The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-03-20


completely extirpated the whole of them
ihet in less than twenty years scarce a
remnant of them could be found
This experiment was quite defeat to
the emancipation doctrine, and relieved
the consciences of the slave holder by
the assumption that although slavery
might be wrong. yet it would he greater
wrong 10 turn loose on society greater
wrong 10y freeing his slaves.
As an illustration OF the public senti>
ment between the years 1880 and 1885
the writer will state that about that Pc
riod he was a member of literary club
who held their regular meetings; aud
among other things it was tie rule TO
propose some subject on which each
member should prepare and read an es-
say at the next meeting
is Slavery an EvilP" was the guess
ton propnunded at one Of these meets
ings Every member had his essay
ready at the next meeting, and every one
pronounced it great evil to the country,
and It is well recolected how eloquently
one young men Der was in pointing out
q! evils of raising a family OF children
in idleness, the fruits OF which evil in
after lite helped to hasten him TO pre-
mature grave.
al, ,I,,1 al
writer was in after lite an aspirant to POI
lilical honor aud distinction, and most of
them had their ambition gratificl, and it
used TO he n source of amusement TO the
writer TO sit and hear those very men de-
! Tending the pro-slavery question. aud
think how much like a thunder clap
from a clear sky would sound their old
essays under their sign manucls ii read
in reply to their speeches.
The writer, however, casts no retlcc>
ton on the memory of these men. They
were all no doubt sincere in their last, As
well as first lalth. As proof that pop
uar opinion was against slavery in the
abstract, the Legislature a"out. 1923
passed law prohibiting the importation
of slaves as merchandise and had the
people OF Kentucky been let alone, there
| IS little doubt but the State at some future
day would have adopted, a system OF
gradual emancipation.
This feeling in the public mind was
having happy effect on the condition
of the slave himself, the master trying 10
make the yoke as light A. poss bic, and
feeling of mutual confidence and al
lection existed in most slave, holding
IamIlir..
Unfortunately for the human race, there
are alNays such men in existence as old
Homer Described
'Thcu dog in forehead, but in heart deer :"
Such men as these resorting to
the popular cry OF universal frcciom Of
mankind became so aggressive upon Ken
lucky. 10y stealing and demoralizing the
slave property, and heaping all the epi-
thets known to the vocabulary of abuse
upon slave holders, that most Of our cit
liens abandoned their long cherished
ideas of gradual emancipation, AMI
sought for reason and arguments not
only 10 maintain their legal and vested
rights in their slave property, but to JUS
tiiy their own good character, and the
whole country teemed with speeches,
pamphlets, and Bible defences of slavery
BY these means 20 unpopular had the
question of gradual emancipation become,
that lew, il any OF its friends dared to
brook the torrent in the convention which
formed the present Constitution. and the
result was that the Constitution, was al,
most radical ia It's features. and to rrbut
the higher Idw assumptions OF the aho,
litionists. the jealous and energetic Gar
rett Davis procured in the declaration
of rights the assertion that 'he right 10
property ,cds aJore Lac
/, WAS thus the widening contest grew,
until the abolitionists, under the false
preiense of saving the Union, abolished
slavery, thus perpetrating the most cruel
outrage on u crushed people, reducing
thousands Of families from wealth and
aiiluence TO the most affect poverty.
rhirteen long years have gone, the
A Il 4 II
through wrong aud oppression, his innate
patriotism and love of country smothers
his sense of injustice. and makes him still
willing TO live in iraterual union with his
! fellow countrymen and restore the nation
To Its once happy condition. But it is
the nature of ignohle minds never To
{ rgive those whom they have grossly
wronged-hence 1t is that we hear such
characters. in Congress and elsewhere.
still b'asting over the victories they
snufied at a safe distance, but never
participated in; still hesping calumny
on the old slave holders, and trying to
grind TO the earth the people whom they
SD grossly injured
Ii is true that there were some evils at.
tending slavery; some men will always
be tyrants unless they are themselves
slaves, aud there is no doubt there exists
as much petty tyranny in the North As
ever existed in the South But taking
the old slave holders as q class. their de-
scendan,s need feel no blush of shame
for their ancestors. for they stood as
high in principles OF honor. integrity,
charity and benevolence as any race OF
people on earth.
lTo De CONTINUED
SCATTER Observation-Disclosures we
dress up our dwellings and our church
es at Christmas or not. there are many
other things we can do. We can seat
ter blessings along our pathway, and
J L