, 1865-04-28
In KENTUCKY.
Important Correspondence.


ucADqns. DEPAn1NEAT Of KENTUCKY,
OFFICE OF ORGANIZATION o. S. TAooPs,
Lou1svnLE, Ky, april 90.
To Hts Excellcncy. Thomas E. Bramlette, Gov
e1nor Of Kentucky:
Sir Il write 10 call ycue attention to the
disturbed condition of labor in Kentucky
t2e confusion produced By the nominal fee.
dom Of slaves, and the evils growing out Of
such freedom, while unsanctaoned By State
Legislation. The master can no longer hold
his slayes, OF depend on their labor for
single day, so that producers cannot calcu-
late their crops OF pursue agriculture with
any degree Of certainty. Haying become rest
homes, and setting their faces toward Louis
vile, journey for days over long milesrto these
headquarters, as the Mecca where freedom
may be found, when that freedom should
ltach them IN their homes, and they not
forced to become outcasts and wanderers In
order to enjoy 1t. Our cities and towns
throughout the State arc crowded to excess
are daily arriving to swell the throng.
The people unable to fcedsthe large 6ur-
plus population suddenly thrown upon them.
want and suffering has already begun, and
disqualification and crime will follow as na-
tural consequences. The Government. our
ministers and the christian people are doing
all they ean, but it Is not IN their power
wholly to MET the public wants In this re-
spect: 1t is for you, Governor, and your
Legislature to obvIate the arising evils By
at cnce passing the constitutional amend
ment, Gnd placing the State on new basis.
The moment you do this, you will quiet
The minds Of the negroes, those who have
left will return, and those still at home will
ltmaln to TIL the soil, now 30 much in need
of their labor. Slavery Is at an end, and
Why deny it, Or by Withholding proper State
legislation seek to retain longer the shadow
q an institution that WIS always worthless
Negro enlistment has bankluptei slavery
in Kentucky over 22 Goo Of the most valua-
bic slaves having already gone into service,
while the few thousands left are being eapfl.
y gathered up by Tserulting officers and put
o1c found TO be At for duty in invalid reei-
Lente, and arc taken. From seventy to one
hund1td enlist daily, freeing under the law OF
March Sd, 1865, an average Of FIVE women and
children per man. Thus from 800 to 800 black
people are daily made free through the Instru-
mentality Ct the army. How. long can Ken
tucky stand sucha draft upon her slave pop
ulation !: To what purpose Is; it for the LeE-
islature to refuse to act Then the result Is
only question Of time! Kentucky needs
what black labor abe has left to till her soil.
md her slaves can now be Of more service to
the nation III the cotnfelds than the army
but If she will not free them at home, then
klH LILY 4u6k AuStIu kuEl4 : Auu AE0tnCkV
suffers It is her own fault.
While in af state..of transition the present
disturbed relations Of capital and labor must
continue; but By freeing the slaves 1t one
blow, and getting at the bottom of the uues-
tlon 1t would end; your people could then
proceed to Ie65ganlze labor upon new basis.
Clearly It is The intention and policy of Hills
Government to make every black person il
it free, securing to every one their own body
and their own labtr, and The sooner Ken.
1ucky makes up her mind to accept the new
order of things and to establish labor upon n
free paid basis, the better 1t Will be for her.
earnestly commend this subject to ynur
consideration, hoping that your wisdom viii
1ey!se speedily some means to re1nedS the
evils 1haye mentioned
am, sir, with sentiments Of respect and es-
teem, your obcdicnt servant,
Jas. s.. Bn1sn1S,
Breyet big. Gen, md 8. GU. s. Troops.
-FRAskFoEf, Ky, April =.
Breyet Brig Gen. Jas. s. Brisbin, LouisyIln ~.
GESERAL-Your communication Of the 91th
inst. d:d not reach me until the evening Of
the 2lst. ~
1concur with you in the opinion that n
prosperous ana Leaithy system Of regulated
labor cannot be resa!ned in Kentucky excenf
upon tree basis. The result OF rebellion hps
been to withdraw from slaye labor all protec.
ZION, and TO destroy the power to- nrntect -
TIE effect Of rebellion has been to reySinsinn.
ize The popular Judgment upon the subject Of
Slavery, and fix upbn It. The 1bcxora1ie tlecrsn
Of ''extesmination." We're all the legitimate
powers OF the Government now exsrtrd to
foster into Tigor, instead Of to destroy. It nav
well te questioned whether this would guc.
ceed 10 building it up whether 1fghtftllly or
wrorgfaliy 1t Is needless now 70 inquire.
Slavery is regarded by the masses as the
fruitful source OF all our woes, and as inInI-
cal to onr future peace and unity. This rev
nrudrnce and patriotism. We must accept the