, 1865-10-27

ten. PAtmeEss Hetofnder to Governor
6ramlet1e's Letter er-VIndlcatlon of
His Military Administration.


The Louisville Press Of Wednesday con-
tatns the first part Of Gen. Palmer's rejoinder
to Gov. Bramlette:
.oPpos1T1oN TO LAW IN KESrCcEY.
4nottnE Coy. Branlctte's remarkable u.s.
scrtion that "there Is not and has not been
any opposition made In Kentucky to the free
dom Of the colored soldier and bis family, III
law Of Congress freeing this class Is acqpi-
eseed In aud obcycd." Gen. Palmer replies
=. tsThe facts are, and 1t Is we'll known
throughout the State, that Judges Andrews,
flppelson and Pearl, Of tho Circuit Court Of
ttha Ssatr, have each decided the rery law to
fi-hts whatever upon the families Of soldiers
and 1t is also true that the Grand Jury Of
Oldham, and other counties Of the State, have
preferred Indictments against white citizens
who have hired and paid soldiers wives for
their labor, for the statutory offence Of har>-
owners have restrained soldiers wires Of
their liberty, aud have beaten thcm with
:and no officer Of tho State, in any
department Of the Government, has in any
manner, by word or net, interfered to protect
them In their rights to freedom, or to punish
men who have beaten them for clnimiug to be
flee. This is the acquiescence and obedience
Of which the Governor speaks, and there may
be added to it the fact, Of which the proof eau
le found In every county Of the State. that
there arc thousands of women aud children
still restrained Of their liberty, though they
e1e free BY the act OF Congress OF tie Sd Of
March, 1865. Most persons in the State
know that while there are many instances Of
cheerful acquicscence in and obedience to this
act Of wise and humane policy, 1t was i'll re-
cciyca BY amajority OF the people Of the State,
aud that no attempt has been made BY any
department OF the Government to protect the
people made free By the law.'''
THE Pass SYSTEM.
Of the pass system, General Palmer SAYS:
/" Before any passcs We're issued, all the ratl-
roads, steamboats, and ferryboats in the State
had refused peremptori]y to transmit persons
Who had no other evidence Of their 1ighta to
freedom than that they were the wives md
children Of colored soldiers. In fact, It was
insisted by some that the act Of Congress was
void, as respected Kentucky, because the law
Of the State did not recognize tho marriage Of
slaves. Under al the circumstances, carriers
Of passengers preferred litigation with negroes
who had no money aud few friends to contrQ-
Tersy with the masters, who were we'll sup
fafcd ith both. can furnish proof that In
many cases women and children, the famil1es
Of soldiers, we're expelled from the cars and
ferrVboats On account Of apprehensions cre-
transport them.'
SLAVERY DEAD.
now state, Us hare before stated, that It
Is my dclibeAte conclusion, formed after much
and patient study and reflection, that sluyery
has no legal existence In Kentucky, and that
all md every person in the State who rest1ains
my other person Of his or her liberty upon tue
prctenee Of slavery, does 50 In violation Of
law ; that 1t Is the duty Of Cor. Bramlettc.
as the Chief Magistrate Of the State, to assert
this right OF freedom for all It's lnhabitants
that It Is the Legal duty Of oil officers Of ali
the scope and sphere Of their power, to
assert and enforce the freedom Of the people
Of the State, md protect all in life, 1ibcrty
and property; that my pass system, instead
OF being unlawful. waa, and fs, in harmony
with tic law which now prevails in Kentucky
"a AL. law with fespect to oil persons formerly
after this statement, men Who question my
policy will do 60 by meeting my arguments,
and not by mere assertions which have no
other support, either IN fact or laws, than that
given by the personal character Of the OBJ
jcctor.
In former communications on this subject. / |
hare referred to the admission Of Gov. Bra1n- |
lette that slavery Is dead In Kentucky.n He
does not overlook this citation Of bis author |
ity, nor deny its literal correctness, but ad-
mits and still argues that "the necessary and |
logical result OF the wnr Of the rebellion Is the
~ t1t'pA " EAtGit III AAe Ou1tcu Gtotes,
ana that sound policy anu wise statesmanship /
@ ~ *ell 3 true patriotism, demand that
Ne should F1d ourselves Of Its form as
wen ns hS name THO substance beng already !
gomez In thu most direct and Immediate way"
l admit with him that the form and |
name Of slavery still exist, and
esfec that 1ts substance is gone, but do not
agree with him TINT this form and this nanle
!taTe ire pote',cy which belonged to the sys-
Ten = nelofe rs substance passed away. What
s1alestnanshlP ,.1P Is thls Mhlcn tolelatcs slavery
70 feaaly and values liberty 80 lightly % to
o.nu . thonsanas Of human beings In bondage
y ne mere na19 me-; anu lorm q system. tue
substance o. which haS peHshed: Such
eueo1S etS y !oeieaily as "eu as politically falIa-
c;1ns. c;.,l ING colotca people Of Kentucky are
tttner eta nee OF siaFes' an1 10 admit the sub-
staaSe ~ IL 10 oe gone' Is 10 declare the freedom
u a4!'
Bat as ne Goyernor Is not inclined to he
.nuna Q, NJ. " tne autao1'ty o. his own opinions
~ III s nos ~ n9e1l5 10 hslst that others shall
", Aeu tot tnat cause proceed with the rea-
sons or ny op!1lon. slavery WAS poHttca!
,ystem. y "hen mean It Was the system Of
s spss!nMent aessea y ne white people OF
hin cL mil 1ntred racco II rrns zeal o,1r ~ |