American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-02-21
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eCSsftf0u OF Affairs In Ken
tuCky.

pesrs conspioaoi;s.y IN that paper
Journal OFgIcE, Louisville, Ky.
Feb. 8. 1866 Major General john VI
Palmer, commanding Department Of Ken
tucky General: Knowing you to be init
masely acquainted with the views Of the
authorities at Washington, AMI taking il
fpr granted that you desire to promote
unity of action between the authoritic,
Of this State and the nationa government
in the settlement of the difficulties which
surround our cilizons, we address you
this communication in order to obtain
fr.m you what, in your Judgment, viii
tho-most speedily remove these ditlirui
ttes, effect the restoration of the writ o
haheas corpus, the removal Of troops anl
the Freedmens Bureau from the State Of
Kentucky. 4rzue rs t..
You are kenLuekian by birth and
httst Be fully aware how Objectionable to
the people of Kentucky the Suspension
OF this writ and the presence of troops
and the Freedmen Bureau are to them
1t the war is over, and pence restored,
why should uot Kentucky be relieved
from all interference with her internal
affairs on tho part of the national gov
crnnlcnt.
The people of our State ever treated
their slaves with humanity and kindness.
! he exceptions to this we're not more M.
MENUS or more aggravated than have
b3eH The violations of law in the best
regpitel Communities where no slaves
ex etsl and, nov that slavery has ceas
cl to exist, the people fully recognize
that fact, and, we believe, arG willing to
d. al in their power to rromo:c the vel
fare AMI project the rights Of the freed
Ta1p'e That outrages have been com
Iulttqi upon the freedmen we do not de
uy. There is no State entirely free from
crime, despite Ill the cif1rts that have
been made or that may be made to pre-.
vent or to punish it. A venerable c,cr
Eypan was, few nights ago, basely as-
sasslnated in the streets of Louisville,
and no trace of the assassin has yet been
found. Is that crime an argument for
tie perpetual prcscneo Of the national
troops and the suspension Of the writ OF
habcas corpus in this State
The people Of Kentucky are not will
jos 10 accord to the freedmen superior
privileges and they are not willing that
tho agents Of the Freelmcn's Bureau
should rule the State according 10 their
own dicia regardless of law; nor are
Lhey-;he whito pcople-wiIling that
all the disturbances which occur should
be charged exclusively to them.
Asking an early reply, VIC are, very
respectfully, your obedient servants
PREsTIcE, HENDERSON & OSBORNE,
Headquarters DEPARTMENT or
KENTUCKY, LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb 8,
IS66-Messrs, Prentice, Henderson &
Osborne Gentlemen | have the hon
or to Acknowledge the receipt of youf
communication of the Sth instant, in
which you properly take for granted that
] desire to promote unity Of action be-
tween the authorities Of this State and
the national government in the settle
ment of the difficulties which surround
the citizens of Kentucky and inquire
what, in my Judgment will the most
speedily remove the difficulties, secure
the restoration of the writ Of hahe1s
corpus, the removal ofthe troops and the
Freedmen's Bureau from the State, and
ask, "If the war is over and peace res
tored, why should not Kentucky be re,
lieved from all Interference with her in
ternal affairs on the part Of the national
Government - | proceed at once to
say that it does not require that inti-
mate knowledge Of the 'views of the
Washington authorities" which you are
pleased to attribute to me to answer your
specific question above quoted, nor your
general statements of the difficulties which
surround the people of Kentucky in their
relations with the national governments.
The public acts and declarations of ihe
President, in his official orders and dis
patches, under the authority of which
the suspension Of the writ of habeas
corpus is continued, and the troops OF
,the Freedmen's Bureau, introduced into
and kept in the State, furnish an ample
statement.o of the reasons which influence
his actions, aud point, with the utmost
NSiAdNht, " 'hS uhSduS hu4CA must bS
employed to procure a chlnJa in his pol
i:y The measures of which that ,rtion
Of the people Of Kehtucky, whose feelings
ayoa express complain had their origin
in necessity, and feel authorized to assert
that no disposition exists at Washington
to continue them in the State one mo.
7ment after the necessity ceases.
-sr -Aaiving all discussion of the question
whether the war has ceased or not, it is
apparent that late political and military
events have revolutionized the relations
ssof1 the people of the State. More than
twenty Thousand persons, who were for
longer or shorter period of time in
arms for the av5wed purpose of over
sthrowing the government of the State
of Kentucky. and forcing its unwilling
people into SUBJ ection to hostile, reyo.
lutionary government, have returned to
the State, welcomed back to their former
homes in many eases by comlnu titles that
Fegarded them as patriots and heroes
In many such communities loyal citi-
zens and soldiers are objects of prejudice,
dislike, and often Of persecution.
Courts organized under The laws OF the
State for the equal distribution ofjustice,
in many instances have nermittaJ Them