, 1865-04-28

1ceic of events and recognize existing
facts. That SLAVERY must end, I accept as
cne OF The facts o:doined by this revolution,
H1ouehtout By rebellion. That It. should end
as speedily az possible, is co.o1lary, which
practical wisdtm and prudent common sense
must eeducc from the demonstration OF
t.rr experience. Our whole labor system
is broken up and utterly demornlizej. Slave
~ has becLuc IN incubus upon our energies:
q bm den to our advancement, and q aneeatiye
10 cur prosperity. Tht1c is no hope Of i'm
proxement under the present regime, nor the
1cyolutitn has been iully accomplished in
universal emancipation. The transition pc
rod IIorn slave to free labor must ever be en-
barnseipg to industry md deleterious to
prosperity. tits, therefore, in my Judgment.
the requirement Of wisdom and OF prudent re-
card to our best interests and highest pros
PEI ity, as well as the mandate Of an exalted
1at1iotiEm.i hat we should conform, rs readily
and speedily as practicable, to ibis decree Of
The reyolutfon-!oreordained bY rebellion
a1 nov sealed with the unaltesable Judgment
Of the American people. The schollum which
deduct from the logic Of erents is, that the
proposed amendment to the Constitution,
mode uow lett to rs, to escape the present
and impending evils Of IN jnte;regnum in Ia.
bor, dearth in industry, and q suspension
Ct production.
In accepting these facss, and thus acting
upon Them, We have to give up what was tO
us valued at many millions Of dollars. and
to overcome the educated habits and preju-
d:ces foRtersd BY our country. No easy task
this. But Kentuck1ans have ever been cd ual
to the occasion, and will not now fall below
The measure Of their fame, nor shrink from
making those sacrifices which the peaca and
unity Of their Government demands of their
rntttotism, and thus seal forever the lofty
destiny Of this loved Commonwealth.
This contribution OF our lne-trained hab-
lie peace Of many millions Of property-in
excess Of what any other loyal State has
contributed during our struggle to maintain
uur national life-win give Kentucky on the
historic page just precedence in the ranks
Of the loyal and patriotic States. The cman-
@ sipation Of slaves ss costs our Northern
no immolation Of habits, no conquest
Of prejudices, no disturbance Of social
relations, no breaking up Of economical ar
engagements, no Inconvenience or LOGS what
ever. They can easily make the sacrifice, for
they expend nothing. But to us 1t is the
l9ss Of many nli9ns Of dola5 the surrender
and incu1s the pezi1s, mconvenicnces and
losses, which ever result from the sudden
breaking up Of long and peacefully established
social and economical relations and interests
We have been much abused because we could
not see that the existence Of our Government
depended upon either the continuance or dis
continuance Of slavery. Yet we have attested
Union BY furnishing more than our due pro-
portion Of soldiers 10 defend and maintain 1t.
With us, in Kentucky, the negro has never
been cause nor an object Of strife. The
preservation OF the Union and the malnte-
nance o. the Government has been and Is the
malnsp1ing Of our action, the substance of
our loyal hopes, and the support Of our pa
t:iotlsm. Though others were unwilling to
bare the Union without slavery, or the Union
with slavery, wchave ever been for the Union
With or without slavery, and for maintaining
the Government over an unbroken Union,
cost what 1t might. This has been our loyal
purpose throughout this struggle, Instead
of abuse from those who make no sacrifices.
we deserve respect and confidence for what
We have done and for what we have borne.
Those who direct the power Of our Govern
ment should bear In mind that their mission
is not to destroy slayery-for THAT is an ac-
ccmplisbcd fact-bnt to preserve and restore
the Government Of the Union. The baud
should be gentle and assisting which Is laid
loyal people-uot heavy and coercire. Our
prejudices may be detached with gentle
hand without pain or injury; but If torn
asundcr with q rude hand, it will laccratc the
popular mind. and pain the public heart,
without bene1ting freedom.
For the sake Of the peaceful and kindly
relations Of our country, it Is to be hoped
that our brethren Of the Northern States may
more generally understand aud better appre-
ciate these flcts. / am Of thase whose un-
frltering faith ia "that all things work to-
g~ther for good y to those who love our
country, and who da1e maintain our Govern
ment ut any peril and with every sacrifice.
R,yf 7r1Yr s3a nSSA nrrf
who usually make the readicst sacrifices for
their corntry's good.
an, General, yours respectfully,
TuoS. E. BKAMLETTE.