The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-08-27
Kentucky ssNeutrality.''

They are sent for the purpose of requesting
the President to prospect the neutrality Of
Kentucky" and allow the secessionists to
carry on their work of supplying Tennessee
with arms, provisions and recruits
The seizure Of the Orr is fair illustra
ton of the "neutrality' of the people of the
First District. She was seized, it is alleged
by apologists for Kentuckians, in retaliation
for the confscation of the W. B. Terry
Now if Kentucky is neutral in this contests
if she is really as much opposed to the Con-
federate troops occupying her soil and re-
ceiving assistance from her graneries, as
she is to the invasion of u. S. forces, why
is it that her citizens object to the seizure of
boat which for months has violated that
neutrality of which they boast, and has
engaged openly in the work of carrying sup
plies TO the rebels. Kentucky claims to be
q member of this Confederacy and yet OBJ
jects to the execution of IT. S. laws, and
seizes a Government mail boat in retalia-
ton for the seizure of boat, openly and de-
family violating the known laws of the
land.
By law, passed by the late Congress
and published in the columns of this paper,
the Terry was liable to seizure and confs-
cation, and the capture of the Orr is nothing
more nor less than piracy, for which Ken
lucky, as State, is responsible. However
the bogus neutrality of Kentucky may affect
others, it is a serious matter to us-the citi-
zens of Evansville. 1t has cost us thou
sands of dollars. Men in that State, debtors
to wholesale merchants in this place, have as
openly repudiated their debts as their fell
lows in Georgia and Alabama. The First
District has sent thousands of men to swell
the ranks of the Southern army; it has har-
bored and protected Southern troops who
have driven out Unionlsts ana established
a reign of terror in some parts of South
western Kentucky equal to that now felt in
Southern Missouri; it has permitted boats
among them the Terry-to run regularly
between its ports and Tennessee, carrying
provisions to the rebels; in short, South
western Kentucky is just IS much a part
and parcel of the Southern Confederacy as
the State of Georgia. The only difference
is, that we allowed traitor to represent
them on the floor, of the House, who
has done more injury to the cause of the
Union than would have been accomplished
by the whole Kentucky delegation in the
rebel Congress. Now, why has not all this
been prevented, The State, as State,
pretends to be neutral why then has
portion of the State been permitted to
give aid and comfort to those in rebellion?
Why have not State troops been stationed
in the First District TO enforce the neutrali-
ty of Kentucky
The truth is, that the Union sentiment
of the so-called Union men amounts to just
nothing at all. It means no assistance to
the Government, and permits the traitors in
their midst to do as they see proper. The
State of Kentucky is fast drifting into
dilemma, from which she can only extri-
cate herself by energetic action, in one di-
rection or the other. IF the outrages com
mitted by her citizens in the First District
are to pass unrebuked, then Kentucky
might as well not stand upon the order of
her going, bnt 60 at once, and we will then
meet the worst as best we can.
We desire, above eVeryth thing else, to see
Kentucky remain in the Union. To us it
is a question of vital Importance. But the
success Of the great cause in which we are
enlisted is dearer to us than our present
welfare. If Kentucky would remain en-
tiFely neutral it would be well. But as we
said months ago, such course is impossi-
lie, and the occurrences Of late IN South
western Kentucky have proven the truth
1f our assertion. If the Union men Of that
State were in earnest, they could stop the |
shipment OF provisions to the South; they |
could intercept all arms destined for the |
Southern Confaderacy. But they do not |
choose to do it, aud while the Government |
has trusted to the patriotism Of Union men
in Kentucky, the secessionists have been at
work with none to @molest or make them
afraid"
The merchants of Evansville have trusted
too conGdingly in the neutrality of Ken
lucky. Last Wednesday we sent cargo
Of provisions to Paducah, to be paid for.
upon the return Of the boat. What is the
result Not only have we lost the cargo,
valued at $40, 900, but the boat also, owned
here, and worth $4,000 more. Aud the
neutrality of the State is Illustrated by say
ing that the Orr was seized in retaliation
for the seizure Of the Terry, when ii was Il