Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-11-22

trace the ACKNOWLEDGMENT to the ignorance
or disregard upon the part of the latter,
of the true principles of confederacy, to
long continued and hagrant violations Of
the Constitution, to avarice, fanaticism
and general corruption. Against all these
usurpations | protested in your name, in
the presence of their authors, and at the
seat of their powers. protested in vain,
and never again will l meet in council
with the usurpers.
And now, fellow citizens, | am sure
you will pardon me if l add few words
ia reference to the condition of our State
and my own course. The Constitution
Of the United States has been destroyed,
and by no act of Kentucky The power
she delegated in that instrument to the
Federal Government had vested to her,
and any exercise of power over her by
that Government without her consent is
usurpation. In the wreck of the federal
system, she exists an independent COM
monwealtb, with the right to choose her
own destiny. She may join the North.
She may join the South. She may pose
herself on her own centre, and be neu-
trail. In every form by which you could
give direct expression to your will you
declared for neutrality. 4 large maiori-
ty Of the yeople, at the May and August
elections, voted for the neutrality and
peace of Kentucky The press, the pub
lie speakers, the candidates, with excep-
tiQns in favor of the Government at
Washington so rare as not to need men
ton, planted themselves on this position.
You voted for it. and you meant it, You
were promised it, and you expected it.
The minority acquiesced in good faith,
and at home ard abroad this was recog-
nized as the fixed position Of the State.
1t was taken at the beginning of hoslili-
tics, and it is but reasonable to infer that
every subsequent act Of outrage by the
Washington Government has confirmed
your original purpose Look now at the
condition of Kentucky, and see how your
expectations had been realized how
these promises had been redeemed.
First, by the aid Of some citizens Of
the State, arms belonging to the whole
people were illegally and secretly intro
duced, by order Of the President, and dis
tributed to one class of our people upon
the false pretence that they needed them
for projection against their own fellow
citizens. This was the first violation.
Next, Federal military officers began
to recruit soldiers and establish camps in
our midst, and Federal money was law
ishly expended, in the hope to demora-
lie and corrupt the people. a studied
system of deception was practised as long
as possible on the people. For time it
was denied that they were Federal camps,
and it was said that they were merely
voluntary assemblies of Kentuckiaus for
their own protection and that Of the State
These monstrous falschoods have since
been freely exposed. This was the Sc
eond violation.
Previous to these events the State was
IN condition Of tranquility and peace.
No indications existed anywhere of in.
tcrnal disorder. But now the people,
becoming alarmed at these proofs Of a
purpose to force Kentucky into the war,
began to assemble in great mass meet
lngs, and to demand loudly the promised
neutrality. The Washington Govern
ment, however and its abettors in Ken
lucky, surprising their schemes 10 be
ripe for execution, now resolved to have
what they called "active loyalty" About
this time the Legislature met, and the
drama then moved rapidly on The camps
were avowed to be Federal camps The
guns which had been clandestinely and H.
legally introduced, were now called out ia
maintain "actiye loyalty" Federal off
GERS began to swarm among us. Every
appearance Of corruption, every allure
ment Of ambition was brought into play.
Presently Federal army was in pos
session Of large portions Of the State, and
the conspiracy stood fully revealed, while
the people, whose only error had been
their generous credulity, stood thorough
ly betrayed. 1t is known to citizens Of
Louisville of all parties, that Just before
that meeting Of the Legislature, mem
Der Of the Washington cabinet, said to a
prominent citizen Of Kc1tucky, that the
position Of The State should not be main
tanned, that the Government preferred
hostility to neutrality, and that Kentucky
must be compelled to support the Fcde-
raj Government in the war. Your wishes,
fellow-citizens, had been spurned and
you have been thrown into this vortex by
the Government at Washington, aided
By their Kentucky sytupathizers.
The pretended reason for the military
occupation Of the State, founded on the
occupation Of Columbus by Confederate
troops, is uucandid aud false. For besides
the fact that the invasion OF Kentucky
was f0regone conclusion at Washing
ton, and that camps Of soldiers were IN
der arms in our midst to invade Tonnes
see, il is notorious that General Grant
left Cairo to seize Paducah before the
occupation Of Columbus, while in taking
the latter place the Confederate troops
anticipated the Federal troops by less
than an hour. For further proof Of the
insincority Of the false clamor about the
invasion from Tennessee, the Confederate
commander announced TO your authori-
ties that be occupied C9lanbue purely in