The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-07
THE GREAT KENTUCKY CONSPIRACY
stertiinE ReYelations-The Hypocrisy CT
The Union Leaders Exposed-The Wit
nesses on the S,apd, &c.

From tbs Bowling Green Ky) Courier, Nov /.
None have known better than the Lincoln
managers in Kentucky that the heart of the
people OF the State Is with the South in the
struggle in which these States are engaged
that the sympataies and interests Of our PEG
pie alike inclined them to unite The destinies
of the Commonwealth with the Southern
Confederacy, now the last hope of RepubIi-
canism-that whenever they have an Oppor-
tunity at the polls, they will formally sepa-
rate from the remnant of the old Union with
winch the State is now nominaliy allied
and it is because they know this fact that
they conceived the stupendous fraud which
Lhef nave with snch success practiced, the re-
suits OF which are seen in the presen deplo-
rable condition OF the COMMONWEALTH
MIR. Prentice, in letter written few
months ago to some gentlemen in Philadel-
pnla. which was publisheG! in the newspapers
OF tnat city, acknowledged that the odds in
Kentucky against Ii. eoinisgn and the North,
and in favor of the South, We're tremendous
and the whole policy of the party of which
his paper is the worthy organ, has been based
on that fact-that the people are against them;
and its object has bee the defeat of the ma
Jority, through deception, chicane, fraud
faiSehood, aid bribery.
Their cause was desperate, and they played
the boldest game ever attempted by gam bier
whose last dollar was staked On q single turn
OF the cards
To obtain the confidence of the people they
intended to betray, they abused the Admin
istratiOn that had bought them denounced,
the wrongs done TO the South by the people
ana tbs States in whose in teTest they had
taken fee, proclaimed that the cause OF the
Seeded States would be?ome the cause Of
hentuchy whenever coercion should be at
tempted, while entering il 10 solemn engage
ments with the President to aid him in his
attempt to sublugAte the South invented
and advocated the doctrine Of neutrality,
while labOring with heart and soul TO force
the State into hostilities; and deprecated civil
war while secretly arIniug one portion of our
citizens against their neighbors, friends, and
kinsmen. Such record of deception, false
hood, and perjury is not TO be found else
where in the history G. nations.
They thus and by these means obtained the
confidence Of the people to such extent
that nine OF the ten IL en1GerS of Congress
and a majority of the Legislature, We're Sc
cured, when the mask WAS thrown Oft aud
the unfolding OF the drama began.
In this connection we desire to recall TO
mind, that in A prit last a committee of the
Union leaders from Louisville waited on the
Governor OF Indiana with a request that he
would then send a few .egiments OF his Abo-
lition troops to Kentucky, their object then,
convinced of The hopelessness OF their cause
being al once to attempt to overawe the peo-
pie with bayonets, and drive them by force
into submission ard slavery This fact was
published in the Indianapolis State Sentinel,
and republished IL the Louisville courier, and
has never been denied.
Another fact of 4 later date should also be
remem bered-that On the day before the
Con federates occupied Columbus an officer in
the Federal army at Cairo wrote to Chicago
paper that the Eortherners, having been as
sured that the Legislature, then in session
in Frankfort, would by resolution approve
the movement. had then sent a strong force
TO take possession OF Paducah and also Co.
lumbus.
The refusal OF the Union" leaders in Ken
tncky to arm the State for the maintenance
of her neutrality-their war on the State
9uard--the organization of a secret oath
bound club composed exclusively Of men op-
posed to separation under any elrcums tances
the cIandestined introduction of Federal
arms into the State without authority of
law-the formation of camps of Federal sol
diers on our soii--the invitation to abolition
soldiers to come here TO over-aWe and intimi-
date our people into obedience to the arbitrary
and illegal mandates of the President-the
pledge given by those controlling the Legis,
iature to sanction the occupation Of Colum-
bus and Paducah by the troops from Cairo
all these being done by men who were at the
same time advocating neutrality and preach
Ing peace from the stump and through the
press, no other evidence OF their bad faith
could be needed 10 satisfy any intelligent be-
ing that more infamous conspiracy against
the peace and we'll being of Il people was
never attempted or conceived.
The following letters however, have come
into our possession, and as they must remove
the last lingering doubt from the mind of
every Kentuckian of the existence of the
conspiracy and the treason OF the conspira-
tors, we lay them before the public with
positive assurance that they are correct copies
OF the Originals now In our hands:
MOI
James Speed, Of Louisville to J. III. Ward, Of Bopl.
ing Green.
LOUISVILLE, April 80, 1851.
Dear Sir: Your letter of the 2sIh is 10 hand
We have been sensible of the danger you suE.
gest, and have anxously considered what is
10 be done. Without prompt and thorough
organization all is lost.
The first thing to look to is the Legislature.
They lthe Union members) must be sncour-
aged and supported. To do this 1t is parti-
culariy desired that we have at Frankfort. at
and during the coninG session as many good,
true, and firm Union men as we can muster.
Arrangements have been made, as under
stsAds to have them lodged free al Frankfort
When we meet AZ Frankfort solpe general
plan Of organization, thorough and rigid,
must be devised and pursued. Let me beg
yeu. then..to be n frankfortwith as many
friends, goodand true an you can.
] Iam, sir, your ondf serv't,
IS ssgEs - Jiuss SPEED.
.loAn Il Ward. Eg., Bowling Green, Ky.
No 3.
Jsmss spasSs y Jskw n. Hswd- .'