New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-18


ProclamatiOns, which do not even attempt to
give free negroes right of domicil upon or
even OF passage through our territory. Ken
lucky is a loyal Union State, and intends 10
perform the duties and insist on the immunl-
ties pertaining to that position. We are not
here to contend that the negroes IN Thhemin-
20 County, Mississippi, are not freed, or at
least entitled to run for their freedom, by the
Proclamations here in evidence, which do not
even assume to fix the status of negroes IN
Kentucky, nor in any other loyal State. But
this ia a Slave State, and our laws are such as
the preservation OF Slavery absolutely requires.
/ need not. surely, argue to you that to let
strange negroes roam over our State at VIII
heading for the north-star BY night and Turk
Ing in our swamps and slaye-quarters by day,
would be utterly fatal to our social system.
Slavery could not endure it 10 peace; much
less in war. We have lava, therefore, which
prescribe the course to be pursued with all
strange negroes found roaming at large in our
State, whom no white owns or ia accountable
for. In rigid accordance with those laws,
these persons Tor thiDgs] have been arrested,
imprisoned, advertised, and are about TO be
cold. They may or may not have once belonged
to Joseph Bynum of Mississippi aiorefad-we
have only their word for that, and negro tes-
tmony is Of no avail 10 the case-but said By
mum dVes not appear nor any other clamanti
so we shall deal with them according to our laws,
aud we proAst against any Interference to sub
vert the settled policy and plain Statutes Of
Kentucky Hands of, if you please :"
Now there may be conclusive rejolnder
to this plea-I shall be very glad to learn that
there is-Dut / am not yet aware of it, and
must act according TO my present light and
knowledge. To insist that such treatment by
Kentucky Of loyal fugitiVes from Mississippi is
unjust and inhuman, were idle; for slave laws
are necessarily unjust and inhuman: Slavery
cannot be maintained without such. / believe,
therefore, subject always TO correction by the
Attorney General, that the wise and safe
course is for the Federal Executive to make
proper representations, either public or private,
to The State authorities of Kentucky, urging
them to consider the exceptional and anomalous
case of these fugitiycs from Rebel Slavery, and
instruct their subordlne.es to lberate thOse
already seized, aud let those who may hereafter
come along pass unmolested / believe this is
at all events the right end TO bcgiH at, even
though it should be- found necessary to resort to
more decided steps hereafter. 1t is my convc-
ton that Judge Bates, in an hours amicable
nnd confidential talk with Gov. Robinson,
could DO more for the present liberation and
future Christian treatment OF these untortunates,
than Gen. Burnside with HIS whole corps, under
express orders to hunt up all persons in Ken
lucky who have been treated like Eli and Sally,
aforesaid, and set them free at the point of the
bayonet.
Kentucky is now in most critical condi'
ton. The recent election of Mayor i'll Louis
yille-the suddenly and strangely altered tone
and bearing OF The Louisville Democrat-bode
no good to the Union cause. 1t is evident that
d Democratic" organization, in opposition To
tho 4" Union" ia beng secretly elaborated, and
that a ticket viii be supported in Angus,
secure the vote of the great mass Of loyal
Democrats, will take the vote Of every open
or secret Rebel in the state. Now give them
the opportunity of saying, with n show OF
truth. that Abe Lincoln and his Abolition horde |
are defyng and breaking down the laws of
the State designed and calculated to prevent !
an irruption of vaqabond free negroes from 1
and furnishing Dixie aud you will /
give them cry which will sweep tho State,
putting it square into the hands Of Powell,
Magofin ana their set, who are only in SEEM
ing, not in substance, at odds with JEFF. Davis,
and $. b. Buckner. | do not
think the Union cause can afford this al
present.
was never for State Rishts, OF the ex.
aggersted, Calhoun stamp. never believed .
uor hed that State had any more right to
secede from or nullify the laws OF the Union
than county or township. | recognize no
State Rights Us inhering ia State which has
rebeled against aud is making war upon the
Union. But the new-light talk of the States,
even While loyal, rs mere municipalities, il /
even tbaJ-the windy bosh of leather-headed "
PREDICTING a grand consolidated
Nation of which the States are to 10 merely
Droynces-must not blind you aud NE to the
act that tie States have hitherto been the
citadel and sanctuary OF whatever freedom OF
speech and action we have enOyed-tbat it is
Dui few years since We were urging States
a go to tie very verge OF their reserved
powers in passing Personal Liberty bills, and
,ince We were NIL electrified by tine d.cision of