Daily national Republican., 1865-06-13
A kentucky colors1 Dsiera,lon.

A Kentucky coIored Delegation.
A delegation Of eolorvd men from Kentucky
had an interview with the President last
week. The following Is their address
Mn. PRESIDENT Having been defeated
Wy the cOlored people Of Kentucky 90 wait
upon you and state their giosanccs and the
terrible uncertainty Of their future, We beg to
do ~ In rs respectful and concise a manner
as possible. First, thon, we would call vour
attention TO the fact that Kentucky n the
only State within all the bounds Of theSo
United States where the people Of color have
no rights whatever. eithar in law or In fact.
and were the strong arm of military power no
longer TO curb her, her jnils and workhouses
would groan with the numbers Of our people
immured within her wAila. Her staluies aro
disgraced BY laws In regard 10 n Too barba-
rous even for n community Of saynges TO have
pcrpotrated. Not ono of those laws has ever
becohs obsoIete. An have been executed,
promptly and vigorously, up TO the time the
Gorernmont interyened, and will again be
executed In the most rcmorseless manner and
with four-fold the venom and mAlignity thoy
ever were enforced the moment tho Govern
msnt ceases to shield US with the broad Ggis
Of her power.
Not only that, but the brutal instincts Of
the mob, 80 long restrained, will sot no
bounds TO its fcrocity, but like an uneaged
wild beast will rage iicrecly among Ms. Byi.
deneo Of which is the fact that member Of
the present Common Council of the city Of
Louisville who, when former Provost Mar.
shall Of that city. causod his guards TO carry
bull whips, upon meeting cOlored men,
women, or children In the public highways
any time after dark, 20 surround thom and
fog them alivo In tho public streets, Is nj this
Ina .ssaTr..l, n.l A.
gemove the military restrictions that he and
sthers may ronow tho brutslitios that 90
shocked humanity during that sud period.
Therefore 10 prevent all the horrible ealaInI.
ties that would befall, and to shut out II the
horrors that 80 lorcely menace us In the i'm.
mediate future, wo most humbly petition and
pray you that you will not remove martial
law from the State Of Kentucky, nor tho noble
military commander under whose probation
we have almost learned TO realize the bless.
Ing Of homo under the safeguard and an.
chor of law, for In him, and him alone, We
| find our safety
We would most respectfully call your At.
tontion TO few Of the laws that bear most
cruelty upon us. lst We have no oath,
I'd. We have no right OF domieile. I'd
We have no right Of locomotion. 4th. Wo
have no right Of solf-defcnce. 5th A stat.
ute Of Wost Kentucky mnkcs Il penal crime
with imprisonment In tho penitentiary for
one year, for any freeman Of color, under any
circumstances whatever, TO pass into free
State, even although but for moment Any
free man, not native, found within hor Dor.
ders IL subject to the same penalty, and for
tho second offence shall be sold slave for
life, The State of Kentucky bns contributed
Of her colorod sons over 30, OOO soldiers, who
have illustrated their courage and devotion
on innumenblc helds Of battle, and have
poured out their blood lavishly In defence Of
the country and tho country'E flag, and We
confidently hope this blood will be carried 10
our credit in any political settlement Of our
native State. Yet II tho Government should
give up the State 10 tho control Of the civil
authorities, there h not ono Of those soldiers
who would not sufcr all the grinding opprss.
sion of hor most inhuman laws, ifnot In their
own persons yet In the persons Of their women
and their mothers. Therefore, your Excel.
leBoy, we most earnestly petition you that
you will give us sOme security for tho fu.
turc; or, IL that he impracticablo, at least
you will give us warnings that We may ny to
other States, where law and n Christian SEN
timent will protect us and our little ones from
violence and wrong.
Charles A. Roxborough, Richard johnson,
Jere. Merriweather, Henry II. White, VIM.
Y. Butler.
The delegation was received by tho Presi.
dent in the most cordial manner, and after
listening to tho address replied that he Was
gratihed with the visit, and would take occa.
sion To assure the colored mon of Kontucky
that they need have no apprehension As 10
their projections that martial law would still
continue in Kentucky and that Gen Palmer
with nm army would still bo maint aimed thero
until Kontuckinns should learn more truly
their position and duty 10 tho nation. They
shall he mRdo obliged to treat oven their
dawes according to humanity. Yet tho col.
drcd people must not expect progress TO bo
TOO rapid, for tho change of condition WSs so
great that timo only could elToct II harmOpi.
dusly. Tho President assured the delegation
that progress in the faturo would be moro
Tpid than in tho past. Tho Government
would yield them oyory protection. and rs 10
his own sentimcnts, his course as Governor
Of Tennessee must be an indication.