A genealogy friend of mine found something that really is of interest to me! Franklin Gorin, as most of you know, was the son of John and Elizabeth Franklin Gorin, founders of Glasgow here where I live. Through the Civil War times, the stress of north vs south was as great as in any southern family. I have told you the story before of Franklin Jr and his joining with John Hunt Morgan after the burning by the Union soldiers of his cabin in Memphis and the murder of his wife and one-year old baby - and of Franklin's daughter being arrested and held in a Federal prison for a year because of her reaction to insults on her brother while owner of Bell's Tavern. This letter fills in some blanks also - remember Franklin was a noted lawyer who practiced here, in Nashville and in Louisville. It is taken from the Kentucky Reveille, L. P. Crenshaw Editor, Glasgow, KY, Friday morning, Feb. 25, 1849 - long before the Civil War had erupted. He had sold Mammoth Cave a few years earlier and his main concern was his law practice, or his service in the KY Legislature. "For the Reville, Glasgow, February 23, 1849. Mr. Editor -- I send you for publication a letter addressed to me by F. Gorin, Esq., upon the subject of slavery in Kentucky. It contains merely the opinions of Mr. Gorin upon the several points mentioned by him, and desire is given to the public in order that they may be fully understood at this time. Very respectfully, Your Friend. "Dear Sir: - I cheerfully comply with your request, to "give you my opinions upon the subject of slavery in Kentucky, in writing." I do it the more readily, because my opinions upon that subject are greatly misunderstood and mis-represented, designedly, I fear by many - I say designedly because, since my return to Kentucky, i have endeavored to be guarded in my language, and have generally used the same words when speaking upon the subject. "(few words missing) ... slavery as it exists in Kentucky, is a constitutional and legal institution. "I believe it is a great evil to the White race, and a great blessing to the slaves. "I do not believe that the Convention has the right to emancipate the slaves, without the consent of their owners, or making compensation to the owners for them. "I admit that the Convention [this would be KY Convention] has the power to emancipate the slaves, without the consent of the owners, and without paying for them; but if they should do so, it would be manifest injustice. "I make a distinction between right and power. Slaves in Kentucky are, by law, property, as much as land or horses. All, I presume, would deny the right and justice to take away from the owners their land and horses; and I suppose no person would deny the power to do this. "I do not believe that slavery, as it exists in Kentucky, is sinful in itself. "I am not in favor of any plan of emancipation that will take away from the owner his slaves, without his consent, or paying their full value, and removing them from the State. "I would not favor any plan that would injure the owner, or deprive him of his rights; neither would I favor any plan that would make the slave's condition worse than it is. "I am opposed to the State creating a debt to pay for the slaves, because of her inability, and its injustice to non-slave-owners. "I am opposed to making any provision in the new Constitution to perpetuate slavery in Kentucky. "I am in favor of a clause in the new Constitution prohibiting the introduction of any more slaves into this State. "I am opposed to preventing owners of slaves, who may desire it, from emancipating their slaves. "These are my opinions on the subject. "I have often said, and again repeat it, that the man who will devise the ways and means of ridding us of slavery, and removing the slaves to some country where they can live, and at the same time give satisfaction, to the owners, will have done more for their country than any man ever performed.. "Very respectiully, yours &c [etc.], F. Gorin" On the next day there was an editorial by Mr. Crenshaw explaining Franklin's letter and in support of same, outlining all the difficulties involved in freeing the slaves, compensation to owners, etc. KY was establishing a 2nd Constitution at this time, this being a primary issue. Sandi Col. Sandi Gorin - GORIN worldconnect website: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/~sgorin