, 1865-01-10
NEGRO QUESTION IN KEN
TUCEkY-

NEGRO QUESTION IN KEN
TUCEkY.
| Gov. lsarmlette ON Gradual Emanci
patton.
The Soll, 49, Is Ii: r",-tion Of Cen Bran
!c'tc. J. age. r"!;'~r; -. !e acSEo aueatfo
! in Kentucky ;-4 -.1J.-1.l 4al:il5 g:ada2
Emancipation:
| We have steadily and firmly opposed al
| efforts, from every source, t" make the negr'
IN issue in our struggle to mnintatn our ma
tional lie. To preserve the Life Of our Gov
e7nmcrt against rebellion, and fix Its pcrpe
tuity-.not to determine tue status Of Tue ne
gro-has been ,he unyielding spirit and pur
pose Of Kentucky 10y atty, We have rejected
the appeals Of sectionalism from ull direction!
and firmly adhered to nationalism. We have
avoided sectional IDEAS, because they war up,
on nationality. Sectiunali:m, on the defcn
Eiyc, Is ordinarily conservative; but when 1t
assumes the offensive, 1t Is ever rsldical and
destructive. Therefore, ne would preserve
our Constitution, II possible, from sectional
delacc1nents. As easily may you const!ain
the motions Of the globe, as contract tue
Judgement Of its Inhabitants to move within
q sectional cycle. Where sectionali5m pre-
vails, nationality necessarily pcrishes; where
national ideas prevail, scctionlism Is restrain
Cd within Its own sphcte-of home. With
thesc sentiments, which underlie the actions
Of kentuckians in this great struggle, to
make snbservfency to partisan OF sectional
views test Of loyalty, is not the malice Of
| little and narrow minds, incapable Of taking
| iargeT view q their country than that con
| tanned IN pocket man.
The truly loyal men differ as patriots and
statesmen, not partisans. The good Of tho
country aud the success Of tho right principles
OF the Government il tho controlling object
Of the truly loyal man. Sslfsnd party bounds
the Partisan's desires With the patriot dcvo-
ton to country and support OF it's cause in
the test Of loyalty. Win the partisan, SUBJ
seryiency to party Is the test OF floyalty. The
love Of country III the patriot rises like our
oWn proud cAGle above the clouds, and bathes
IL the sunlight Of truth and liberty, but the
etectlona OF the aftisan, like tue "monsing
OWL, seek night and darkness to coyeA their
groveling flight. How any man voted ct our
recent elections did not determine his true
character, nor signify the degree OF his pa-
triotlsm 1t only determined the character Of
his Judgement upon measures Of policy and IS
to mrn. Nohc but the partisan seeks to
make it test ofloyalty. The patriotic spurn
1uge upon free Government. He is unworthy
Of trust III any capacity who urges such
tests.
Although the people Of Kentucky, In this
great national struggle against rebellion, have
ever opposed making the status Of the negro
our national life yet they are not so blinded
In perception as not to see, nor SO irrational
as not to accept the fact, as an existing fact,
that rebellion has destroyed property ii
slaves. It exists in name to a limited extent
but not in interest. Under the stroke of re-
bellion, tho root:tree which sheltered it has
been shiyered to the roots. What remains of
it to us, Is, and must continue to be, not only
cffetc, but burdcnsGme. II left to our peo-
pie to dispose Of it,, have no doubt they
will digest the wisest and best means of re-
Nevfng themselves oft. Under our Consti-
tuition emancipation can only be voluntarily,
OF with compensation, reserEing the rights
Of creditors, and providing for the removal of
lie c1nancipated Slaves. Emancipation, With
compensation from the State, is impractical
bic. Tie destruction OF the value Of that
property alone creates tue present necessity
Tor increased taxatioo On other property. An
amendment to tho Constitution eau not b:
effected before 1870.
In the meantime, if laws were so amend
cd as to give slave. .oWncrs the power to emau-
cipate their slaves, aud the right to retain
them upon fair wages, say for ten years, Sc
lie the emancipated slaves. voluntary omanci-
patton would become so general, that, a. the
end often years, but little would be left of
slavery to BE- adjusted by further action.
This would avoid the injurious affects Of a
sudden breaking up and disruption Of this
Pie an opportunity to perfect, BY constitu-
uonal amendment or otherwise, such plan
Of emancipation as would conserve the inter-
ests Of the country and humanity.
AS the time Of removal is within the con-
troll Of the Legislature, limited only by rca-
Eonablc regard to the constitutional purpose
Of removal within reasonable time, there Ia
every assurance that, with proper facilities,
as suggested i'll the present state Of feeling
among the slave owners, voluntary emancipa- :