Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-22


The proclamation of the Governor of Kentucky
which appears elsewhere in this mornings paper.
will be read with interest. 1t will be. that the
Governor intends carry out, in good faith and in
its true meaning the doctrine of neutrality, which
has been adopted by the Legislature of the State,
and he therefore emphaticay warns the belligerent
70 abstain from from all offensive acts or from any
invasion of the soil of Kentucky. The warning is
intended TO apply TO the COME erate StstetSs well
as the Government of the United States. The Con
federste States will sacred observe by the waning
and will never, BY deed word, infringe upon the
rights of sister State that desires to occupy
trial position in this contest. All that the Confede
rate States have ever asked is their rights. They
ask TO be let alone by the domineering North. aud
if any sister State, that has always observed and
respected their rights, and that abstains from
assisting their enemy in the atrociOus effort TO sub
jugate them erects up1n her border the barrier Of
neutrality, they will regiousy respect the claim,
as tribute not only to the gallant of the com
monwealth demanding this right. but the highest
evidence of their devotion to State sovereignty upon
which their Government is based. Most assuredly
Tennessee, the neighbor of Kentucky and her
twin sister in the old Union will never violate this
neutrality. Tennessee has preferred different
destiny She has taken her position by the side Of
the South, and come veal or woe. peace
she means to adhere to it and to cas-: her fortunes
with her kindred and friends, her oppressed broth
ers of the Confederate States But she sccOrds 10
Kentucky the came high privilege to choose h r
own destiny that she has ever Claimed for herself ;
and if either from policy proud spirit of indie
pendence. Kentuckians choose TO hold aloof FRI N
this great contest Tennessee will respect her attl>
tude and observe towards her that spirit Of cour-
tesy, kindness and sympathy which is due to her
brother and peer.
Will the tyrants of the North pursue the same
course! Will they. too, respect the neutrality
of a sovereign State? Or will they endeavor TO
reduce her bercsIh tLtir, yoke as they have
done in the case of Missouri, whose women and
children they have shot dowa in cold blood in their
streets! We pr, dict they Il revcr do it Whon
they find that Kentucky is earnest IN enforcing
fairly and impartially neutrality from them, they
will come forward with the plea that hentu, ky is
member of the Union and is bound TO obs, rye al
legiance to its Government. While themseh e.
crushing out the spirit Of the constitution ard
exercising all the powers of an absolute desp, t,
raising and supporting armies which is the gr, at
and king war upon sovereign States, without au-
tbority from Congress and contrary TO the Consti-
tuition. even if done by Congress thsy have the in>
science to proclaim that these whom they wish to
Cypress and destroy must obey that Constitution,
whose vitality they have thus crushed out.
Kentucky will thus be compelled TO abandon her
neutrality and to take up arms against Govern
ment that will not respect observe her rights. as
neutral, and drive the insolent AMI cruel opp e.
sors and invaders from her soil. When she shall
driven, by tyranny and insult to this position, VT
are permitted to say, that never lover sped to the
bower of his lady-love athcr summons with greater
alscrity or more bounding heart than will the vol
unteers of Tennessee rally 10 the rescue Of their
twin sister to assist her gallant sons in defending
her invaded coil from the hOides of the wanda
Nnrfh