The national Republican., 1861-09-13
Communicated the pspub,Iesn BY citissn Of KENTUCKY
THE ACTION OF KENTUCKY.


The eyes of the whole country are now
turned, with painful anxiety, upon the action Of
Kentucky, in the trying criSis through which we
are now passing. The Legislature Of that State,
now in council fresh from the people, are com
PEELED to take position and place with the valiant
people of that State on one side or the ether In
the giant struggle now going on between the
Government, struggling for existence on the
one side, and an unjust, unprincipled, and reck-
less band of traitors, attempting to over
throw and destroy the Government, on the
other. The question, tohere ,oiA Kentucky
tahs her slands" is heard on all sides. We
answer she will stand by the Union, the Con-
stitution, and the enforcement Of the laws, and
will nobly and bravely defend her position at
all hazards and to the last extremity.
I, is true that there is 10 Kentucky band
of reckless bravadoes, headed and led on by
Breckenridge, Magofiu, Burnett, and few
others, who are anxious to involve Kentucky
with the rebel States, in the utter ruin and
overthrow that awaits them in their mad and
rebellious war upon the Government; but
there is yet sufficient moral patriotism inspiring
the gallant sons of Kentucky to bind them,
with undying devotion to the Government, laws,
and institutions handed down to them by a
noble ancestry.
As the position Of Kentucky has, up to this
time, been somewhat equivocal under her as
sumed position of neutrality, 1t is proper, for
that reason to understand the cause Of her to.
king that position. From the moment that the
secession Of South Carolina burst upon the ~.
tonished American people, few men, headed
by those named above, have moved heaven and
earth, to the extent Of their capacity, to pre-.
cipitate Kentucky out Of the Union and the
arbitrator and rebel of them all, Governor
Mag goffin, by his official position, has been en-
abled to act most effectually. Hence, In the
reorganization of the State militia, his military
appointees were taken from the ranks Of thu
secessionists, and then the volunteers ir
the ranks OF the State Guards were 10
sidiously drawn from the ranks of the com
paratively small number of secessionists IL
the State. Thus, before the great mass o.
the people, constituting three fourths Of tht
, State, who were and are loyal to the Union
knew what was going on, all the State arms wer
in the hands Of the rebels Of the State, and the
commenced system of bullying, prescription
A and coercion, on the part Of the rebels, wit
the State arms in their hands, to precipitate tn
I State o1t of the Union, and bring 1t 10 conaic
a with the General Government Aroused to tru
!. sense Of their position, the Union men Of Ker
!. lucky were forced to assume q position (
. neu tralityy until they could prepare for sci
g defence. The Federal Government, seeing th
c condition in which the loyal people Of Kel
# lucky were placed, by the strategy Of their reb
is Governor, promptly supplied them with arms
g. and now, being sufficiently organized, they stan
p = to-day, and will ever stand, solid phalan'
" shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart,
+. protect and preserve the Union, to uphold Il
Of Constitution, and enforce the laws.
n n At first, and until very recently, the reb
Governor Of Kentucky and his colaborers a
" abettors In treason, were most bitter In th'
N deuunciations of neutrality" They
y, clared it to be treason to the South, and VOL
"a. than the coercion of the Federal Governme
They hooted at aud denounced those who We
#. for neutrality as the allies Of the Lince
,r. despotism," but now, when the Union men
the State are prepared to defend their rigt
and maintain the homer and integrity of tn
as. country, the besotted rebel, Governor Magof
W. and all bis clan are clamoring most piteou
in for " Kentucky neutrality-for peace"