, 1865-06-15
A KENTUCKK COLOR&D
DEl4EGATIOMs
A Statement OF Grievances to the Pres1a
kdenIs

WAsaraGTov June 10.--A delegation of
colo1ed men from Kentucky had an intetV!e"
with the Pres dent yesterday. The following
is their address:
Mr.. PRESIDENT Having been delegated by
the colurtd people Of Kentucky, to walt up-
on you and state their grievances and the
terrible uncertainty Of thelr future, We bsg
to DO q u as EesRee tia and eonelss mannsr
attention TO the fact that Kentucky Is the
cnly State in oil the bounds Of these United
States, where the people ct color have no
rights Whatovtr either In Law or In fact. aud
were the s!rcng am Of military power no
longer to curb her, her jalls and wofkhouses
would groan with the numbers OF cur
statutes are disgraced by laws IN regard to
US too ba,ha.ions even for community
Of tarages* TO- have pcrpetrated. Not
cne Of these laws have ever become obsolete.
All have been executed, promptly and rlgor-
ously, up to the time the Government inter.
vtned and Will again be executed in the most
remorseless manner and WIKI fourfold the
venom and malleenity they ever were enfosc:d,
the moment the Government ceases to shield
MS with the broad agis of her power. Not
only that, but the brutal inBttncts Of the mob
80 long restrained, Will set no bounds to its
terocity, but like an uncaged wild beast vii!
Tssn ZEE f,ee{ !, gs anSes u @ sla1nss msbI Ct
Of The present Common Coupsn Of the
City of Louisville who when former Pro:
vost Masshal, Of That city caused
hts Igua1ds to carry bull whips, upon meet
Ing coloEed nen, women OF children In the
public; highways any time after dark, to sur
streets, and ut this moment is warmly nrgfag
General Palmer to remove the military re-
strictlous that he and others may re.
new the hsuta1tt{es that 50 shocked
humanity during that sad period.
Therefore, to prevent all the horrible
: calamlties thai would befall, and to shut out
all the borTora that 80 herccly menace rs In
the immediate future, VIC most hnmblY petI-
tion and pray you that you will not remove
martial law I1om the Stats of Kentucky, nor
the noble military commander under whose
probation wehaTt almost learned to realize
the blessing Of home uoder the safeguard
and anchor, Of law. for In him, end him alone,
We Ind oue safety. We would most respect
fully call your attention TO few Of the lava
that bear most cruelty upon Ms. 1st. We
have no cath. Sd. We have no right Of domi
clle. Sd. We baye no right of iocomotIon,
slatutc OF Kentucky makes It a penal crime,
with imprisonment in the Penitcnttary for
one yesr, for any freeman OF color, under auy
circumstances whatever, to pass into free.
state, even although but for moment. ANY
borders, is subject to the same penalty,
and for the second otfanse shall be
sold a slave for life. The State of
Kentucky has contributed Of her co1ored
Sons over 5000 soldiers. who have
illustrated th. I. courage and devotion On In
Vulnerable fields Of BATTLE. and have poured
county and their country's Gag, and ne con-
Gdcnt,Y hope this blood viii be carried to our
credit 10 any political settlement Of our na-
tive State. Yet If the Government should
give up the State to the control Of the civil
authorities, there Is not one Of these soldiers
who would not suffer all the grinding opprcs-
eicn of her most inhuman laws, If not In
their own persons yet In tue persons Of their
women aud tLcir mothers. Therefore, -FOUR
Excellency, VIC most earnestly petition you
that you Will give us some security for the
future; or, ii thai be impracticab1e, at least
other statts, where law and Christian ssn-
timent will protect us and our little ones
FRI m violence and Wong.
Chas. A. Roxbozou.h, Richard Johnsou,
Jere. Merriwea,her, Henry II. White, WIN. F.
Butler.
Tue delegation was received By tho presi-
dent in the noat cordial manner, who after
listening TO the address, replied that he was
Erati1ltd With the visit, and would take oc-
caslon 10 assure the colo,ed men Of Kentucky
| that they need tave DO apprehension as 70
their prott ction; that martial Law would
| 6tiil c0nilnue in kentucky. and that Gen.
Palmer with an nrmy would still be Eaain-
| taint d thclc until Etntuck1ans should learn
! more truly their position and their dnty to
| the nation. They shall be Obliged to treat
even their slaves according to humanity.
Yet The cr3orvd people must not expect pro-
gress to he too rapid, for the change Of con
1tiun was 20 great that lin. only could
effect 1t harmonious'y. The President assured
the delegation that progress in the future
would he more T3pit tfIau in the pAst The
Government wouid yield them every psotec.
ton, and Is to his own sentiments Ills course
as Governor Ct Tennessee must be IN indtca.
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