462 



KENTUCKY. 



tically free, although this freedom was unsanc- 

 tioned by .the State. The master could no 

 longer hold his slaves or depend upon their 

 labor for a single day, hence producers could 

 not estimate their crops or pursue agriculture 

 with any certainty. Becoming restless and dis- 

 satisfied the slaves would forsake their homes 

 and direct their steps toward the Federal head- 

 quarters at Louisville, as the Mecca where free- 

 dom might be found. Thus they became out- 

 casts and wanderers. The cities and towns 

 throughout the State were, in the spring, 

 crowded with these refugees from labor, and 

 the numbers still continued to increase. The 

 inhabitants found themselves unable to feed the 

 large surplus population suddenly thrown upon 

 them, and want and suffering soon began to 

 appear, and to be followed by demoralization 

 and crime. By enlistment over 22,000 of the 

 most valuable slaves in the State had gone into 

 the Federal service, and recruiting officers were 

 actually at work to gather up the few thousands 

 of this class still remaining. Even old men 

 and boys were found to be fit for duty in inva- 

 lid regiments, and were taken, in March from 

 seventy to one hundred men enlisting daily. 

 At this time General Palmer issued the follow- 

 lowing order: 



General Order No. 10. 

 HEADQCAKTEKS DKPAETMENT OF KEXTTTCKY, ) 

 LOUISVILLE, KY., March 12, 1S65. J 



The General commanding announces to the 

 colored men of Kentucky that by an act of Congress 

 passed on the 3d day of March, 1865, the wires and 

 children of all colored men who have heretofore en- 

 listed or who may hereafter enlist in the military ser- 

 vice of the Government are made free. 



This act of justice to the soldiers claims from 

 them renewed efforts, by courage, fortitude, and dis- 

 cipline, to .win a good name to be shared by a free 

 wife and free children. To colored men not in the 

 army it offers an opportunity to join freedom for 

 themselves and their posterity. 



The rights secured to colored soldiers under this 

 law will, if necessary be enforced by the military 

 authorities of this Department, and it is expected 

 that the loyal men and women of Kentucky will en- 

 courage colored men to enlist in the armv, and, 

 after they have done so, recognize them as upholders 

 of their Government and defenders of their homes, 

 and exercise toward the helpless women and chil- 

 dren made free by this law that benevolence and 

 charity which has always characterized the people 

 of the State. 



By command of Maj.-Gen. PALMER. 



J. P. WATSON, Captain and A. A. A. G. 



At the same time camps of rendezvous for 

 the reception of colored recruits were estab- 

 lished at Bowling Green, Covington, Hender- 

 son, Maysville, Southland, Columbus. At an 

 average of five persons, wife and children, per 

 man, there were from three to five hundred 

 made free daily through the instrumentality of 

 the army. 



This state of facts was presented as an 

 argument for the adoption by the State Legisla- 

 ture of the amendment to the Federal Constitu- 

 tion abolishing slavery. It was said that the 

 adoption of this measure would quiet the 

 minds of the negroes. Those who had forsak- 



en their homes would return, and those still at 

 home would remain to till the soil. While in 

 a state of transition, the present disturbed re- 

 lations of capital and labor must continue, 

 but by freeing the slaves at one blow and get- 

 ting at' the bottom of the question, it would 

 end. A reorganization of labor could then bo 

 made on a new basis. It was further urged 

 that it was clearly the intention and policy of 

 the Federal Government to make every black 

 person in the country free, and to secure to 

 every one his own body and his own labor; 

 and the sooner Kentucky made up her mind to 

 accept the new order of things and to establish 

 labor upon a free and paid basis, the better it 

 would be for her. 



In reply, it was admitted as one of the facts 

 wrought out by the war, that slavery must end, 

 and that the proposed amendment to the Con- 

 stitution was the most direct, practical, and 

 legitimate mode by which to escape the exist- 

 ing and impending evils of an interregnum in 

 labor, a dearth in industry, and a suspension of 

 production. But by thus actiug, the people of 

 Kentucky would have to give up what they 

 valued at many millions of dollars, and to over- 

 come the educated habits and prejudices fos- 

 tered by the country. Kentucky had contrib- 

 uted her proportion with all the Northern States 

 to the war. The emancipation of slaves cost 

 those States no sacrifice of interest, no immo- 

 lation of habits, no conquest of prejudices, no 

 disturbance of social relations, no breaking up 

 of economical arrangements, no inconvenience 

 or loss whatever. Besides the direct loss to 

 Kentucky, she also incurred the perils, incon- 

 veniences, and additional losses which ever re- 

 sult from the sudden breaking up of long and 

 peacefully established social and economical re- 

 lations and interests. 



Notwithstanding all considerations of a mili- 

 tary, civil, social, or economical nature that had 

 been raised up, the Legislature of the State, 

 on February 23d, refused by resolution to adopt 

 the amendment. The resolution was sent to 

 Gov. Brainlette for his approval, which he de- 

 clined to give, as he considered the action of 

 the Legislature complete without his assent, and 

 that the question would only be remitted to 

 their successors. lie believed that the amend- 

 ment would continue an open question until it 

 was finally ratified, and added : 



The destruction of $108,000,000 of slave property 

 by the direct and indirect action of our Government, 

 our unyielding fidelity to our Government, and loyal 

 submission of our people to such action, though we 

 could see no real necessity for or benefit to be derived 

 from such destruction to our national cause, would 

 constitute such strong claim upon the justice and 

 magnanimity of the Congress of the United States as 

 to justify the reasonable expectation that an appro- 

 priation would be made to free Kentucky immediately 

 and forever from this disturbing question. 



The act of Congress of February 24, 1864, 

 entitled every Union master whose slave en- 

 listed, a compensation of three hundred dollars. 

 This sum was to be awarded by a commission 





