Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-08
FEDERAL RELATIONS.


so much as relates to
FEDERAL RELATIONS
Looking to the Constitution of the United States.
the nature of our institutions, the philosophy of
| their construction, and the causes of this war
i think Kentucky has right to assume neutral
position. kentucky had no agency in the organiza
ton and fostering of that sectional party in the free
States which has proven disastrous to the Union
ner QUO she approve the separate action and seces
sion Of the Southern States at the time. We are
not responsible for the var and ought not 70 be in
voked by either section to involve her people or the
State in the struggle. Moreover our relations are
such as 70 leave the State no other position The
Presidents Of the United States and of the Conted
crate States are her children, both natives OF Ken
! lucky Many Of the chief actors on both sides are
/ Kentackiaas our people have time and again
manifested and proven their love for and LOYALTY
20 the Union; but it cannot be controversial that
their sympathies and trade, their associations and
ties Of blood and friendship their atoms aud
interests, mainly identified with the South The
Northwestern and Southern States are peopled with
| our kindred Neither party ought TO expect Ken.
lucky at this time TO abandon her chosen position
OF neutrality aud engage in the war against her
brethren and friends and 10 violence the sympa-
thies, feelings, and convictions OF her people Espe-
cisliy ought not this to be asked or expected when
At Is manifest that. owing TO the division among our
people, Kentucky, willis beneftting neither party
could herself become prey to civil war, the very
acme of all social or political calamities Let US
then, labor to avert the impending ruin Let us
preserve our position of neutrsty as the only an.
Choir Of peace, Of hope, and Of safety. Thus may
avert civil and our soil from the desc
lation of the conflict Of hostile armies.
Until recently, the neutrality of Kentucky has
not been seFlouy aggresssed upon by either of the
belligeFent powers. Lawless raids upon our soil
have been suffered from both sides, private proper
ertV has been seized, our Commerce intePrunted
and our trade destroyed. These wrongs have been
borne by our citizens with great patience and
parat0n obtained in all cases where it was pns>
sibe. But recently milla-y force has teen game
lied, equipped and encamped in the central portion
of the STATE. the officers commissioned BY an
act under, the authority of the President OF the
United States and the soldiers of which are sworn
into the FedeIal service The authorities of the
State were not consulted in this movement 1t was
done but a short time before the assembling of a
! Legislature fresh from the,people and into whose
hands and keeping his been committed the D Hey
and destinies of tee Commonwealth Under what
provision of the Constitution, by what laws of Com
gress or this State the Federal Government has
proceeded to raise volunteers in Kentucky and
quarter an army ia our midst, do not know. For
what purpose their army Is eDcampsd in our State
what good Is expected to result from its presence,
and what the plea of policy necessity which has
induced the President and his advisers TO dsFeg ard
the thrice chosen position OF neutrality on the part
of our people. am not davised. Is any protection
needed IN Kentucky which the representatives of
the people can not afford Do ms jOrity of the
citizens of the State desire the presence of Fede-
raj army in the State? think not. Is there
larger force needed? Increase it. Is the present
law defective? Alterit-amend it-give it Pfi:ien
cy. Place a sufficient army in the field, If ee be
10 make ur position respected out let IL be done
un Ter the laws and Constitution of Kentucky, |
recommend that the law of last spring be so amend
ed AS TO enable the Military Board to borrow
sufficient sum Of money to purchase the arms and
munitions of war for defense.
Soon after the organization and encampment of
this force in the State. commissioned two gentle
men of Lexington, Messrs. W A. Dudley and z K
Hunt TO proceed to Washington City TO urge uDoa
the President either the dsbanding of this force
its removal beyond the limits of the State. | also
commissioned Mr.. George w. Johnson, of Scott
county, to proceed to Richmond, Va, and urge up
on the President of the Confederate States con
| tinued observance of our position. The report of
the commissioners, with the entire correspondence
upon the subject, is herewith submitted In q con
RectiOn submit a correspondence between the
Governor of Tennessee and myself on tie same
subject
In his response to my communication, the PresI-
dent of the United States say he has acted upon
the urgent solicitation of many kentuckGns and in
accordance with what he believed t. be the wish
of majority" Of people, and that he does not
believe II is the popular wish of Kentucky that the
! force shall be removed" Thus impressed TO the
wish of the people of Kentucky, he respectfully de
cned to comply with my request. The inference
to be far, that if advised of the wish of the
people of Kentucky for the removal of this force
the President would comply with it.
Believing that large majority of the people Of
Kentucky, including majority of the Union men,
desired the establishment of these camps and
now desire their removal, that the presence of this
military force in midst without the sanction
the people the authority of the Constitution and
/ that unless removed, our people will be sooner or
later embroiled IN the war; recommend that you
! pass resolutions requesting the dsbandlng
moval from this STATE, OF any aui all military
bodies not under the authority of the State. The
of the letter of the President indicates that he
will respect your will in shaping the policy Of the
State and # duly advised by you through resOu-
lions, cannot doubt that this most alarming
of excitement and danger to the peace of the Com
I mon wealth will be removed Kentucky is believe
this time the only State in the Union where the
Constitution and laws of the country both State and
National are respected. We yet enjoy the freedom
: Of speech and the press. Our State Is yet safe
retreat from the expressions Of both sections Let
cling to position and policy the only hope
of peace and safety.
The continued introduction of Federal guns into
the State, and their distribution TO private citizens
unwarrauted By law, is another source of constant
J irritation, and fruitful of violence and
trouble. You could in no way more efiectualy con-
tribute 70 the maintenance OF peace within the State
than by arrestlng this prolific source Of excite
ment. irritation and violence
Numerous cases Of aggression upon private rights
by both the beltigerent governments have been re-
ported TO me. but in many cases have bad no right
power to afford the redress claimed The seizure
| of the steamers "W b. Terry" By Federal gun
boat from Cairo, the Orr" b. private parties who
have carried her into Tennessee and of the "Poca-
hontas" by Confederate soldiers, referred to
cases of recent occurrence. To embOdy the re-
ports in reference to all these cases OF wrong would
swell this paper beyond its proper dimensions. In
reference to the two of seizure of the st.am
ers Terry and Orr | submit the report Of DR..
, John N. Johnson, and letter from Gov Isham g.
Harris, of Tennessee, to both Of which your atten
tiOn is invited. In this connection mention also
] case Of recent violence in Harrison county invOlv
log the killing of one and the wounding of
; another. Ny order to Gen. CTittenden and his
) prompt and ready execution of it, as shown by his
: report are submitted to you. l would recommend
this whole subject to your attention, and do not
! doubt that in your wisdom you will take some &C
ton 10 secure to the person and property Of our
citizens the much needed protection.
In regard to our national difficulties, my action
from first TO last has been dictated by earnest
wish to preserve the neutrality and peace of Ken
lucky l am not conscious Of any lack OF vigilance
or effort. on my part, maintaining the peaceful
attitude of neutrality which the people of the State
have determined to occupy. The very corner stone
of the theory of the States Rights party, TO which
have always adhered, is the right OF the people
| of State, by lawful expression Of a majority
, thereof to determine the policy and the relations
: of the Comm % wealth My functions are purely
executive. and am Donnd by my oath of off e to
] carry out the awful will of the people, whether
the policy they prefer accords with my own views
or not. The Constitution is the only barrier be-
tween the people and the Executive which recog-
nize | was elected Governor by a majority of the
.paopla Nrb knew pnlStipal continents