Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-05-10
The Union Hen of the Border Slave
States.

The position occupied by many of III,
Union men Of the border slave States is on,
J that fails TO command any sort of respect.
| Boastiful, in the late Presidential election
that they had no platform but "T'he CoDstitu
| tion, the Union, and the Enforcement of the
Laws" they see the Mexican Revolutionists oi
the Cotton States raising armies, seizing Forts
stealing Government teasure in Custom
Houses, firing into ships carrying odr Nation
al hng-and at length gathering together
their forces TO make an attack upon the Ma
tienal Capital yet all the while these valor-
Gus Union men, who have been making their
loud boasts that they xTe for "The Constiit-
tion, the Union, and the enforcement of the
Laws" remain as passive as doves-and pro-
test stoutly against others Offering any resist
ance TO the mad acts of these ambitious
RevoIutionists.
They have continued TO denounce coercion
so long that they are forced to applaud the
iwPudent reply Of Governor MagofIin when
he refuses, point blank, to furnish any troops
at the call Of the General Government.
If there is any affection remaining in the
hearts Of the Union men, towards our common
GoTernment-I the flush Of shame docs not
mantle their checks when they see the Stars
and stripes torn down from the flag staff of the
Governments own Forts, 10 give place to the
flag of traitOrs-can they bc Indifferent
whether our Government is sustained or not I?
Had the Governors of Kentucky, Tennessee,
Missouri and other border States responded to
the Presidents call the same as Gov. Hicks of
Maryland did-only stipulating that the troops
furnished should be used in protecting the Ma
tiOnal Capital or had the Union men of the
border slave States advocated such a policy
as this-even ic the Governors had refused to
act upon it-they woHld have been entitled to
some sort Of respect. But their iubilant en-
dorScment Of the defiant messages of response,
which Governors Jackson, Magofin and liar
ris hurled back to the President, has tended
TO dishcarren every loyal man north Of Mason
and DixOn's line.
The Union men Of these States profess the
utmost Indignation that President Lincoln
should have issued his proclamation calling
for 10000 E1en to aid in protecting the Cap
itnl and in putting down rebellion. Loyal
men to the United States Government in the
free States may we'll suspect the fidelity of
any protesting Union man in the border slave
States, who is at heart opposed to this up
rising Of the people, and this rallying of forces
to prevent the overthrow of the United States
Government. The fact is there ought to be,
and it seems to us there can be, only flro
parties one for the Union ssnd the Consti tu-
ton, and the preservation of the Government,
the other for disuRion ard the 5TcaAing gp OF
oUF Government. We see DO possible room
for any middle ground. The Union men in
Kentucky, just now, are aivOcating al armed
neutrality. lfthey sdTOeHtcd an unarme5 neu-
tFality we might tolerate such Il position by
s1ppOsing that they, al heart, were in favor Of
the preservation n the Union, the enforcement
Of the laFs and the mainteBRnec Of the Gov
ernncnt-out that they conceived II arNpofitc
for them to aid in the good work Of sustaining
the integrity Of the Government because Of
the strength Of the SEeessse4Asts right in their
midst. But an armed neutrality, wI1er they
profess 10 be 80 indignant towards the North
-whut does it denoted Gan we have anv
doubt that these arms will eventually DC used
against their ueighbors, who are loyal TO the
United States Government, and who live just
across the Ohio river!
Kentucky, through her Governor, has dis
sSsetly deeisfeJ that she will not light against
jeff Davis Government. If the arms she is
gathering are not TO be used against the
Southern Rcvolutionists, against whom are
they to be used.
We have great fears that an armed neutrali
ty will eYehtHate. sooner or later, in carrying
the, state over to the side of the RevolutiOnists
H I would Egaintain an un0rDaed neutrality.
the infuenee' Of the State of Kentucky would
be powerful in commanding an early peace.
But this HTwise armed neutrality will. prob
abl5 prevent her being at all potential in
causing a settlement between the two belliger
ent parties viz, those who are fighting for the
Government, and those who are fighting against
it.