The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-29

circumstances were designed to be bless
j ings became, through the moral earth
quake that rocked her from centre &
circumference, SO many letters tina
bound her to dead carcass. The who'll
slave code Of Kentucky has ceased to ex
ist. It falls at once and completed,
through the effect of the amended or.
ganic law of the republic, which is til,
supreme law of the land, "anything il
the constitution or laws Of any state t.
the contrary Notwithstanding"
we would not for an instant so far in
suit the patriotism or common sense OF
the Legislators of Kentucky as to SC
much as suggest the possibility of theil
attempting either to resist or evade any
portion of the constitution of the
United States. That would be mere
madness. 1t would be simply an at
tempt at revolt against the authority
OF the government, with the absolute
certainty that snch a revolt would be at
once and thoroughly crushed. The Ex-
ecutlve and every other officer of the
state, the Legislature, the courts and
every citizen of the state are all bound to
OBEY implicitly and without questioning
the supreme law of the land. Whether
the constitution suits them or not has
nothing to do with the question of their
obedience to it,. That is not an open
question. 1t admits of no discussion.
1t Is not optional either with any mapis-
trate or citizen whether he will obey il
or not; nor is it optional with the Le-
gislature. The slave code should at
once be expunged from the statue book
kHnfnRlx W pii rrn nj
whether eXpunged or not, it is abso-
iutely and forever dead letter; and any
person, be he magistrate or citizen, at
tempting to enforce il or any mart of il
will incur instant and grave legal re-
spOnsibility. a. -"
Kentucky is now placed upon an
equal footing with the other free south
erll states. Her citizens can proceed
without let or hindrance to make con-
tracts for labor with the freedmen
and women; and the latter for the
ilrst time in their lives, will in
cur the civil responsibilities, and
must perform the duties, of free agents.
Iney nave no longer any masters and |
mistresses to shield them from such re- |
sponslbllities and duties, or clolhe |
ana feed them, or to take care of |
them, either in sickness or old age
OF misfortune. They must now take |
care or themselves. We doubt not |
that in many instances. it will be the
worse for them. They will learn that |
freedom from master or mistress does
not mean exemption from care or toll or
suffering. On the contrary, these will
all be increased, and fearfully increased.
The cOlOred people of Kentucky are
Tree. Let them make of their liberty a
boon, and not curse. Whether it shall
DC a blessing or an infiicliOn now de
pehds mainly upon themselves. They
IAN make it either They can improve
ind elevate themselves, and secure the
,oniide nee, respect and cooperation of
heir late masters and mistresses, and of
White people generally, by q proper
course of conduct, or they can soon
over and degrade themselves, and sink
apidly into vagabondage, poverty, vice.
misery and death. Whether tho freed [
'eopie can reputably take care of them
elves is yet an unsolved problem, and
IL eyes, both III Europe and America, s
VII be for years fixed intently and ,
nxiously upon them. It
We trust and believe that our own /
ltizens Will pursue toward them a gen. i
rous, frank and sympathetic policy. d
ve' nope they viii give them every pos f
lbie chance to maintain themselves t
anu to make progress in the v
;ale OF civilization. This will he right C
| itself, aud it will be the best course G
'r them Us the dominant and ruling q
lass. They will thereby promote their
WI interests and peace while thew n
enelit and elevate the colored race. n
he extreme persons in the North who D
ave been making such an ado about a
he col0red people of the Southern states h
ave charged the whites in them with L
cling the natural enemies of the blacks, g,
ut this has ever been and is now a gross 81
ander. 1t never was true and is not NJ
DIV. OF course there have been ex. n
optional cases, but as a general rule the I
"ther'' people have had no other feel ty
gs toward their servants than those of III
huness. In numberless instances. in a,
'ed, strong affection has existed be- tl
'een tne master, mistress and childfen 70
family and the servants. We have fe
reserves witnessed many touching IL b,
stration of this fact, and the screechers m
no sheer at this idea only betray how
tie they know of that Which thew rant 7
emselves hoarse about. 40
The Legislature will of course have tn ca
81 laws IN reference to vagrancy and tn
ndred subjects; but we hone that bodv or,
ii not legislate too much, Any nj, w,
npt to regulate the price of labor is in
surd. The labor market should he wi
TO regulate itself like every other lar
lrket. Too much government we ,
We ever regarded as a deal worse than So
little. Let the laws be few and ser
,plc, and, above all, just. ma
- . - - lex