Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-10-03
tho loss of battles. With great regard, your
REvERDY JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, Sept. %, 1861.
Address of the Legislature to the
People of Kentucky.

People Of Kentucky.
In this extraordinary crisis, we deem il a
duty we, your representatives owe to YOU
and ourselves, to say few words to YOU as
TO the condition of the Commonwealth and
the duties we have been called upon to per.
form.
Wehaye ardently desired peace, and hoped
TO save Kentucky from the calamities of war.
When the Federal authorities deemed il me-
cessary toemploy force in self-defense, and
to execute the laws Of the Government, we
assured our Southern neighbors of our pur-
pose not to take up arms voluntarily against
them, Notwithstanding their wicked attempt
to destroy the Government, from which we
and our fathers have received the greatest
Dement'S, Every effort was made, both be
lore and after the employment Of force, to
elect some compromise and settlement that
would restore the Union and prevent the
effusion of blood.
The Federal Government did not insist
upon our active aid in furnishing troops,
seeming content it we oboycd the laws and
executed them upon our soil. Those enga-
ged in rebellion, however, with hypecr;tical
professions OF friendship and respect. plan.
ted camps of soldiers all along our southern
border; seized BY military power. the stock
on our railroads within their reach in defiance
Of chartered rights; impudently enlisted
soldier upon our soil for their camps whom
they ostentatiously marched through their
territory! They made constant raids into
this State; robbed us of our property in
suited our people seized some Of our citi-
zenS, and carried them away, as prisoners,
into the Confederate States Our military
was demoralizcd by the treachery of its chief
olhcer IN command and many of his subor-
dinates, until 1t became more an arm of the
| Confederate States than a Guard of the State
OF Kentucky. Thus exposed to wrongs and
indignltlcs, with no power prepared to pre-
vent or resent them, some of the citizens of
this State formed camps under the Federal
Government, for the defense and protection
ofthe State of Kentucky. Whatever might
have been thought Of the policy once, recent
events have proved that they were formed
none too soon. iao tlIl
In this condition we found Kentucky when
the Legislature met on the first Monday in
September. We still hoped to avoid war
on our own soil. We were met by assur.
ances from the President of the Confeder
ate States thatour position should be respec.
ted; ; but the ink was scarcely dry with which
the promise was written, when we were start
led by the news that our soil was invaded,
and towns in the southwest of our State oc.
cupied by Confederate armies. The Gov.
ernor OF Tennessee disavowed the act, and
protested his innocence Of it. His commits
sioners at Frankfort professed the same in
nocence OF the admitted wrong; but our
warnings to leave were only answered by
another invasion in the southeast of the State
and still more direct and deadly assault
upon the very heart Of the State by way of
n 10 tha, 4
OF such magnitude. skillfully directed, show
that the assault on Kentucky was precon.
certcd, prepared and intended long before.
The excuses made for any of them but add
insult to injury. We shall not repeat them,
They are but excuses for acts intended, with
out any excuse.
The purpose is to remove the theater of
the war from the homes Of those who wick
edly originated it to those of Kentucky, and
to involve this State in the rebellion. This
purpose appeared to be well understood in
the Seeded States. They need the terrific
~ of Kentucky, and are determined to have
it, i it must be by blood and conquest.
Thus forced into war, we had no choice
but to call on the strong arms and brave
hearts of Kentucky to expel the invader
from our soil, and to call for the aid of the
Federal Government, as we had a right to
do under the Federal Constitution
Our foes would dictate terms to a brave
people upon which we can have peace We
are required to join them in their unwarrant-
cd rebellion, become accessory to their crimes,
and consent to sacrifice the last hope of per-
manently upholdiug republican institutions
or meet their invaslons as it become. Ken
tuckians.
We believe we have done our duty to a
chivalric people, who have forborne long,
but will never fail, as last resort, to resent
an injury and punish an insult. We should
hold ourselves unworthy to represent you if
we had done less. The only error, we fear,
Is that we have not been as prompt, you
may think, rs the occasion demanded. -
Thrice have the revolutionists appealed to
the ballot box, in this State, and thrice have
the people expressed, by overwhelming ma
jOrities, their determination to stand by the
Union and its Government They have not
been active in this war, not from indiffer-
ence or want of loyalty, but in the hope of|
better promoting restoration of the Union
and checking the rebellion by that course.
Our hope of an amicable adjustment, and u
desire fol. peace, led US to forbear, until for
bearance has ceased to he viitue. Tde at
tempt to destroy the Union Of these States
we believe to be crime, not only against
Kentucky, but against all mankind. But
up to this time We have left to others to
vindicate, by arms, the integrity of the Gov
ernment. The Union is not only assailed
now, hut Kentucky is herself threatened
with subjugation by a lawless usurpation. u
The invasion is carried on with a ruthless
destruction of property, and the lives and
liberties of our people, that belongs only to
savage warfare.
We have no choice but action--prompt
and decided. Let US show the insolent in |
yaders that Kentucky belongs to Kentuck-
ians, and that Kentucky valor will vindicate |
Kentucky's honor. We we're unprepared
because unsuspecting, An insolent and
treacherous invader tells the people that
their Legislators have betrayed them; and he |
comes with fire and sword to correct their
error; by crusade against property, liberty,
and life.
Young men Of Kentucky, to arms to
protect the homes of your fathers, mothers,
and sisters. Sound the tocsin on every hill
and in every valley, until Kentucky shall
drive the insolent invader from her soil.
j. H. HARNBY,
GEO. H. YEAMAN,
NATHANIEL WOLFE,
TouN w RrNNrsy