The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-08-09

tho world that this Government, IN its digni-
ty and power, Is something moro than
moot court, and that the citizOn who makes
war upon 1t IS u traitor, not only IN theory
but in fact, and should hayo mcted out to
him n traitors doom. The country wants
no bloody sacrifices, but it must and will
have pouco. cost what II may.
Before closing desire to say few words
on tho relations of Kentucky to tho pend
ing rebellion. and. as wo arc all Kentuckans
here together tonight aud as this is purely
q family matter. which concerns tho honor
Of Us all, hope We may bo permitted to
speak to oach other upon il with ontire
freedom. shall not detaiu you with OBJ.
servations on the hostile and defiant posi-.
| tion assumed by tlio Governor Of your State.
In his reply 10 tho reqnisition made upon
him for volunteers under the proclamation
of tho President. no has. in my judgment,
writton and finished his own history. his
opitaph included. and it is probable that in
future tho world will little concern itself rs
to what his excellency may propose TO do, or
as to what no may propose not to do. That
response has made for Kontucky u record
What has already brought a burning blush to
tho check of many of hpr sons. and is dcs-
tined to bring IL to the check of many moro
in tho years which arc to como. 1t is a
shame. indeed CRYING shame. that State
with so illustrious past should have written
for her by her own chief magistrate, q pago
of history so utterly bumiliating as this
But your Legislature havo determined that
during the present unhappy war the atti-
tude of the State shall DO that of strict
neutrality. and il is upon this determine.
ton that wish respectfully but frankly to
comment. AS the motives which governed
tho Legislature were doubtless patriotic and
conservative, tho conclusion arrived at can
not DO condemned as dishonorable. still, in
Wow OF tho manifest duty OF the State and
OF possible results, | cannot but regard it as
mistaken and falso aud ono which may have
fatal consequences. Strictly and legally
|, speaking. Kentucky must go out # tho
, Union before sho can he neutral. Within
/ it she is necessarily either faithful to the
Government of the United Statos, or she is
, disIoval to il.
If this crutch of neutrality upon which
! her well meaning but III judging polli.
clans are hating, can find any middle
ground on which TO rest, il has escaped
my researches, though have diligently
sought It. Neutrality, in the sense Of
, those who now use the term, however
: patrioticaily designed, is, in effect, but q
D snake in the grass Of rebellion, and those
t who handle it will sooner or later feel il,
= fangs. Said one who spake as never maj
> spake, che who is not with us is agains
:. us )" and Of none Of the conflicts whicl
. have arisen between men or between
4 nations, ,cogld this be more truthfully said
IS Than of that in which we are now in
9 voved. Neutrality necessarily implie
7. Indifference. Is Kentucky Indifferent: t
q the issues Of this contest? Has she indee
J nothing at stake ? Has she no compac
= with her sister States to keep, no plighte
n faith to uphold. no renown to sustain, n
glory TO win q? Has she no horror O
i that crime Of crimes now being committed
/. against us by that stupendous rebellion
k which has arisen like tempest cloud il
> the South We rejoice to know that she
is still member of this Union, and al
! such she has the same interest in resisting
= = this rebellion, that each limb Of the body
. has in resisting a poignard whose point il
q aimed at the heart. 1t is her house lha
o is Oh fire {; has she no interest Ia ex
Q tinguishing the connagration Win sh
stand aloof and announce herself neutra
!, between the raging flames and The brav
- ~ men who are periling their lives TO subdu
4 them Hundreds Of thousands Of citizen
:" of other Statesmen CT culture an
1t character, OF thought and of toll me
ID who have deep stake in life and an in
he tense appreciation Of its duties and r(
D. sponsibilies ; who know the worth OF tn
~ blessed Government Of ours, and do NJ
y prize even their own blood above i'll sa,
AZ hundreds Of thousands OF such men hay
A. left their homes, their workshops, the
is counting houses, and their fields, and al
't now rallying about our flag, freely offerin
I their all TO sustain it, and, since the day
d that crusadirg Europe threw its host
- ~ upon the embattled plains Of Asia, n
y deeper or more earnest or grander spir
ic has stirred the souls OF men, than tha
q which now sways those mighty masse
10 whose cleaning banners are destined er
1t long to make bright again tie earth an
&c sky Of the distracted South. Can Ken
~ lucky look upon this sublime spectacle {
s' patriotism unmoved, and then say TO hel
n self: II will spend neither blood nc
treasure, but ! will shrink away while tn
}. battle RACES, and after il has been Tough
10 and won, will return 10 the camp, we
> assured that il | cannot claim the laurels
Is | will at least enjoy the blessings of th
% victory ?" Is this all that remains OF th
r chivalry OF the land OF the Shelbys, tn
y Johnsons, the Aliens, the Clays, III
"A Adairs and the Davises ? Is there
}. Kenluckian within the sound of my voic
Al TO night, who can hear the anguished or,
'f Of his country, as she wreslles and wr;the
o in the folks of this gigantic treason, ant
>, >, then lay himself down upon his pillow
g . with this thought of neutrality, wilhou
a feeling that he has something in bi
O bosom which stings him worse than woul,
d an adder? Have we, within the brie
@ period Of eighty years, descended SO ia
q from the mountain nights on which ou
n fathers stood, that already, in our degen
, eracy,we proclaim our blood too precious
a eur treasure too valuable 10 be devoted 4
!. the preservation OF such a government a
h this ? They fought through sevel
y years. war with the greatest power on tn
% earth, for the hope, for the bare hope G
IS being able to found this Republic, an
s. now that it is no longer hope nor an ex
III periment but a plor;ous reality Whic