Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-09-25
How to Dispose of Kentucky Slaves
--Col. Metcalfe's Views.
CINCINNATI, Sept. 6, 1862.

OlNClNNAT1, sept. D, loOz.
EDS. CINCINNATI GAzETTE:--My wife
and innocent children are now fugitives
have fed from home, kindred, and all the
dear associations of our native hills, hallow
cd by the remains of our fathers, who have
returned to and mingled with that dust
with many tears and heart breaking signs
have bid farewell to childhood happy play
grounds they can no more for time froic
in the inviting shade Of the rare and beau
tiful trees that have planted and nursed,
until they, in gratitude, have given their
protection to the innocents from the brrn-
ing rays. They haze been doomed TO eriie
| ,cithout crime; a home, oad peace, and
happiness hare .fllsa from our riew; the a,
uader has possession Why is this? Why
did the same robbers attempt to overrun aud
conquer our neighbOring nations who had
not interierej with their rights, and against
whom they could not raise the shadow of
! an excuse for making war? They certainly
| did not attempt to whip Cuba because they
suspected them Of being Abolitionists, or
because they hated them ~ natioH OF
shopkeep,rs. No but they published it to
the world that they intended to annex Cuba,
| to create a balance of power for the slave
States. Now, it is very plain that if there
had been no Slavery there would have boen no
necessity for thento turn robbers and pirates,
to create that balance of power; aud now
they attempt to whip Kentucky out of her
allegiance against her will, because this in.
stitution OF Slavery has engenderel in them
that ovcrba iring and aggressive disposition,
aud they have lost sight entirely of right
and justice. The disease has become chron
ic, and they look upon thievery and robbery
as virtues, and that they have the same
right to dictate to us Il, they do to theil
slaves on the cotton plantations. Now oui
peace, safety, and happiness, greatly de-
pend upon getting rid of that demoralizine
institution. How shall we go about it ? is the
question. The President recommends US tt
agree to sell out ,e;ally and c,nstitutionally
am not a lawyer. but suppose that vii
require a long roundabout voting aud dis
cussing. wish to make "a roposition tha
ought to satisfy bo b parties; that il, :,
urge the passag, of IA law to pay each L.di
uidu1l for his negroes, who wishes to sell t.
the Government, and can safely say tha
s, b. ,oli to the Government in short order
Hundreds will sell to the Government tha
would not sell them into other hands il
Slavery AMI the other fourth will soon FIN
. that the climate is not healthy. IF this Wa
continues n few months longer, we will no
be able to get anything for them. Now a
: this very date many Of the Union men ar
a sending their negroes over the river to kee
them out of the way of invaders Sha
O the true men to their country be compelie
: to lose their negroes, and the sympathizin
n scoundrels keep theirs? Kentuckians ar
h generally shrewd traders, sharp on any kin
i. of property but niger. At this very tim
: they are rushing in their horsss and mule
d and selling them for half p ice. for fear tha
/, they will lose them entirely in this crash
IL but if you propose to them that they do tn
!. same with the negro, one half OF the so-cal
h ed Union men will at once loose all judi
!. ment about what is the best for them to d
with that kind of property, and go into
in long constitutional argument, and splutt,
L about that sacred instrument, as il any boo
I. had ever proposed to rid the country al
l. other way. | have no doubt in my mir
/ that it is Just as constitutional for me
g. sell my negro as it is to sell my horse. b
er these dear lovers of that sacred docume
n. take il for granted that you mean som
Ie thing terrible against constitutions VIII
n niger is named Now, can we all be suitec
10 1t is not just to me to be compelled to ke'
4. mine until they depreciate to nothing b
\ cause some OF my neighbors will not zoe d
: danger. Let them try the experiment wi
II. their own property, but beg OF our la
ad makers to give me chance To stand iro
w UNDER I have talked with thousands
il good bu inesi men Of K ntu sky, and even
,h secessonists, who will gladly accept q
nd plan. Put the ball id motion it will spre
,s like prairie on fire. uis .,r a
n, II there had been no .Slapay there ,ooa
Va hape been no odr. Place and Slavery t1
ar ar not amalgamats. Ks.tpckians sohich 10
" " you takeS LEoNipAs MEroALFE.
d. 81. ia ---7 - :,