The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-06-15
Slavery In Kentucky.

The following article. was as the writer
informs US, prompted by knowledge of
the fact that in some OF the counties of
the State the wrong men hold position Of
provost marshals, and instead of en-
courasing the enlistment of negroes. as
provided for by act of Congress, every
possible obstacle is thrown in the way to
retard the operations of the law. With
the further explanatory remark that the
author of the communication is Ken
tucky STAKEHOLDER, we give it to our
readers:
! 1t is obvious that the split in the Union
party of Kentucky, arises out of divis-
ion of sentiment on the negro question.
The Conservatives hope to preserve the
institution. and are willing to sacrifice
the Union to do So The other wing of
the party are thoroughly persuaded that
there can be no peace in Kentucky, until
slavery is eradicated To do the thing
legally, without violence. and immediate
", is what the true Union men want and
earnestly desire. The means are at hand,
the machinery the most efficient and SIM
Pile imaginable. There are 4O.oOO) forty
thousand able bodied male negroes in
Kentucky. Three fourths of them are
married men and on an average have
three Children. If the men can be made
free, under the act of Congress, their
wives and children also become free
If the federal authorities in Kentucky
will appoint earnest, faithful and active
Provost Marshals in all the shire towns
of the large slave holding counties in the
State. who will in hand bill. set forth to
the negroes, that if they will enlist into
the army of the United States that they,
thei wives and children will become free,
in less than sixty days there will not be
enough of African slavery left in the State
to swear by.
First, the 40, 900 males will be free;
next, thirty thousand women, the wives
of three fourths of the males, and a very
moderate estimate of the children will
be nearly ninety thousand
This simple method, if pursued. shows
that one hundred and sixty thousand ne
groes can legally. and without violence,
be enfranchsed in less than sixty days.
Let the Federal Government do this and
remove this disturbing element in Ken
tucky, and peace and humanity will be
at once restored.
Thinking, educated men of Kentucky,
are yearning for it. How to get at it has
been the question. Passing the act to
enlist negroes was a source of intimation.
and when the enrolment of the slaves
commenced there were strong indications
of violence. This has subsidized some
what and an earnest and vigorous exc
cution OF the law would by this time have
settled the question in the State. There
would have been no split in the Union
party. But the way in which the law
has been enforced has tended to induce
a belief in those who still cling with idola
trous affection to the negroes, that IL
they will go off and join the Democratic
party of the Northern States, and over
turn the present Administration, that
they can thereby save the institution in
the State There is strong conviction
in the minds of a large number Of the
original secesh and quasi Unionists of
Kentucky that the President does not
want the institution overthrown here.
The remark is frequently made by the
thinking men among them, that Mr.. Lin
coin does not want slavery destroyed in
Kentucky
Others conclude that because the mat
ter is treated with such want of ear
execute the law
by practical means far better for the
loyal sentiments of kentuek ky that it had
never been passed.
But execute it with frmness, and in
stantly take away the grounds Of the
hopes of the disloyal, and the reasons of
an alliance beteween them and the quasi
unionists. and the efforts of the truly
LOYAL men will be crowned with victory,
and the State be blessed with perpetual
peace.
DR. Breckenridge suggests two ways of
getting clear of the institution here. First
by gradual emancipation; next, by an
amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States. The first he comedies to
be impracticable, and the latter method
is certainly to be attended with delay.
Even if it can be successfully done,
which is not free from doubt, for the
reason that it requires the bill to be pass
ed by Congress by a two thirds vote, and
then the consent of three fourths.
Why idle away time in discussing a
variety ofwavs to accomplish the object,
when there is a simple and efficient mode
of doing it already provided!
The law of Congress provides for the
enlistment of negroes into the army: for
the compensation to the masters for them
when taken; for the freedom Of them
selves, their wives and children, when
they enter the service Of the country.
Here is legal, just and efficient way OF
the whole matter, instantly and without
delay Let earnest, active men be ap-
pointed to carry out its provisions. and
wise men will not need longer to cogitate
how the thing can be done. 1t will be
accomplished before they arrived At their
conclusions Gin Gazette
Coarse and Fine Wooi-Coarse and
long Wools have advanced more than
the finer grades, being enhanced by the
war demand. In Jan, 1860, wool OF
low grades sold st ~ cents: Saxony