Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-08-24
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

EyyThe result of the late election in Ken
lucky has not been what the friends of liberty
and advancement fondy hoped and anticipa-
ted, vet it is encouraging, inasmuch as the
pro-slavcry party has given unmistakeable
evidence of decay. Four years since, Rous-
sEAu, with his present platform. would not
have received five hundred votes in his entire
district. Two years since his success would
have been little better. To-day he is success
full, and that. too, by a handsome majority.
Yet the Constitutional Amendment party has
lost in the contest, and the newly elected Leg.
islature is against emancipation. and will,
therefore, refuse to ratify the amendment.
The action of the people Of Kentucky leads
MS to one of two conclusions: they are either
very blind to their own interests, or their ac-
ton is the result of desire on their part to
hurl Distance in the face of the nation and to
make an exhibition of their indifference to
public opinion If the former is the case, we
think they have been remarkably dull scholars
in the great school of experience. If the latter,
they show a decidedly bad taste, and the
record which they are making for their State
will be one which future generations will not
care to boast of. Slavery has been her curse
tits still her curse. Kentuckians have ever
been wont to pride themselves upon the pecu-
liar advantages they were supposed to possess
over the citizens of other States. Theirs has
been a noble old commonw ealth her people
were generous, hospitable aud brave; she has
made every effort to keep pace with the times,
and has only been prevented from doing so
by the burden of slavery, which has necessa-
rily very materially retarded her progress
Her loyalty has been proven by thousands of
her sons on many battlefield, and when
che workings of treason first rent her bosom.
and the hand of brother was raised against
brother, futher against son, and son against
father, when the whirlpool! of disunion threat
ened to swallow her up, staunch and true
spirits were found ready and willing, aye,
anxious, to save her. They did save her.
Her record to the close of the war is good
Why not make it betters Why not swallow
the Amendment pill, rather than have it forced
down its throat? 1t must be done sooner or
later, and the sooner It's done the more credit
will be due her Will it be pleasant for Ken
tuckians in future years to have it said to
them. "Your State was the last one to yield
to the great measure upon which depended
the country's peace and prosperity" Such
bids fair to be the case, for our friends in
New Jersey have strong hopes of being able
to carry the Amendment there. We have Of
ten heard Kcntuckians say: eff the North
had let us alone, We would have abolished
slavery ourselves but we will show them that
we arc not to be bullcd or forced into meas
ures." Now that is all folly. When any re-
forms are to be made. tits necessary that every
legal influence should be brought to bear, in
order to do away with old ideas, and bring
about an appreciation of the benefits to be
derived from the change. And who can say
that freedom would ever have been brought
to the negro in Kentucky had she been left to
the influence and teachings Of the Democratic
party3 1t is not the province of that party
TO advance. 1t is necessary to the preserva-
ton of its existence that it should keep its
disciples in darkness and in ignorance of the
truth. 1t is built up from the foundation on
deception. and its chief characteristics are
chicanery and fraud No good has ever yet
proceeded from it; it is a rulc-or-ruin party,
and the names to be placed highest in the
history of it's past life, are those of the men who
have been its pillars, such as DAVIS, FLOYD, b.
cuAyAs, YAxcY, ToNBs. and others Of that ilk.
What a glorious shadow for the great Demo-
cratic party to repose under. If it is to
bejudged by its past acts. how quickly it will
be damned. This party which SO largely
contributed to bring about the war; which
gave every aid in its power to Rebels in
arms during its progress; which, since its
termination. has thrown every impeachment
possible in the way of favorable solution OF
our difficulties; which has proven curse to
the nation at all times; this same party. We
say, is responsible for the defeat of the Eman-
c;patiou candidates in Kentucky. and will
continue To add more follies to its already un-
pardonable list, until the last vestige Of pow
or shall have been wrenched from its ungodiy
hands.