Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-06
rRc cRIsIs " KENrUoKY.


TIE CRISIS IN KENTUCKY.
Tas protrdcted stiffness Of anxious doubt,
which has so lsng occupied the mind of Ken
tuckians, has at last been broken by an oracu-
lar voice from Washington. The Tyrant has
spoken, and with bis words come foreshadow-
fugs Of slaughter and desOlatiOR, and spcc.res
Of civil war.
The letter Of ABRAHAM LINCOLN to Gov
MAeoTFIS-au extract of which was presented
in our issue Of yesteFday-may well be re-
gsrae1 as q direct Reputation Of a States
right to remain neutral IN The present conflict,
and as therefore virtually amounting to a de-
c!aratioa Of war upon her citizens. He posi-
lively declines to remove the Federal troops
that are now encsmPsd within the limits OF
Kentucky, and in 50 deciding, dehea hSr au-
thorities to accept the issue which, we must
saw. thew have so long skplksd without any
shadow Of an apology other than indecision,
tlmidi5Y OF even cowaTdice wosld suggest
But one great poiHt will be accomplished BY
thus ~e!icitinz tue altitude Of the Washington
despotfsm. The rugged issue, which las been
m~anfuliv faced By nearly every other southern
State whose people expect to enjoy the fruits OF
our toll. mast aow be met By Kentucky. 1t we
have friends in her people, they must rally to
the southern standard, and assist in rescuIhg
the last hope Of republican freedom from De-
meath the foot OF the opPressOT-if enemies, let
the fact be proclaimed to US, and the sooner
the better, for our hearts are stout enough to
confront the intelligence. Her pretended neu-
traiitv. though well intended By tie loyal men
who we're hoodwinked aud deceived by 1t, has
proven a transparent bunbag, a mere device OF
designing traitors to hand the State over hand
cafsd into the possession Of the tyTant who
reisns at Washington. 1t is, besides, even
were It practicable, a political crime that would
render the name Ksatackiaa a synonym for dis
honor and cowardics in history. The laws OF
S5Lov made such neutrality in times Of war
punishable with Punishment from the limits OF
the Athenian government.
To leave Kentucky in her Presen. undeteT-
mined attitude, were peat, is to handler over
Internationally to the enemy. As a fair sam
pie Of what the traitors in her midst mean by
their sham "neutrality," We will only refer to
the following excerpt from an article appear
ing in the Louisville Journal, discussing what
duties such an anomalous position imposes;
This is the question which TIE new Legisla-
ture viii be called upon to solve at the
threshold; and assuredlg a question or greater
CelicacV has seldom or never called Tor soiu-
ton in our affairs. Two methods Of solution
are proposed. One is the forming or our loyal
roIuplesrs into a State sol-ieTy for the protec
ton Of the State and the eE~f0Tcemt1t or me
lqrs: the ether is The forming OF such voiun-
teers into 4 T ie~aI ss'fjery for The saE1s par
pose. Both OF these me hols are entirely con-
sister, with tie neutrality Of The stare
adopted By tleUliouis 6 the sole Psint to ee
considered il which Of the two promises TO be
the more e~ffsctu8l f5T good.
TINS Taftorous paper further suggests that
the Legislature, which is now in session at
Frankfort, "swesp away what remains Of the
State Guard, and take steps for the organiza-
ton Of & State Guard worthy Of the name In
respect 10 LEGALLY, as well as discipline and
vslor >, and with solemn mockery ADDS: "Ihen
under tie protection of this fsithfal soltierys
let the true neutrality Of the State be %vindica-
ted and in al other particulars the jaTisdteiton
Of the nafisa Be asserted proudly in the midst
ofas. and we shall stand before The country as
ne bsse-stood from the outset in the presence
Of each oiher-PGir'Ots, al the more intense
because curbed and reined in by the wise re-
strlctions Of neutrality"
Understanding sufficiently well The intents
Of the Lincoln party in Kentucky from this
expose, our duty for the future is manifest.
Gov. MAGorFIN and the Legislature may
properly be allowed a ress0nableti time in which
to proclaim the State policy, which can only
be one CT the two Observation-Disclosures OF
submission to abolition domination. Shogld
It be the frst, our assistance wiIl be solicited
to break up the LINCOLN e~zcampments now
remaining undisturbed in the STATE, and to
drive the Federal forces from her limits. If
the second. we can but rank Kentucky as
among the enemies Of the South, and invade
her soil az a measure Of self-preserva'ion and
FOR The additional purpose Of relieving her
loyal citizsns-aad their name is legiOn-from
the odicus Sespotism which opp ssses them
like a political nightmare.
We only speak the sentiment Of the united
South, we believe in asserting that Kentucky
can never be allowed to cast her destiny with
the North, whatever verdict Federal tyranny
may force from her people under he duress of
the bayonet. While We respect State rights
and State sovereignty, there are political aud
military necessities which override these rights
as measures liberalization, in q great reVolu-
ton like the present. Kentucky may bend
her knee, at present, to the BAAL Of abolition
ism, but the strong arm Of our national power
viii rescue her from the possession o. the en-
emy before the termination Of this war, as GER
tainIy and as efectually as the vast expsnse of
our territory upon the golden coast Of the Pa
cifc was rescued from the hands Of PROSTATE
Mexico. The truth had az well be spoken,
and We can tell Der citizens-loyalists and
tr~aitors-that no such idea has ever fer one
moment entered The mind Of the Southern PEo-
PIE as that she shall remain under the iron
rule Of the Yankee despotism. The South
needs her territory, and must have it, though
at the price Of blood and conquest.