Glasgow weekly times., 1861-05-16
Letter from Hon. W. L. Underwood.
The following is letter from Hon. w

The following is letter from Hon. w.
L. Underwood, of Kentucky, TO friend in
St. Louis.
Mr.. AIR, Warren Co., KY, May l,
1851. Dear Sir: l returned from Wash
ington yesterday, where was when your
letter reached this city. My object in 60
ing there was 10 ascertain for myself the
true purposes Of the Government, and as
dependent upon this the true policy Of Ken
tucky. The condition of Missouri socially
and geographically, is very similar TO that
of Kentucky, except that she is even more
exposed in the event Of her Secession than
Kentucky is. They are in condition suffi-
ciently similar 10 make their policy the
same. Secession is alike fatal 10 BOTH
You are almost peninsula of slave terrific
ry, julting into an ocean Of free soil. You
are Suhip-t to exposure. thurcfOIci fTUIn
which no courage nor constancy can relieve
you-to lnroads, raids, and incursions, from
almost every quarter. Your neighbors are
willing now TO be friends, but they are res
olved, as is every other free State, to sup
port the Government in the rightful exer-
else of IFS legitimate functions, the first Of
these being 10 maintain IFS own existence
against the plottings of those who would
annihilate it, in order TO form rew and un-
authorized combinations ont of its frag-
ments. Should Missouri place herself IN
cooperation with these and in hostility to
the Government, she viii, by her own acts,
thus place herself in hostility with her
neishbors, and she Will have no cause 10 be
disappointed tina, her fields may be devas-
.a,ed, her trade ruined, and her slave pro-
perty swept from existence. Ancient
friendship, and the remembrance of past
good neighborhocd. will but embitter The
coming fued, and that war which is first
civil, will become social and then servile,
mill all tha. is worth preserving is gone.
Stand then, my dear friend, by the Con-
stiiGtion of your country, enforce It's laws,
and maintain the integrity of the Union
In this alone consists your SAFETY. Let no
folly, or the imbecility Of Mr.. LINooLN's S
administration on the one hand, nor section
al pride and affinity, nor glowing pOrtrai-
lures of wrongs, real or imaginary, which
the South has endured, (but the existence
Of which she can alone redress in the Un-
ion, and not out of it.) swerve your gallant
State from her allegiance to General Gov
ernment that has never deprived her of a
solitary right, Or inflicted on her n single
wrong. The policy of the Administration
TO all The Border States, which have not Se-
eeded, is the same. In reference TO Ken
lucky, Mr.. LISeoLE told me he hoped Ken
tucky would stand by the Government in
the present difficulties, but if she would
not do that, let her stand still and take no
hostile part against it, and that no hostile
step should tread her soil. This is true
with Missouri.
Let me tell you, further, that The tempo
rizing policy Of the Administration, in ref
erence 10 the assaults and capturing of its
forts, arsenals and property, is over
aenceforth, they who make war will have
war made on them. The monopoly which
the South has enjoyed in that direction has
ended and all the powers Of the Govern
ment. henceforth, will be exerted 10 main.
tain the property and the legal authority Of
the Government within its limits. You
need not be surprised 10 aear Of the vigor-
Gus blockade of the Chesapeak and Hamp-
ton Roads, and Of the ports of seeded
States and that if these States erect batter
les at Memphis and Vlcksburg. the inter-
rupt the commerce of the Mississippi, that
measures Of stern retaliation or; resistance
will be inaugurated by the Government to
force the poisoned chalice to tie lips of
those who first drugged it. could enter
more into detail, but have no, time. / start
wnen.fhis is closed, tc fill my appointments
Ito make Union speeches. God grant that
Missouri may stand firm. .rus, Kentucky
will, though The Storm beats heavily against
her.. Yours truly,
w. j., UuDrnwoop.
II The Norfolk Day Book says thst
Gov. Letchsr, Of virginia, has found II ne
ressary to issue proclamation requsssins