be free-and BY Law to declare, thai
the descendants of slaves. bcrn after the
pass rye Of sial Law, shall be Tree at Civ
en- age to be dxed By said law also to en-
join on those having the raising of such
to teach them to read the scriptures and
follow some useful employment, and also
as lar as can be, prevent the iohumap
practice of separating husband and wife,"
Beg leave to report that they have had
that subj ,ct under examination, and on
the irsi proposition contained 10 said pc
tition, to wit: allowing masters, convinc
ed If the 'impropriety Of holding the man
= al color in slavery, to emsncipate such
on terms not involving masters or their
estates, provided such slave offered for
emancipation is in situation TO provide
for him or herself express. il as their
opinion that it il consistent with the
rights of freemen guaranteed BY the con
stnuiiop to have and exercise the power
eof yielding obedience TO the dictates OF
conscience and humanity.
That 10 s,l cases where chance or for
tune has given the citizen dominion over
any part Of tho human race, no natter OF
what hue; and whose reflection has taught
Nun IL COtstuFI dn tAtltiSc Vi tktdt QO
minion inhuman, unconstitutional. or
against the religion of his cauatry, ought
to be permitted 10 remove that yoke with
out The tranmels a. present imposed BY
Law.
Your committee beg leave TO state that,
while they feel disposed tb amend the
law and guaranty this right. they wish il
! hr = nh e.. = :.
and avaricious, who. to rid themselves 81
the burden of supporting tae aged slave,
whose life had been devoted TO the service
Of such a master, would sez, the op-
portunity OF casting such on the public
for support.
Your committee beg leave further to
state, that very few cases 1.-Two occurred,
where slaves freed in the State Of Ten
ne-see, have become comfy charge.
Your committee, therefore, recommend
IN amendment of the law; granting the
prayer Of the petitiop,sso tar as respects
the young, healthy slave, not likely to be-
come county charge.
On the second point, your committee
are Of opinion that it is worthy the con-
sideration of the Legislature to examine
.into the policy of providing for the eman-
cipatipn of those yet unborn. Liberty
to the slave has occupied the research Of
abe moral, philosophical apd atatesmea Of
0nr own and other countriss; ! research
into this principle extendp vide into az
evil whose root is perhaps dangerously en-
twincd With the liberty Of the only free
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