Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-12-09
LETTER FROM GOV. BRAMLETTE.
A Union Man with an "If' asks Several Cues
tons, and Gets Sharp Answer-The
Governors Definition Of Loyalty.

TONS, and Gets Sharp Answer-The
| Governors Definition Of Loyalty
The Frankfort CommonueaHh makes public
desiring in this way to answer many letters al
| one time:
GAIT HOUSE, LOUISVILLE, Nov. 5. 1868.
! The Hon. THos. E. BRAMLETTE-Dear Sir ;
! see your call for volunteers this morning in
the city papers.
1t looks like patriotism, reads lik e it, and
sounds like it but are you not acting in con
cert with dominant party more destructive
to the Government and to the interest of the
people of Kentucky than the armed Rebels
themselves
all | have to show for twenty years of hard
labor and close economy is piece of land
and about % negroes.
Some days since nine of my men were in
dnced by Union officer to leave me and go
into County, Tenn. (the next county ad-
joining mel, and join one of the Govern
ments negro regiments. | followed them to
this camp, and quie ty told to go home
and mind my own business. Many of my
neIghborS are being daily treated in the same
way, and we have no redress, either by our
State general Government.
1t certainly must be apparent to you as to
every other man of common intelligence in
tor the purpose of restoring the Union, but
for the overthrow of the institution of SIa-
very. and with it the utter bankruptcy of all
shareholders.
Under such circumstances how do you sup
pose that it is possible for men to fight in a
cause which they know and believe will ruin
themselves
Any man in Kentucky who will do so is not
actuated by any patriotism or love of country,
but does so from love of money. or from ig.
norance of the true position of things.
have always been a Union man, and am
still. but cannot, and will never indorse the
present programme of the war at present,
which, think, leads to the utter demoIish-
ment of the old Union.
Very respectfully, ...........
COMMONWEALTH OF KY, EXECUTIVE Dept, |
FRANKFORT, Nov. Z, 1868. |
'....- -..., esq. County, Ky.
SIR: Your letter from 'sGalt House, - of |
The 5th inst, is before me.
on say of my proclamation, it sslooks like
reads like it, and sounds like it
Dut are you not acting in concert with domi-
1ant party more destructive to the Govern
nent and to the Interests of the people of
teDtucky than the armed Rebels themselves ?''
L regret that L cannot say of your letter that
{ looks like patriotism, reads like it and
sounds like it and, but for the fact being
stated in your letter that you shave always
'een U Mon man, and | am stilI,' it certain
would not have occurred to me to suspect
ION of being such from your letter.
The Rebels are the only party known to me
Who are seeking to destroy our Government,
nd am certain that am not ssacting in con-
ert with them. L suppose the party you
Intended to embrace by your statement is the
republican party, now holding political as
endency. In so far they bring to bear the
gtim ate powers of the Government to crush
he Rebellion, expect to act sin concert''
nth them. When they depart from legiti-
nate sourses, L will not forward measures
'hich l cannot approve legitimate. Bat,
$ did in our war with Mexico, l shall stand
rmly by my Government and adhere to it's
ause, no matter how widely may differ from
ne Administration or its measures. To pre-
srUe our nationality is the paramount duty of
atriotisns The Rebels only seek to destroy {
;. That differ with the ssdominant party'' ]
pom some measures of policy is true, but
o not believe they purpose the destruction of |
be Government. II they wished to destroy {
le Government, it would soon be accomplish. {
4. There could be no power to hinder were
ley combined with the Rebels for its de-
ruction. =
| think l see s'where the shoe pinches'' c
our loyalty. You have lost some slaves by c
lie unlawful interference of Federal officers t
ecause these officers, in violation of the laws /
lie spirit of the Presidents proclamation and
lie order of Major Gen. Burnside, enticed t
our slaves to run away you conclude that ssit +
'rtainly must be apparent to you (me) as t
every other man of common intelli- n
,nce in Kentucky. that the object OF the war 4
not to restore the Union, but for the over Il
row of the institution of Slavery, and with [
the utter bankruptcy of all shareholders. - Il
confess myself too dull to see the object t
lat there are many OF the s'dominent party'' t
10 desire the .soverthrow of Slayery'' and q
10 believe that such must be the legitimate j.
suit of the continuance of the war, and many 81
sh to make it an object, is doubtless true. A
It did it ever occur to you how closely allied is
patriotism of those who not willing to save b
Union ac,thont SLaUery, and those who are n
t willing to save it lriM Slacery? al
The patriotism of these two classes is exactly fl
same. 1t is low grade of patriotism, and L ~
nfess / preference between them. r,
ough twin sentiments they are in constantdis- q
te. So short is the vision and feeble the grasp
their Unionism, that they neither see nor can II