New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-07


that, unless removed, our people will be sooner or
later embroied in the war, recommend that you pass
resonIous requesting the disbandng, or removal from
the Se Of any and all military bodies not under the
boiity cf the State. The tone Of the letter OF the
Pre.ident indicates that be will respect yo1r VIII N
shaping the policy Of The Statej and II duly advised
by you through resolutions, cannot doqbb lhat tnis
most alarming cause OF excitement ana danger % lno
peace Of t' e Commonwealth will be removed. hen-
Incky is, believe at this time the only state IN inc
Union where the Constitution and hws OF the country,
both State and Natio, al are respected We yet ENJOY
the freedom Of speech and Of the press Oar Sta:e
YET care retreat from the OppIesScns Of ootn
Let u3 ding 10 our position aud policy a5 the only hope
Of peace aud safety.
The continued Introduction Of Federal guns into the
State, and their distribution to private czens I'M
WaTant by law, Is another source OF constant hl,a-
tion, ard a fruitful cause OF violence aud trouble
Non could in way efecually contribute 10 inc
maintenance Of peace within the State than by arresJ
ng this prolific source Of excitement, irritation, and
violence.
Numerous eases Of aqqressions upon private rights
by both the belligerenJ Governments have bcen re-
ported 10 me, but in many cases have had no right or
power TO afford the redress dsined. The seizure OF
The steamers w. b. Terry, bya Federal gun boat from
Cairo The Orr by private parties who have carried tor
into Tennessee and OF the Pocahonta. by Confederate
soldiers, referred 70 Of recent occurrence.
To embody the reports in reference TO all these caes OF
wronS would swell this paper JeyoDd is proper d.
mens O In reference 20 the two cases Of seizure OF
the steamers Terry and Orr, submit the report Of DE-.
John NJ. JohnsOn and q letter from Gov Ih9m g.
Hans of Tennessee, to both OF which your attention
lie invited Ia this connection mention also cage OF
recent violence in Harrison County, involving the
killing Of one mau aud the woundiDg Of another. Ny
order 10 Gen. CrtteBden, and bis prompt and ready
execution Of IL, shown by his report, are suOmiteu
to yOu | would recommend this whole subject 70
your attention, and do doubt that in your wisdom
yen will take action 10 to the persons ana
property Of our citizens the much needed protection
\ In regard to national difficulties, my aciion rom
inst TO last, has been dictated by an earnest wish TO
preserve the neutrality and peace u Kentucky. am
not conscious Of any lack Of vigilance effort ON my
part in maintaining the peaceful attitude OF neutraty
which the people Of the State have determined to oc'
cupy. The very cornerstone OF the theory OF the
States Rights party, TO which have always adhefed
is the right of the people Of State, by lawful eX
presiOn of majority thereof, to determine the policy
and the relations Of the Commonwealth. Ny tunc-
tiuns are purely executive, and am bound by my
oath Of Office TO carry cut the lawful VIII OF the peo
pie, whether the policy they prefer accords with nay
own views not Ihe Constitution ia the only bar
rier between the people and the Executive Whicn
reeogoize. / was elected Governor by majority Of
the people who well knew my political sentiments.
Since my election great questions have aIisen which,
ii contemplated in the canvass il was hoped would be
settled by adjustment In the councils Oi the Federal
Government; and these questions unhappily involve
the external relations, the peace and prosperity OF
Kentucky. / deprecated the introduction Of these
questions ard did all could 20 avert the issues. No
nan lives or ever did live. who more honestly aud
earnestly desired 10 uphold and perpeuate the Cnion
by fathul execution Of the Federal Constitution.
Ia the cany0ss which led TO my election as Chief Ez-
ecutiye Mapistrate Of the State coueudediorthe pm
cple 10 which had ever been faithful that the peO
ue oil State ag a distinct aggregate sovereignty had
the 1htul authority to regulate their internal policy
and 10 define their external relations, according TO
tler own pleasure. Since then the people OF this
State have thrice been summoned 10 the pOs and &c.
cording 70 my Interpretation of their votes, have
pressed themselves in favor OF preserving the neutral
,ry ard peace of the State l have construed these
expressons as Simplifying that the people not yet
pripared 20 dissolve their relation 10 the Old Union,
aud were not TO be employed in any way, directly or
indirectly parsans for or against either of the bel
cerebts In the unhappy tTatrcidM war between the
Federal and Confederate States. l have also con.
sgued them emphatic refusas TO be made the instru-
meu,s Of coercing the people OF tho Seeded States by
force Of arms. have never been able 70 constue the
votes Of the people of Kentucky meaning that
constitutional aggressons could be sanciedby any dis
ul.y of numerical or military pOSer. The COns.i-
tuition would be a snare, a fraud, mOckery, if the
roLts which il undertakes to protect may be violated
by any majority, however large.
When sectional party was enthrored in power,
pledged not Ouiy not 20 cease the dangerous agitation,
but 70 continue il regardless of the Consultation aud
the iudicary-wbon tho sectional party had, through
s fepre.enatye official leaders announced It's purpose
10 gc rrepIessbe conflict I'LL all the States should
be Free or all Slave STATES, meaning thereby that all
should he Freceyen tnen, the statesmen OF kentucky,
earnestly anxious to preserve and lerpeiuae the
|
presued the olive branch TO their Northern brethren,
In the form Of Oosed amendments to the Constitu-
tion. Those amendments, presented by distinguished
Senator from Kentucky, proposed no aggression upon
any Northern Iights. They asked no new nghts Tor
the South. They simply required fresh guarantees for
existing nights and they demanded less for the South
than the Supreme Cont had solemnly decided the
South 10 DO constuuonaly entitled to enjoy. Ttese
amendments, accepted by the North, would have been
satisfactory u the South. The now President and the
late Secretary Of State OF the Confederate States then
Senators of the United dSaes ayowed their willingness
to accept the Cttenden amendments RS satisfactory to
the South. Their acceptance by the dominant party
In Congress would have diminished no earthly right or
endowment Of the North; added one earthly right
TO the South except pledge OF future tranquility Ia
the enjoyment of existing constitutional rights Tho
olive branch thus rendered rudey repeed by the
North. All OtneIpropoals OF compromise adJ ustmon
and peace were arroganily rejected and the nsolent
menace of coercion was insultingy held an tefr0Tem
over "a free peoplel
correct Interpretation of the viii OF the people Of Ken
tucky sgnIhed by their late votes Undoubtedly, the
peOpe of Kentucky ardently attached TO the Union
established by the fathers and operated according to
the rule of the Constitution. Undoubtedly they have
meant that all civil remedies shall be exhausted before
they will renquish the fond hope of its restoration
and perpetuation. Undoubtedly, they have meant to
wait the exhaustion Of all civil remedies before they
will even consider the question Of assuming new eA-
ternal relations.
All this perfectly understand as the sense of the
people and have cordially respected their meaning
But have never understood the proud, and brave aud
iust-minded freemen Of Kentucky to mean that they
will amely submit to unconstitutional aggression upon
their sacred rights have understood them to
renounce the sentiment and feeling Of sympathy with
the people of aggieyed sister States. Nor can inter-
prot any Of TIER expressions to approval Of
the war to subugate the South. Still less cont
strue any Of their votes meaning that they will SUBJ
nit themselves as Joint instruments IN prosecuting
coerciye war against their Southern brethren. They
haye only meant to say that they still have hope
av,d ,nfth tha IfpfO .pH