The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-10-03
The CRISIS I'M KENTUCKY.
ADDRESS OF THE LEGISLATURES TO THE
PEOPLE OF KEsrUcKY.

!. - We have ardeutly desired peace, and
hoped to save Kentucky from the ealam'
tiles of war. When the Federal author
lilies deemed Ii necessary to employ force
In self.defense, and 10 execute the laws .ol
the Government, we assured our South.
ern neighbors of our purpose not to take
up arms voluntarily against them, noIWi'h-
standing their wicked attempt to destroy
the Government, from which we and our
| fathers have received the greatest benefits,
Every effort was made, buth before aud
after the employment of force. to effect
some compromise and settlement that
would restore the Union and prevent the
efuson Of blood a -'I -Ft 4
| The Federal Government did not insist
upon our active aid in furnishing troops.
seeming contenIifwe obeyed the laws aud
executed them upon our soil. Those en- i,
gagged 10 rebellion. however. with bypo.
critical professions of friendship and re-
spect, planted camps of soldiers all along
our southern border; seized. by military
power. the stock on our. railroad within
their reach. in defiance Of chartered rights
impudently enlisted soldiers upon our
soil for lhsir camps, whom they oBtenta-
Iiously marched through their territory.
They made constant raids into this State
robbed US Of our property; insulted, our
people, seized some Of our citizens and
carried them away, as prisoners into the
Confederate States. Our military was
demoralized by the treachery of its chief
officer in command, and many of bis sub.
o.dinates. until it became more an arm Of
the Confederate States than Guard OF
the State Of Kentucky. Thus exposed TO
wrongs and ipdiguities, with no power
10 prevent or resent them, some of tho
citizens Of this State formed camps under
the Federal Government, for the defense
and protection Of the State Of Kentucky.
Whatever might have been thought Of the
policy once, recent events have proved
that they were formed none too soon.
In this condition wo found Kentucky
when the Legislature met on the first day
Of September. We srlll hoped to avoid
war on our own soil. We we're met by
assurances from the President Of the Com
fcderate States that our position should
be respected; but the ink was scarcely
dry..wilh the promise was written, when
wa were startled by the news that oul soil
was invaded, aud towns in the southwest
Of our State occupied by Confederate ar,
mics. The Governor Of Tennessee disa-
vowed the act, aui protested his innocence
OF it. His COMM mssioIeTs at Frankfort
professed the same innocence Of the ad.
mitied wrong; but our warnings to leave
were onl y answered by another invasion
in the Southeast The State, and q atill
more direct and deadly assault upon the
very heart Of the State by the way of
Nashville road. These suddenirrup!ions
Of such magnitude, skillfully directed,
show that the assault on Kentucky was
Preconcerted. 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, without any excuse.
The purpose 10 TO removsthe thea!er Of
the war from the homes OF those who
wiokedly originated it to those of Ken
lucky, and to involve this State in the 70.
belion. This purpose appeared to be
well understood in tho Seeded States.---
They need the territory Of Kentucky and
are bound 10 hveil, II it must DO by blood
and conquest. .t.. !
Thus forced into war. we had no choice
but to call on the strong arms aud bravo
hearts Of Kentucky to expel the invader
from our soil and 10 call for tho aid OF
the Federal Government. us wo had
right to do under tho Federal Constitu.
tion. ......af ..
Our foes would dictate terms TO a brave
people upon which we can have no peace.
We are required TO join them in their un.
warranted rebellion. become accessory to
their crimes. and consent 10 sacrifice the
last hope Of permanently upholding re.
publican institutions, or meet lheil inya.
sions as it becomelh Kenluckians.
We believe wo have tone our duty to
chivalrio people, who have forboine long.
but will never fail as a last resort. to rs.
sent an injury and punish insult. We
should hold ourselves unworthy TO repre-.
sent you It We had done less. The only
brror, we fear, is that wa have not been
Is prompt, you may think, as the occa.
'ion demanded, Thrice have he reyolu-
lionists appealed TO the ballot. box. in this
State, and thrice have the people express.
sd. by overwhelming majoriliss, their de.
termination to stand by the Union aud ITS
Government They have not been active
u this war. not from indifference or want
II loyalty. but IN hope Of better promo.
log a restoration Of the Union aud oheok.
ng tho rebellion by that course. Our
loPe of an anicable adjustment. aud a
losiro for peace. led us 10 forbenr. until
orbeAranco has ceased 10 bsa virtue. -
Ihe attempt to destroy the Uniono Of these
itates We believe 10 bc q crime. not only
gainst Kentucky. bu. against all msn
ind. But up TO this lime We have, lef
0 others to viudiOate, by aIms. the intcg.
ity OF tho Government. The Unoin is not I
nly assaiSd now. but Kentucky ia her.
eit threatened with subjugAtion by alAw. II
eSS usurpation. The Invasion is carried /
n with ruthless destruction of proper. q
7. aud tho lives aud liberties Of our peo, ;
10. that belongs only TO savage warfare. 9
we have no choice but action prompt q
nd decided Let us show the insolent v
lvaderO that Kentucky belongs to Ken. 0
lokians, and that Kentucky valor will Y
indicate Ksniuoky'S houOr, We are un. Il
repaired because unSuSpsOtiOg. An in. a
'lent aud treachetous invader tells the N