Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-01
address OF the L Legislature TO the Peo-
pie OF Kentucky. 4-L.- -


In this extraordinary crisis, we deem it
a duty we, your representatives, owed to
Won and ourselves 70 say a few words TO
YOU as to the condition Of tile G. Inmon-
wealth and the duties we have been called
upon to perform. 49,
We have ardently desired peace and
hoied TO save Kentucky from the calitinities
of war. When the federal authorities DEEM
ed 1t necessary to employ force in seif-de-
fence, aud to execute the laws of the Gov
ernmeut, we assured our Southern neigh
bors of our purpose not 20 take up arms
voluntarily against them, Notwithstanding
their wicked attempt TO destroy the Gov
ernment, from which we and our fathers
have received the greatest benefits. Every
effort was made. bott before and after the
employment of force, to effect some COM
promise aud settlement that would restore
the Union and prevent the etfhsion of
blood.
The FederdI Government did not insist
upon our active aid in furnishing troops,
seeming content it we obeyed the laws and
executed them upon our soil. Those en-
gagged in. rebellion, however, with hypo-
critical professions Of friendship and re-
spect, planted camps of soldiers all along
our Southern border; seized, by military
power, the stock on orr railroad within
their reach, in defiance of chartered rights;
impndentIy enlisted soldiers upon our soil
for thei, camps, whom they ostenhItiously
marched through their territory. They
made constant raids into this Stnte rob-
bed US of our property insulted our peo-
Pile; seized some of our citizens. and car
ried them away, as prisoners, into the
Con ederite States. Our military was de-
morali1ed by tue treachery Of its chief
officer in command, and many of his sub
oriinates, until it became more an arm Of
the Confederate States thhn II Guard Of
the State of Kentncky. Thus exposed to
wrongs aud indignities, with no power
prepared to prevent or resent them, some
of the citizens of this State formed camps
under the FederaI Government, for the de-
fence and protection Of the State Of Ken
lucky Whatever might have been thought
Of the policy once, recent events have
proved that they were formed none TOO
soon.
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 assurances from the President OF the
Confederate States that imposition should
be respected; but the ink WAS scarcely dry
with which the promise was written, when
we we're startled by the news that our soil
was invaded, aud towns in the Southwest
err portion of the State occupied by Con-
federate armies. The Governor of Teunes-
see disavoWei the act, and protested his
innocence of it. His commissioners at
Frankfort professed the same innocence of
the admitted wrong; but our warnings to
leave were only answered by another inTa-
sion IN the Southeast portion Of the State,
and still more deadly and direct assault
upou the very heart Of the State, by way
OF the Nashville road. These sudden ir-
ruptions of such magnitude, skillfullY di-
reeted, show that the assault on Kentucky
was preconeerted, prepared and intended
long before. The excuses made tor any OF
them but add insult 10 injury. We shall
not repeat them. They. are but excuses
for acts intended, without any excuse.
4 THE purpose is to remove the theatre Of
the war from the horles OF those who
wickedIy originated Il to those of Ken
lucky, and % involve this State in the re-
belliou. This purpose appeared 70 belEelI
understood In the seeded States. They
need the territory Of Kentucky, aud hre de-