Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-18

taing
The following resolutions were adopted by the
meeting without dissenting voice.
WHEREAS, The people of the State of Kentucky
have shown their devotion to the Union and their
attachment TO their breathren-g of the Free
States, by shedding tie best blood of the
States, in their defense at Tippecanoe, at the
Thames, at the massacre Of the River Raiseu and
wherever they were assaied, either by savage
or by foreign foes; and whereas when the present
unhappy discord assumed dangerous form, this
State true to her traditions did by legislative re-
solves and by the resolutions of State Conventions
of the different political parties within her borders
propose plans of Cancellation and settlement lust to
all sections of the Union, which plans have been
treated by the leaders of the dominant party in the
Free States with contemptuous indifference; and
whereas this State and all the Border Slave States
have also protested with remarkable and unmlstak-
able unanimty against the attempt to coerce" the
seeding States into submission; and, whereas. in
total disregard of the sentiment of the loyal Slave
States and in utter contempt of their protests the
Lincoln Administration, while protesting peace and
a strong desire to preserve the dissolving Union,
perfdiously fitted out an immense feet and arma-
ments with the manifest intention of reducing
the seeding States to obedience by mill
tary force, and, whereas. this attempt to
subugate these States can have ne other effect than
desolating civil war repugnant alike to humanity,
civilization and religion, and the final separation Of
the Free and Slave States; therefore,
Resolved. l. That the conduct Of the Lincoln Ad-
ministration In bringing on conflict of arms
whilst processing a peace policy and whilst the
| border slave States, relying on such pacific assu>
RANGES, were endeavoriDg to fud peaceful solu-
ton of the national difficulties and TO reconstruct
the discovered Union, is q conspicuous example of
bad faith and perfdy in high places, which merits
and will receive the condemnation of the civilized
world.
2. That the people of Kentucky are unanimously
opposed to the war policy of the Lincoln Admins
traton, and that if the attempt to subugate the
cejing States be not abandoned the duty the inter-
est and the honor of this State alike imperative de-
mand that she shall at once range herself side by
side with her Southern sisters and stand by them to
the last in defending their soil from hostile invasion;
and the free States have been called for ''vo
uneers, with the intention of hurting them against
our Southern brethren, we hereby declare that the
State of Kentucky will never permit such forces to
cross her borders.
3 Thst in ceding to the Federal Government ju-
risdction the soil for the erection of forts, in
the several States, contract is implied between
those States and the Federal authorities that such
forts shall be used alone TO defend the States in
which they are situated from foreign enemies, and
that no State would have permitted the General
Government to erect forts within her borders,
without such implied contract and, that the at
tempt 10 turn the guns of such Notifications against
the citizens of the State on whose soil they stand
in opposition to the wishes of the State authorities
is guilty perversion of the purposes for which
they were intended, and justiies resistance by the
people of the assailed States.
4. That Fort Sumter was erected under such i'm
piled contract and that, commanding, as it does,
the harbor and commerce of Charleston, the only
purpose of Lincolps Administration in reinforcing
and holding it, was to destroy what it was built to
protect and defend, and that the attempt to rein
force and hold that fort was, therefore, a hostile
act, justifying the Commander of the Confederate
forces in demanding its surrender, before the arr-
val of the powerful reinforcements known to be
near at hand, and enforcing that demand when the
surrender was refused, was an obvious duty as q
defensive measure.
8. That it is the immediate and imperative duty
Of this State to arm.
c. That it is the policy of this State and of every
Southern State, to act upon defensive; but each
should be prepared to repel attack, come from what
quarter 1t may.
Z. That we once more and perhaps for the last
time, implore conservative men of all parties in the
Free States, to and continue their efforts by
petitions, remonstrances and public meetings, to
arrest the mad frenzied and suicidal course of the
Lincoln Administration, to the end that if all plans
of Cancellation and settlement shall fail, and that
event, which we all so deeply deplore-the final
dissolution of this glorious Uniou-becomes newt
able, that its may set in serenity and peace,
rather than in clouds, in darkness, and in blood.
6. That in this last worst, and most deplorable
event, hearts will always beat warmly for the
true men of the Free States who have nobly stood
by the right under every encouragement and against
all edds
3. That the name of those members of Congress |
who persistently refused to give the people of the
States opportunity to vote upon the CrIttenden
Proposition for settlement of our unhappy differ
ences, will be held infamous through all coming |
time.
10. That the coercion of the Southern States into
raternal relations with the Northern States is an
and an absurdity, which we denounce |
md will resist.
IL. That we approve and indorse the manly and |
iignifed response of Governor Magoffn to the de-
nadn of the Lincoln Administration upon this State
or troops in support of its coercive policy.