Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-11-22
Vol. VII.---No. Is.

the interests of peace when an opportu-
nifty should offer. This is the recorded
will Of the State as expressed by the peo-
pie. But those who assume to represent
you have violated that will. They have
attempted to burden you with enormous
taxes to prosecute war you abhor. and
to sustain government which has tram
Piled under foot every safeguard of cou-
stitution which was the only bead of our
political connection with it, while they
have allowed that Government to cut you
kqF from tho only avenues Of trade which
would enable you to pay these taxes
They have invited military force Of that
Government to take possession Of the
State, and practically supersede the State
Government, aud they have seen, with
complacency, these foreign soldiers seize,
imprison and pursue hundreds of your
Observation-Disclosures without crime
over the plains and mountains of Ken
lucky. In word, they have attempted
without consulting you, and against your
recorded wishes, to place you in active
hostility to your Southern brethren, and
to fix your political destiny with tho
North.
Whatever may be the condition or mo-
tives Of the members at Frankfort. they
have exceeded their authority. No le-
gislativo assembly or other body, other
than one elected by your sovereign voice
for that purpose, has the right, in this
great revolution, to determine finally your
political future. The people, although
taken by surprise, and almost unarmed,
have risen to vindicate their wishes, aud
expel the Northern invaders. The ca
gerness with which their aid has been
invoked by those who have plunged tho
State into her present unhappy condition,
is the strongest proof of their conviction
that but for the presence Of these SOL
diers, the action of the members at Frank
fort would be rcpudiated by the people.
When tho Northern invaders shall be
sent back across the Ohio river-when
the State shall be relieved of all troops
from abroad, and the people Of Kentucky,
by fair election, shall determine their
destiny, it will be the clear duty of every
citizen to acquiesce or to retire from tho
State.
For those who, denied by the Legis-
lainra tho s4..14aa4:~-> 1.---1--AI--- L----Ll--L
citizen, have been delivered over to the
tender mercies Of foreign mercenaries,
and hunted like partridges on the noun
tains, what remains but Imprisonment,
exile Or resistance? AS one of them, /
intend to resist. / will avoid conflict
with Kentuckians, except in necessary
self-defence, but | will unite with my
fellow-ctizens to resist the invaders who
have driven us from our homes. To
this course we are impellcd by the highest
sense ofduty, and the irresistible instincts
Of manhood TO defend your birthright
and mine, which is more precious than
domestic case, or property, or life, / ex-
change, with proud satisfaction, term
Of six years in the Senate Of tho United
States, for the musket of q soldier.
This letter is written at the first mo-
ment since my expulsion from home that
! could place my feet upon the soil Of
Kentucky have not been able to sec
or communicate with my friend and col
league, Gov. Powell, nor do | know what
course he will think it proper to take.
But this you and know--that his con-
duct will be controlled by pure motives.
Your fcllow-citizen,
JONI G. BREcgINRIDGE.
Bowling Green, Ky, Oct. 8, 1861.