The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-03-17
GOV, BRAN LETTE.
His Views on the Rejection OF thu
Constitutional Amendment.

Gov. BRAMLErTE sent the following COM
munication to the Kentucky House of Rep
resentatives on Thursday last:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
FRANKFORT, KY, March 1, 1865
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives
A"Preamble and Resolutions in relation to
the proposed amendment to the Federal Con-
stitution, which originated in the House of
Representatives, and have been adopted by the
General Assembly, have been laid before me
for consideration. The resolutions reject the
proposed amendment.
The Congress of the United States having
submitted the proposed amendment for ratif-
cation ofthe Legislatures of the seuerd! States,
in accordance with the forms and provisions of
the Constitution of the United States, it ''shall
be valid to all intents and purposes as part of
this FederaD Constitution, WHEN RATIFIED by
the Legislatures of three ourths Of the several
IStdtes.' IT,
Rejection by the present Legislative Assem-
bly, only RENTS the question to the people and
the succeeding Legislature Rejection no more
precludes future ratification than refusal to
adopt any other measure would preclude the
action of your successors.
=" When ratified by the Legislatures of the
several States" the question will be finally
Withdrawn, and not before. Until "rdttfed
b
ton of 'the Legislatures of the several States.
"When ratified by the Legislature of State,
it will be final as to such State; and ",ohen
ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of
the several States" will be final as to all.
Nothing but ratification forecloses the right of
action: when ratsfed, all power Is expend-
ed. Until "rati6ed" the right to rahjy re-
mains.
Believing that slavery is irrevokably doomed
to speedy exterinatiOn; that no one can enter
tain the faintest hope of its possible contin-
nance; that it has ceased to valuable, and has
become burdensome to our people, and must
grow more and more 80 until relieved of it /;
that compensated labor taking the place of the
present slave labor can only restore US to ad.
vancement and prosperity; that the true pol
icy and real interests of the State would be
subserved by an unconditional ratification of
the proposed amendment with a concur
rent but independent enactment emancipat-
ing the slaves in Kentucky. to take effect
and be declared when congress shall have
appropriated and secured to the State the
last assessed value of slaves Gin the year 1850
to enable the State in conformity with
the constitutional requirement, to make
compensation" and declare immediate eman
cipation, thus leaving the onus upon Congress
of retaining slavery in Kentucky for an indie
finite period or Immediately relieving us of it
by enabling us to emancipate by making CON-
pensation therefor, l most earnestly but re-
spectfully dissent from the resolutions reject.
ing the proposed amendmet.
Entertaining the opinion, however, that
your actien is complete without my approval
that it RENTS the question to your success
sorsI do..not therefore, return the resolutions
with my dissent, but shall cause them to bs
embodied with those adopted by the Legsla-
ture, and shall forward them, as provided for
in the second resolution, as your action in the
premises.
THOMAS E. BRAMLETTE.
Governor of Kentucky.