Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-19
THE RICHMOND WHIG.
LETTER FROM GEN. FOLK TO TIE KENTUCKY
COMMISSIONERS.
COLUMBUS, KY, Sept. Oh, 1861,

COLUMBUS, Ky, Sept, Oh, 1861,
To JoE" A. Johnston, Chairman Of Committee Senate
Of Kentucky.
Sir: have the honor 70 acknowledge the receip. OF
your letter of this date conveying copy OF
liliOn OF the he Senate o. Kentucky under which
mttes of which you charm ,was rased"for the par
poee OF considering tte rceorc occupation o! Hickman
aud other points il Kentucky by the Confederate troops
and that they take into consideration the reported
paton Of Padacah and other points in Kennedy by the
Federal authoriGCs aud report thereon; also, that
they be directed to obtain al. the facts they IL ref
erence TO tho rscent occupation Of Kentucky soil by the
Confederate and Federal forces and report in wiling, at
as early day az practicable"
From the terms OF the resolution il appears your Of
fce as committee men, restricted merely to COLLECT
ing the fac:s in reference the occupation of
Kentucky soil by the Confederate and Federal forc@s,
and port thereon In writing a. early day az pcs
sble In answer 10 these resolutions have respectfully
to say that far az the Confederate forces
ed the fnc's plain and shortly stated. The govern
ment which they represent recognizing fundamental
principle the right oil sovereign States 10 take such p)
shon as they choose in regard TO their rl,oDs With
Other States leed by that principle 20 coacete
TO Ker tucky the rigt TO assume the position Of neural
ty which she had chosen the plssng strugslh Tits
il has done oa al occasions aud without exception.
The csss audcd TO by His EIccloIcy, Gov Asgoin, in
his recent message raids prtsun' are the cases OF
the Cheney and Orr. Toe former was the M
authorized aud unTecogliz act OF certain ouzens OF
Alabama and the latter the act Of citS1ns OF Tennessee
aud 9th r. and was an &C: OF Iefrisal They cannot,
therefore, be charged 10 any as acts of the Con!et
crate Government
The frs; AMI ouy Instance in which the neutrality Of
Kentucky has been dsregardec is that iu which tho
troops under my command, aud by my direction, took
possession Cf the place nov held and much OF tie
territory between and the Tennessee line Ieces
sary for me 20 pass over in order reach It, This act
nds abundant Justification in the history t the
sols granted to the Federal Government by Kentucky
eyer suoe the began, notwithstanding the position
Of neutrality which she bad assumed and the frnnrs,
with which she proclaimed her intention to maintal it!
That history shovs the folo Eng among other facts
In January the House Of Representatives of Kentucky
passed auticoerciOn Tesclut onsonly four dissenting
The Governor, in Nay, Issued h:l neutrality prccl mi-
ton The address of the Union Central Committee, in
cu1ng Mr. James Speed sr Prentice aud other pToni-
nent Union men, in April proclaimed LeutFslity as tho
policy OF Kentucky, ard claimed that attempt 10 co
erce the South, should induce Kentucky to make com.
mon cause with her aud tko part in the contest on her
side "whout couLtiug the cost" Toe Union speakers
and papers with few exceptions claimed up the lsst
election that The Union vote for strict neutrality and
peace These facts aud events gave ASSURANCES Of The
INTEGRITY Of the ed purpose CT your State aud
were content si,i the position she assumed.
Since the election, however she has allowed tho ses
ure IL her port Paducah Of property fciizes Of the
CoaCsdGratc States; che has, by her members IN the
Congress OF ths UdGei Sates, voted supplies of men
and money TO carry the agirst the Confederate
States; she has sowed the Federal Gov rnmeut 10 cut
iuber from her forests for tn purpose OF building
ed boats for the invasion of the Southern Sates she Is
permitting TO te enlisted in her territory troops not o1y
OF her owa cz,n hut the citizens Of otter Sates for
The purpose uf beng armed and used In oifsusivs
isre against The Confederate States. At Camp Robr
SON. IL the county Of Gsrrprd, thCrc ten tEOu
slud uoops, If the newspapers be relied upon, ia
which men from Tennessee, Ohio Indiana and Illinois
are mustered with KentuckaDs into the service Of Uni
ted States and armed by thai Government for the pur
pose OF giving all ,hc dsaiscted IN OF the Con
fderate States aud Of carrying out the designs Of thai
government for their ugston. Notwithstanding all
thesc and other acts OF similar character tbe Coz de-
rate Sst-G have continued respect the altitude which
Kentucky had assumed u neutral and foreboEne from
rcJ.a in the hope tina. Kentucky would yet enforce
spsct r her position on the part Of he government OF The
United States. Our patient expectation has been dsap-
pointed and il only when perceived that this con-
tnued indifference 10 rights aud satey about
TO culuna;e in the seizure OF important part OF her
territory by the United States forces for offensive opera
tons against the Confederate States that regard Tor self
presi rystion demanded OF us TO seize il Ia advance.
We here, therefore rot ony by choice but OF ne
c,ssty, and nave had the honor TO cay, IN the COM
uiuuication addressed 20 bis EIcelency Gov hagoin
copy OF which is herewith csed and submitted as
part Of my repy so now repeat in answer 10 your re-
quest that prepared 20 agree to withdraw the Uou-
lederAte troops from kentucky provided she will sgree
that the troops Of the Federal Government b5 withdraw
simultaneously, With guarntee (Ehich will give rccip
rocaly los the Confederate Goycrnmen that the Fed
or toors shfl be aloEed 20 enter occupy any
part Of Kentucky for the future.
In view Of the facts thus submitted cannot but think
the void at lsrge viii fud cicul. TO appreciate tho
'procurd astonshmenl with which you cay the people
Of Kentucky received the intelligence Of the occupation
Of this pace.
have the honor to bs, respectfully, your Obedient
servant, etc., LEoSlDAs FOLK
Eaior General Commanding.