Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-14
mrssAoE OF THE GOVERNOR OF
KENTUCKY.
Yemen o. %" and S House of Representatives:


startling character have followed in rapid succesaon-
The comparative quiet in which the puohc mnd was 'nen
ulled by the semofcisl announcement oil pac'hc poF
lev on the part Of the Federal Administration mas oeen
broken and the patriotic hope for peaceful souton Oh
our political complications inspired by tne PROPOSED inc,
diatoris interposon of the Border oiaVe States has
been disapponed BY the sudden Development OF ~ eV
IDENTITY Predetermined purpose oil Tue f!eslen anu u'a
supporers the attempted execution OF whch mas not ony
sealed the separation of the States but has nVoea ne
country in civil war, and, IL not success,y 'e'i''
will proye fatal TO the liberties OF the people.
PAYERS not conferred by the Constitution nave Deeh
rrned nv the President CT the United States stand
ing army of gigantic proportions, gatheiea exclusively
from one section aud mad with sectional hae IS being
aniy Organized without authority OF law the Federal
Cpni,aI il become a military camp and martial law prac
,Iv reigns in the District Of Columbia the Southern
at IA bockaded by the armed vessels Of the Federal
and the commerce Of our Western rivers Is arrest
ed by the interp0ston OF military force; large bodies
of armed men are collected in military posts along the
line Of our Northern frontier impeding the lawful trade
and menacpg the safety of our peaceful citizens; in
word the President of the United States has, without
the advice sanction Of either branch of Congress- de-
carcd of suhjugaticn exermhation against the
peope of sovereign States and with ex-
traordnary energy gathering his strength for the I'M
natural conflict You now called upon, standing in
the presence of violated Constitution, subvered Gov
ernmeut aud broken Union, to adopt such measures
as in your om may be demanded Tor the honor oil
/
Seven States Of the late American Union, for causes
unnecessary now to discuss have severed their relations
with the Government of the United States and establish
ed new Confederacy. That Government is now Tally
organized in all its departments, and seems to receive
the cordial and undivided allegiance OF the entire popu
ation within its limits. The State OF Virginia has Tor
may asserted her independence and entered into an oil
lance with the Confederate States LOOKING 70 an carry
admission full and equal membership The States OF
North Carolina, Tennessee and ArKansas VIII uhaouo
eeiy at the earliest practicable moment ESTABLISH s'ar
relations IN Missouri Maryland and Delaware, strong
public sentiment avcrs Ike step, and the subject Is
now receiving the thoughtful attention OF the people
and authorities of those States The deliberate acton o.
ten sovereign States moving in the capacity Oh pohcai
governments and sustained By the approving voice oil
millions of American freemcn, has been treated oy the
President as an resurrection Of dsordery citizens, which
he proposes TO que without the sanction or cooperation
of te Legislative branch Of the Government lie has IN
the PROSECUTION pi that unhoy purpose, called out Tue
mi. Of the states Amounting IN the aggregate to 1885,
600 men, to be enlisted toe PERIODS afyirG from three
months TO three years anl this gigantic army, coed
ing in proportions any military force before organ
lied upon this continent 10 rapid progress OF organi-
zano. Il daily cost to the Government OF over three
quarters 0. i4iEen Of dollars.
carwas made upna ..e .eF four regiments OF militia,
the qu ota assigned TO Kentucky OF TINS army prompt.
" responded TO the Secretary of War that Kentucky bad
no troops TO furnish for the wicked purpose oil suodu-
irp her sister States have thus, as far ss lay IN my
po.er entered the public protest OF Kentucky against
this unEaG.ai easGre, and against her assumption OF
sny paYt OF the enoruous debt being contracted.
virginia North Carolina Tenn see lrbepsas aud Mis-
sour have each emphatcaiy refused to sontibtte any
portion of the quota demanded Of them. Maryland h-S
not vet responded to the call by the tender OF single
regiment But the Lou-slevehodine States, without an
excepG. lave with uuwontet a!acrlty exceeding any
zeal heretoorc e. bbted by thcm responded TO the call
and sent forth their troops Borrower, united pubic
sentiment IL the Northern States sesn3 10 sustain all
these extraordinary usurplons Of the tesiie". wh
degree Sf enthusiasm amounting to the frenzy % lanai
| icism.
