Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-10-24
The Indifference Of Kentucky
UnlOnistS. =

A correspondent of one of our dailies,
writing from Louisville, October 7th, says
Why is il, then, that one hears COM
plants in every direction, that enlistments
do not progress with anything like the
expected rapidity? Why is it that there
is an evident disposition among the great
mass of so-called Union men to assume
adu continue the part of lookers-on,
instead of participation in, the struggle
about commencing in this State =
Why is it that they are not only unwilling
to take to arms, but TO contribute means,
as illustrated by the past, that neither
here, nor any where else, dollar has been
raised by private subscription for the sup
port Of volunteers, etc.2
The truth is that there is passive 10y
atty arising, not SO much from fervent at
tachment to the Union, as from conserv-
ative disposition, love of the good old
order of things, and dread of the natural
disastrous consequences of revolution
They are willing to continue their fealty
to the Union; they would fain see its dis
memberment prevented. But, on the
other hand, they apparently little relish
the prospect of fighting for it themselves,
particularly as they would have to oppose
in battle citizens Of their own State, and,
in thousands of instances, even their own
kindred. Hence they are glad and anx-
ious to see Federal troops pour into their
State, as each additional man of these re-
duces the necessity of engaging in the
struggle themselves.
l have not exaggerated in the above
The truth of what have written is felt,
though not expressed, here and through
out the State, by every disinterested devo-
tee to the cause of the Union. To be
sure, the rule above set forth is not with
out exceptions. On the contrary, there
are scattered throughout the State thou
sands, and, perhaps, tens of thousands, as
ardent and selfsacrfcing in their devotion
to the Union as can be found any where in
the free States. But the attitude of the
mass of the so-called Uuion men certainly
calls for such structures as the above.
AS evidence of this the sluggish pro.
gress of enlstments here in Louisville, the
very focus of Kentucky Unionism, may be
well cited. When nearly three weeks age
the uprising of the secessionists under
Buckner placed Louisville in Imminent
danger, about twelve hundred, mostly
young men, Home Guards, went on the
Nashville road to check the expected ad
vance of the rebels. They were sworr
and served for ten days, at the expiration
of which they all came back to the city,
Upon their return there was good dea
of talk for several days. about their rein
listing en- masse for the war. But up tc
this time, of the twelve hundred, hardly /
hundred, as l was informed last night by
recruiting officer, had thus far made good
their word. Crowds of vigorous young
men can be daily seen hanging idly about
the street corners and bar rooms, but the
recruiting offices remain empty.
The same remarks as above will apply
in great measure to the apathy of the
poeplo of Western Virginia, who seem
glad to have Indianians and Orleans fight
for them, while they lounge around home,
or look Iistlessly on.