, 1865-02-14
OUR FRANKFORT LETTER.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE KEN
TUCKY LEGISLATURE,
The Removal Of General Eurbr]dse--Hls Sue
tessor--The Military Protection Of Ken-
tutky--The Constitutional Amendment.

Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune
FRANKFORT, Ky, February ., 1866.
If times are uncertain, politicians are not
less 60. In the rapidly succeeding changes
going on, It is impossible to tell what may
happen tomorrow. but 1t requires much
greater power Of div inat!on to predict what
course those politicians will pursue. These
were the thoughts Of the astonlshcd legisla-
tors, on the reception of message from Gov.
Bram1ettc, transmitting the amendment to
the Federal Constitution Just passed in Con-
g1ese, and recommending, as the best thing
to be done at this time, the ratification by the
General Assembly Of that amendment. II
any one expected that the Governor would
send in message containing such opinions,
he must have been particularly reticent, for
the breath WAS taken out of numerous repre-
scntatlves by this unanticipated expression Of
the executive. &c would like to have COM
pensation, If that were possible, taking as the
basis The last estimate OF the value f.r pur-
poses OF taxation, Of our slave population.
Be does rot abandon his Judgment, prcyious-
" entertained, Of the wisdom Of the measure.
as question Of policy, yet the amendment
is being made according to the forms pre-
scribcd by the Constitution, and slavery has
become 20 hope1essly demoraltzed that q
proper regard for the best interests Of the
State, In It's present condition, induces him to
recommend that The Legislature ndopt the
thirteenth article, which, when Incorporated
into the Constitution, will forever abolish
slavery In the United states.
There is naturally o great dea1 Of specnla-
ton and calculation as to whether the
amendment will be ratified BY this present
To, lint
of opinion on the sulject, but after consider-
able inquiry and frequent conversations with
the members, have been led to believe that
even this Legislature will adopt the amend
mcnt. / know that this opinion will not be
accepted rs correct by many persons, because
a large majority Of the members were elected
as p1o-slavely advocates. But the election
ago, and since that time q widespread and
radical revolution has taken place in the sen
timcnts of our people on the subject of sla-
very. The ullraism of 1862 8 Is now the
asoWed policy Of very formidable party In
1hls state, If not Of large majority of the
people, and the measure then denounced as
nnatical and destructive is now declared by
. pro oslayery Governor-the acknowledged
dets nder Of that fafth-the s.best thing that
can be done under the dircumstunces.' The
same arguments, the sane acts and appeals
That hare wrought this rapid and Thorough
I1AuSe ~ gFtAlo4 IN LIE minds Of the pe0-
pie OF the State, have not failed to influence
the members Of the Legislature. The reyo-
luton has not been so marked, for many Of
them, believing they have public character
to maintain, hare persistently refused to ac-
cept as an established fact what others have
long been convinced Of Then there are
Others who still! permit themselves to be con
trolled by the prejadices Of Il lifetime, and
who, owning flaVes, are unwilling to believe
That their carefnlly guarded property has
ccGstd TO be valuable.
But the:e a:e many Intelligent and con-
scicntiops men, with whom the Union Of the
States, and the peace and welfare Of Ken
lucky are objects Of paramount importance.
They nre not willing to retard the progress
Of The State, to delay the Development Of its
resources, to foster q fruitful source of dis
sension IN our midst by stubboEnly clinging
to an institution, which in the forclble lau~
euare Of the Governor is mot only effete
6ut burdensomc." They do notl inclined
to keep themselves bound to carcass from
which vitality has departed Hence. though
elected as pro.sloEery men, they will vote for
the amendment, IN order to clear away the
wrecks Of slavery now embarrassing the State,
by preventing tue immigration here OF free
white laborers, who will not come until
they ave convinced BY legislative action. that
they will not have to compete with negroes.
but there is another class Of men who W1l