10 view of these eyents i4 lille longer to refuse to
recospze the fac, that the late American mon 10 dis
solved that ten slayeholdng States ae no" prnoh~~Iiy
united in separate aud independent government, and
that exists between those st4tes 80 com lmen anu
the non sayeholding State, acting ahdcT tue Dhied
States Government Tbs avOsedpurpose OF tue phheu
States Government to compel the allegiance OF The peo-
pe of the seeded States and euDrcc The supremacy OF s
;urisdicrion n rcnrhou their limits. The achievement OF
this eGi involves the armed Invasion oil he sec ded 9ate
aud the Euiltej slaughter 81 their citizens ne soe Oh
iert of the Confederate States. as authoi't'ey an
rouneed & 10 manta.n their Independence and govern
Themselves The condition o! peace, "a avoWed by the
President OF the United States - the oVerEroF pi inc
Confederate States Government and the te1pcuo M On,
psope Of tie South unressng submission to the uL'cd
p;tsd states Govs,g.aent administered upon principles
Of the uotca platform ado.,GG By the nominating Con
yeation at Chicago The Confederate hHtes make no
oth.r condition OF the cessation of hostiuea than ITO
be let alone"
What attitude shall Kentucky occupy IN this dep'ora
hl, conflict Small she continue her alliance WIN lhs
Northern States adhere the United States Govern
ment and assume her portion al the enormous "ar deo
Ls;ug incurred? Small she declare her own lndepeh
do. and urcpare sngle-haudvd TO maintain ity Sha
she ly herself EiA the remaining slave States and make
common cause With them DO not propose 10 discuss
tbi. subject. | recommend that teee momentou' qles
tons asctiug so nearly and vitag the as-resi rights
the liberties tie safety and the honor OF our peohe pc
referred TO their sovereign arbrameut Both TIE Ike
cDve and Legislative departments o. our state Govern
| ment were constituted time when the pubic mlnd
did not anticipate the grave issues now pressing 1r 9oiu
ton We were elected two years ago at time wheh no
such subjects those under consideration were re-
,,Ived in the public mind Let not attemp. 10 en-
rlov orr official power thus acquired to control this
mighty QUESTION Rather let US provide legal and Or
deIv mode for fl deliberate and final disposition, by
hern selyes o! their ovn iS7nies Not only does this
ul.n of action commend itself = ne as eminenty lst
and rieb, but verify believe it te sur st. ii not the
ouly mode BY which be secured that -aanl@tY OF
feeling and unity of action SO necessary to snaO'e
| Kantncky to noye with the dignity and power
| answarable 10 her historic character. In view oil
the distracted condition OF public sentiment IN our
Safe the violent antagonism already EXCITED, ahe
| daily becoming more emb ttered, the esp'--s,oDs
Of nubIic onnion. through county meetings and pri-
vate petilons urging ana demanding that opportu-
nifty be given people to pass upon tbs subject al
the nols and the manifest danger OF internal commo-
| ton | can see no other path of domestic peace and
safety than through reference OF the question 10 h
reonle To their decision, expressed according to all
the forms of law every and loyal hentuckan VIII
bov IN Iowa, obedience. | cannot err when say that
unanmity Of feeling among ourselves, aud united action
nv our neouIe Is oct ONLY the first desire OF every pa
trio but should be the ve.y highest aud controlling am
of your legislation. appeal to 5og, therefore, as you
hold desr the peace of the Commonwealth, pot TO ~
more the feelings of the people in every locality o. me
State but recognise the e&istug dIHefeHces Vi
ouinon touching the duy Of Kentucky aud secure the
loya acouiescefce and willing allegiance OF all the peo-
nile by referring these mighty issues 70 that tribunal
| which alone can command the obedience OF all YOU'D
urge no hasty or uconsiderRte action would be lar
from advising any rash measures but would greatly
prefer that the action OF the people IN the premises De
taken with all the thoughtful consideration ana renee
ton which the occasion demands. renew the recon-
mendlt,on Of previous message Tor the passage ol
law providing for the submission TO the people OF the
nu,st,on of Convention and the election of delegates.
When lst | had the LOnqr Of communicating WIN
you touching the condition OF oqr Federal affairs,
signied nv ready purpose operate With you IN any
proper measures looking first 10 the restoration oil hd
ly relations between all the States ana ialng III tha 10
their peaceful separation But at the same ume dh
not conceal my apprehensons OF the iuuly OF all such
efforts and the carly realization of the dreul issues new
upon US. then urged active aad energetic steps 10
pace the State in an attitude Of thorough military de-
fence regret that | unable at that time TO I'M
press upou the impending necessity OF snch prepara
ton. Allow again TO commend the sun 10 you,
| as one emandng immeCiate energetic Afternoon rue
public necessity has been so clearly tIhpited oy aIe
logic of events need elaborate statement we
cannot conceal the fact that our State s comparatively
deenceess. The very homes and hresldts oil our peo
pie are unprotected against invasion IRON wihou'' OF
| serve insurrecton within. Every mail orirsS 10 me
the most earnest appeals from the people, 10 all oca's
ma