Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-06-28
LETTER FROM non. JOSEPH HOLT.
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1861.


That vote indicates that the people of that gallant
State have been neither seduced by the arts nor
terrified by the menaces OF the TeVoIutioaists IN
their midst, and that it is their liked purpose 10
rsraiA fsithfu to the Government which, for near
IL seventy Years, has remained faithful to them
Still IL cannot be denied that there is IN the bosom
a0f that State band of aRitators, whos tnongh Ie"
in number, are yet powerful from tne puoilc conn,
Aaence they have enjoyed, and who have been, and
Doubtless win continue to be, unc easing IN their
andeavors to force Kentucky to unite her fortunes
with those of the Rebel Confederacy oil the South.
In view of this and of the wel-known TACT that Sc
veral Of the seeded States have by fraud and vio-
trnce been driven to occupy their present false fatal
position cannot, even with the encouragement OF
Sr late vote before me, look upon the political fu-
,ura oF our native State without a painful sohci-
t~ae Never have the safety and honor OF her
o,ala ,aoui,,ed tho exercise Of SO much vigilance
md of 40 much courage on their part. 1t true to
themselyes the stsIs and stripes, Which, IKE an
zels5 wings have so long guarded their nomes from
every oppression will still be theirs: but IL ehas-
H.; the dreams Of mems ambition, they shall prove
S,se the blackness of darkness can but faintiy
predict the gloom that awaits them. Ene Legsla-
ture il seems has determined by resolution tha.
the State, pending the preseut uGhappy rals shai
occupy neutral ground. / must say, IN all frank
ness and without daring to reflect upon the coutsc
or sentiments of any, that in this struggle i0r the
existence of our Government, can neither prac~
slce nor profess nor feel neutrality would as
soon think of being neutral IN contest DetWeen
an officer os Justice and incendiary arrested in
an attempt 10 fire the dwelling over my head; for
tae Government whose overthrow Is sought IS TOT
me the shelter not only OF nome, klhired ana
friends but Of every earthly blessing which can
hone 10 enjoy on this side of the grave. II, how
ever from natural horror of fratricidal strife, or
from her intimate social and business relations with
the South, Kentucky shall determine TO maintain
the natural attitude assumed for her by her Legs
lature her position viii stlil he an honorable one
though falling far shcrt of that full measure oil 10y
atty which her history has so constantly Illustrated
Her Executive gnoring as | am hal'py 10 oeiieve,
alike the popular and Legislative sentiment OF the
State has by proclamation, forbidden the Gov
ernmept of the United States from marching troops
across her territory. This is, in no SENSE neutral
step, but one of aggressive hostIhty. 1he usens
of the Federal Government have as clear constr
tutionaI right to pass the SOL OF Kentucky as
they have "a march along the streets OF Washing
ton: snd could this prohibition be effective, 1t
would not only be violation OF the fundamental
law but would in sll its tendencies, be directly an
advancement of the revolution, and might, IN an
emergency easily imagined, compromise the high
est national inter ests. rejoiccd thai tho Lee
Rislatufe so promptly refused TO indorSe ihls proc
lanaation as expressive Of the true pollcy Oh the
State But turn away from even this 10 the bal
lot-box and find an abou1ding consolation in the
conviction il inspires, that the popular heart OF
Kentucky in its devotion TO the Union, Is tar In
advance alike OF legislative resolve and OF Execu-
tive proclamation.
But as it is well understood that the late popular
demonstration has rather scotched than killed re-
bellion in Kentucky, propose inquiring briefly as
practicable, whether, In the recent action or present
declared policy of the Administration, or in the
history of the pending revolution. or In the otecs
II seeks to accomplish or in results which must
follow from IL, if successful, there can be discoV-
cred any reasons why that State should sever the
ties that unite her with Confederacy IN whose
councils and upon whose battle-6elds she has won
20 much honor end under whose protection sne
has enjoyed so much prosperity.
For more than month after the Inauguration of
President Lincoln, the manifestations seemed upe-
quivocal that his Administration would seek
peaceful solution OF our unhappy pohtlcai trouDles'
and would look to time aad amendments 10 the
Federal Constitution, adopted in accordance with
its provisions, to bring back the revoted States to
their allegiance So marked was the effect OF
these manifestations IN tranquiiizlng the border
States and in reassuring their loyalty, that the
conspiiators who had set this revolution on foot
took the alarm. While affecting to desplse THESE
States as sufficiently intensified in their deE5-
lion to African servitude, they know they could
never succeed in their reasonable enterprise Win
out their support. Hence it wss resolved TO pre-
cipate collision of arms with the Federal autho-
mites, in the hope that, under the panic and
peration incident 10 the commencement OF q civil
war, the Border States following the natural bent
of them sympathies, would array themselves against
che Government. Fort Sumter, occupied by q
feeble garrison, and girded by powerful II not in-
pregnable batteries, afforded convenient means for
accomplishing their purPose, and fol testing also
rnent the new ,Confederacy. It's provisions were
exhausted, and the request made by the Preside Dt
in the interests of peace and humanity, Tor the
privilege OF replenishing its stores, haa been refus
ed. The Confederate authorities we're aware-ior
40 the gallant commander of the fort mad declared
10 them-tbat in two days capitulation from
starvation must take place. peaceful surrender,
however, would not have subserv. thor aims -
They sought the clash of arms and the eiusioE OF
blood nstrume meutality for impreSSlng the Bor-
der States and they sought the humiliation Of the
Government and the dishonor Of its flag as means
of giving prestige TO their cause. The result
is known. Without the slightest Proyocation a
heavy canDonade opened upon the fort, and
borne By its helpless garrison for hours without
ply, and when in the progress of the bombardment,
the fertilization became wrapped in fumes, the be-
Bieging batteries, in violation OF tho usages oil
civilized warfare, instead of relaxing or suspeuding,
Fedoubled their fires. A mora wantop or wicked
never commenced on any government
whose history has been written. Cotemposary With
and following the fall Of SUMTER the siege of Fort
Pickens was and still is actively pressed, the
property of the United States Government con-
ti0ued be seized wherever found and iss troops,
by fraud or force, captured 10 the State Of Texas
In violation 0f solemn compact With It's auth0rl-
ties that they should be pernltted TO embark With
ous m0lestaGion. This waA the rcquitai whlcn tue
Lone Star State made 20 brave men who, through
long years OF peril and privaton, had guarded its
frontiers against fhe ncuTsions Of the e1Hages In
the midst of the most active and extended waFiiko
preparations in the South, the announcement was
made by the SecletsTy Of War OF the ssceded
States, and echoed with taunts and nselent bravo.
DOES by tbs Southern press, that Warrington City
TO be invaded and captured, and that the flag
o< the Confederate States woni soon l0at over
the dome Of It's capitol. Soon thereafter thern
followed a. invitation to all the world-srnbracDg
necessarily the outcaats and despct3doss Of every
So TO accept letters OF Garque and EepHsal, -