Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-10
LETTER FROM GOV. HARRIS, OF TENNESSEE.
ExECUTIvs DEPARTMENT..
3 NGshcille, Tenn Auq 30 1861

LETTER. FROM GOV. HARRIS, OF TENNESSEE.
ExECUTTvs DEPARTMENF.
: NashUilte, Tenn, dug. 80, 1861.
HIS Ercetlency, B. MAGoFFIN:
SIR: | am informed by gentlemen of the
highest responsibility, that on or about the
2lst inst, gun boat. commanded by Federal
officers and manned by Federal troops, aeiz-
ed the steamer Terry" at Paducah. Ken
lucky, and carried her to Cairo. Illinois The
TERRY" L understand, was owned by citi-
zens of your State, who retaliated by Selling
the steamer samuel Orr" mail packet
plying between Evansville, Indiana, aud
Paducsh, and owned by citizens of the for
mer place.
The Orr with her cargo of groceries.
was. ny her captors, run up the Tennessee
ri yer, and now lies under the guns of Fort
Henry, within the State of Tennessee. The
boat and cargo having been brought within
the jurisdiction of Tennessee by citizens Of
Kentucky, and placed in the custody of mil
itary officers under my command, have
deemed it due to you, and the neutrality OF
Kentucky, that l report the facts to you, and
hold the boat and cargo subject to such order
as your Excellency may see proper to make
in the premises.
1t is with profound interest and regret
that | have witnessed recently the open vio-
lation of the neutrality of Kentucky by the
Government of the United States, by the es-
adjustment of military encampments and
other warlike preparations within the terri
torial limits and Jurisdiction of your State.
If we should unfortunately be on the eve of
q collision between our States produced by
the Vaccinations OF a common enemy, | de-
SIRE at this time on the behalf of Tennessee,
| to renew 10 your Excellency, as the official
representative of Kentucky, the assurances
heretofore given that the authorities and peo-
pie of Tennessee have faithfully observed and
| respected the neutrality of your Stale, and
will, if permitted by the authorities and peo-
pie of Kentucky, continue to do so; that no.
thing but hostile acts and demonstrations
against Tennessee and the Confederate
States shall ever initiate the contest between
ourt States, though our citizens of different
Governments, and they at war with each
other. Our people cannot forget the past.
| The srelatiOns aud connections formed in
peace and during an association of three
| fourths OF century, cannot be severed in a
month year. The indignation felt by us
towards the aggressive and vindictive MAORI
ty of the people of the free States has never
been entertained towards Kentuckians.
We feel that socially, commercially, politi-
cally, and geographically, you are so con-
| nected with US as to render hatred and hos
tility anomalous and unnatural. The Con-
federate Government has never demanded,
and we trust and believe never will demand,
tnat we snOuld WautOnly or unJustly infringe
the neutrality OF Kentucky; and our polio y
and intentions in this regard have been not
only expressed, but demonstrated by our
conduct up to this time.
Under these circumstances, we cannot be-
lieve that Kentucky will, at the instigation
of either OF the belligerents, abandon the po-
sition of neutrality 30 lately and solmenly
assumed, or permit it to be used as to render
hollow peace more harrassing and danger
GUS than open war.
l cannot close this communication without
calling the attention of your excellency to
the continuance of some and the formation of
other encampments of Federal troops within
the State of Kentucky, evidently for the pur-
poses of hostility to Tennessee and the Con-
federate States, as well as the transportation
of arms and munitions to some of our discon-
tented citizens.
l have no doubt that Kentucky assumed
the position of neutrality in good faith nor
do | doubt the determination of your Excel
lency to maintsin it fairly and hOnorsbly,
but would respectfully ask the concurrence
of all departments of your State Government
in the removal of these irritating aud bar
RAISING causes of controversy, which con-
stantly endanger the peaceful relations of
our States aud people.
l have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, yours.
ISHAM q. HARRIS.