The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-27

lkIoiH tue iOulSVuie (hy. JJOuTuhJ, Dec. ZoI
the adoption Of the constitutional amendment IFS
great burden from the shoulders of citizens of XeatcIy
the period Of uncertainty which has forever closed,
weighed like mountain upon them The State laws
protected the master and military authorities to large
extent, and the laws Of Congress pro.
eced the slave There constant collisions heoreti-
cay and practically and nobody knew what TO
take, for every seemed about equally blocked up
This was as bad for the blacks as whites The latter
were deferred from hiring the former through fear OF
the penalties impending them for so doing without
the consent Of masters by virtue OF the power of
state laws Slaves could not find employment
seqnanty free persons, and were not secure
either as slaves or as freed people. They were
themselves out lest their masters should claim and get
Their wages and citizens aud Others were afraid TO
pioy them lest they should have to pay twice, to the
master and then to the slave, superaddcd which
the risk the employer OF prosecution in the State
courts for violation Of the laws Thus, between the
dangerous Scya the side and the Charybds
on the other master and slave employer and employed
were in danger OF being swamped and going TO the bot
tom Az as Is now az an end The great load Of op-
are Free and white men are free too ana both may enter
into contracts without the fear Of pains hd pepaltss
n~aD'-provided they fuGi til, engagements they may
make wi'hw w. each o!hel--and 90 On Their way
paralyzsd ne energies Kentucky for sevc.
ssr noble Rng SS limbs at length are disoohralled
she 10 AZ iast Zee from her torments and tormentors
The laws pch in other times and under different crcum
stances were designed be blessings became, through
the moral earthquake that rocked her from centre TO
circumference, many letters that bound her to dead
The ,ohoie sdpe code Of Kentucky has ceased 10
exisl falls at and completely through he effect If
1e amended organic tdw Of the republic which is the SUI
preme law Of the land .aDythng in the constitution or
laws Of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.
We would not for an Instant SO far insult the pa
trOtism common sense Of the legislators OF Kentucky
to much suggest the possibility OF their attempt
ing either to resist or cvade any portion OF the consiu
ton Of the United States. That would be mere mad
against the authority Of the government with
the absolute certainty that such revolt would DO at
once and thoroughly crushed The Executive and every
other officer OF the State the Legislature the courts and
every citizen Of the State all bound to obey implicitly
and without questioning the supreme law OF the land
Whether the constitution suits them not has nothing
TO do with the question OF their obedience TO IT, That is
an open question. II admits of discussion IL is
not optional either with any mag strate or citizen wheth-
he viii obey not; is optional with the Leg
isature. The socecode should o., be expuaged from
ne statute book II Keancky-every vestige Of it; but
dead letter. and any person. be he magistrate citizen
attempting to enforce 1t or any part Of il will incur in
slant anG grave legal responsibility.
Kentucky is now placed upon equal footing with
the other free Southern States Her citizens pro-
coed without lot or hindrance 10 mako contracts for
labor with the freedmen and women and the latter for
the first time in their lives will incur the civil RESPONSE
bites, and must perform the duties of free agents
They have NO longer any masters and mistresses to
shield them from such responsibilities and duties to
cothe and feed them 70 take OF them, either In
sickness or old age or misfortune They must now take
care Of themselves We doubt not that in many in
stances will be the for them They Will learn
that freedom from master mistress doesn't mean
those will all be increased and foarrSlly increased The
colored people OF Kentucky Free Let them make Of
their liberty q boon, and not . curse whether
1t shall be a blessing or an infection now depends
mainly upon themselves. They can make II either
They can improve and elevate themselves and
the confidence respect and cooperation Of their late
and misresses, and OF white people generally
by proper OF conduct they can soon lower
and degrade Themselves and sink rapidly into vagabopd
age poverty vice, misery and death. Whether the
freed people repuaby take care OF themselves s yet
an unsolvcd problem and all eyes lh IA Europe and
taerca vii be for years ascd inleniy and anxously
we Trust and believe that our own citizens will pursue
toward them generous frank and sympathetic policy
We hope they viii give them every possible chance 10
maintain themselves comfortably and 10 make progress
in the scale Of civilization This will be right In ITSELF
and II will be .he best conrse for them n the dominant
and ruling cass They Will thereby promote their
interests and peace lille The benefit and elevate the COL
been making such an ado about the coored people OF the
Southern states have charged the whites IN them with
being the natural enemies OF the blacks, but this has
ever been and Is gross SANDER II was true
and Il not OF course there have been exceptional
cases, but ~ general rule The Southern people have
bad other feelings toward their servants than those O
kindness. In nunbcress Instances, indeed, strong
Affection has existed between the master, mistress and
selves witnessed many q touching Illustration Of this
fact and the screechers who sneer Al this idea only be-
tray how little they know OF thar which they rant them
selves ho9rse abont
,,sRre pogyonfy aud ktdred ouec, but hope THAI
body will not icgsla'e too much Any attempt TO
regulate the prce labor Is absurd The labor market
should be et TO regulate i-e like every other market,
Too much government we have regarded deal
fhan 400 little let the svs he lew and simple
and. sbove AL iust
Brooklyn city News.