A Spark from the Kentucky press.
--The
Louisville (Ky.) Democrat seem to have made a slight start in its sleep under the
Lincoln despotion.
In an editorial on the 5th inst. It holds the following language, which it is to be hoped it will not back down from!.
The party in power, with the
President at its head, has drifted away from the position of
Kentucky, and from the position they hold at the start.
The mems of preserving the
Union are now the question, and preserving the
Constitution along with it. It is assumed by the
President and his party that slavery is the cause and strength of the rebellion, and that it must be destroyed to accomplish the end. They are now acting on the principle that all is legitimate that, in the judgment of the
President, may effect the purpose.
It is plain that party ends have taken the place of the great object, and the only object of this State--the restoration of the
Union and the exception of the laws.
They have abolished slavery in the District of Columbia, which our fathers found there and left there, and have appropriated out of an exhausted credit one million of dollars to pay for a few negroes, to add to our population so many more of an undesirable class.
They have proposed to buy the slaves of other States, without the consent of their owners, and when the credit of the
Government is almost fifty per sent.
discount.
In order to accomplish the purpose of the abolition of slavery, they have passed a confiscation bill, which frees the slaves of all guilty of traction; frees the slaves of all who incite men to rebellion or give aid and comfort; frees the slaves of all who have not now abandoned the rebellion; frees the slaves of rebels wherever the army goes.
That was not deemed sufficient, and the
President, under the Abolition pressure, has fosned a proclamation, by virtue of his own authority as
Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, to emancipate all the gloves in the seceded States.--To consecrate this unconstitutional and party purpose they now propose to arm the negro to help to subjugate his master, and thus form an alliance with the servile race against the white man of the
South.
This is purely a party programme.
As a means to put down the rebellion, it is absurd.
It unites the enemies of the
Government and divides its friends.
It is a violation of the plighted faith of the Administration and its party to us and other patriotic men of this State.
Upon such a programme, carried out by force, is not a restoration of the
Union a simple impossibility?
We believe it is, and that this whole policy must be stopped.
It presents no ground upon which a Union man in the
South can stand.
He is compelled to fight for his all; for, by this confiscation bill, not only his slaves are confiscated, but all his property is taken.
It is a policy to destroy, not to save.
It has been adopted in spite of the remonstrances, protests and warnings of our Congressmen and Legislatures, and in spite of promises and pledges to the contrary.
It is not our duty to say to the
President and his advisers that we cannot, will not, support a war to execute it; that it must stop, or no men or money be had with the consent of this State?
It is for the people of
Kentucky to consider this matter calmly in their primary meetings.
