New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-23
FRGM KENTUCKY.
Hensscfy's BoHghfnced rOsifion-Proter-
ton al beIs-Abardopncnt Of loyal
EleE-rigk; at Green Eivsr-Trsgedy
in Nashville etc.

In 4NSte1'tast, Ctts
! From Our Own Correspondent
LOUISVILLE, Ky, Dec. 10, l,e1.
There is but one kind of loyalty which is worth
the name--that is, unconditional loyalty. Ofconr7e
DO not mean that troe i0yalty involves an uucOn-
ditonal appreciation and support Of the AdministIa-
lion; but loyal opposition 10 the current Admins
tratOn will not show itself in threats and pre-
diciions against Tire Government itself. Let
the fact be thoroughly realized by the Congress
of the United States, By the Cabinet. and by
The President, that the lump Of Kentucky loyal
ty is Threatening loyalty. There is little leaven
of unconditional national devotion; but it is not
in quantity sufficient to leaveu the lump. ! desire
your attention TO this subject especially, and the
attention of your readers. If through your exeriors
and those of your readers Congress and the Execu-
tive shall be induced 10 consider well Kcntucky's
/ position, and act with judgment, much trouble in
future may be averted II the Government fail to
estimate correctly the autude and disposition of this
State it viii fail in its duty to the thousands oil brave
soldiers who have rushed to the defense OF this lack
loyalty Commonwealth, from States whose allegiance
il without pcradventuIes and provsos; 1t VIII fail IN
lie duty 10 the truly loyal of tits State; it will fail
in It's duty TO the Constitution Of the United States
that supreme law of tire land, which should be the
peremptoEy guide Of our National Government, in AL
its departments.
Il should be AT once realized that the position of
Kentucky is one Of rebellion in fact BY acts of the
Legislature, and by forced proclamation Of the
Governor a transparent drapery Of nominal loyalty
has been thrown that portion of the State east
aud north of Buekner's lines; but in reviewing this
drapery her impndent and hsrot-like swagger of
quasi-sovereiGnty grosser insult TO the nation
than tie undisguised treason Of South Carolina.
And that insulting swagger Of wantonness has been
followed up with the arts Of Delah. While South
Carolina is suffering the penalty Of open, honest
rebellion, in the burning Of her cities and the deyas-
tation of ler fields, Kentucky is fattenipg con-
tracts and Disbursements and shearing the Govern
ment of its strength, by rendering the proec-
ton to rebels, and not to loyal men, am speaking
Of facts, not Of resolutions passed in the Kentucky
Legislature.
To-day have converted with calm, Christian.
spirited Kentuckian, whose loyalty was never ques-
tionable who acknowledges allegiance to the United
States heartily, and knows nothing of State sover
eighty. And he is q STAKEHOLDER in csrnest-not IA
lazy Yankee dougbface who, after milking the COW
at home for many years, has made bis way South,
and managed TO marry some woman who owns
piece of a negro, and tbereupon becomes intensely
Pro-Savery-but lifelong Southron who owns con-
siderable bodies Of excellent land in Southern Ken
lucky, and scores of slaves lie is of those mas
tiers per force Of circumstances who really treat their
slaves as members of tier family. But lie is op.
posed to the extension of Slavery. In other words,
be is Linconite, if Mr. Lincoln is what the PEOPLE
supposed him to be when they elected him, and not
a dougbface like bis predecessor.
That your readers may know the wishes Of true
loyalists in this State, III trouble You with the views
of this meek Christian gentleman on the it is
and Lis opinion of what It ought to be. / took no
notes Of the conversation and can, of course, only
give the substance Of his language. Said Lee Ii
the war is to be wagei in this way, il affords protec
ton to rebels and exposes loyal TO outrage and
piage with impuuity to the pillages. Men who
have been driven from their dwellings and posses
sions receive protection, save the poor privilege of
wandering from place to place within the Union
lines; while those who nstig gate the devastation Of
their fields and the plumber Of their granaIies are
treated by the civil and military officers of the Coy
ernment with distinguished consideration. While
rebel brgands are stealing the slaves Of loyal men
by the hundred, and conveying them further south,
beside taking all other property which is porta-
BILE. the Government which protection
above all others, inasmuch as have sacrificed
everything by our unfnchng loyalty, is listening
complacently 10 rebellious howl for the exemption
of rebels' slaves from coniscation. If the Govern.
nent be nominally restored in Kentucky and Ten
nessee by such of policy, the apparent resto-
ration will be but deception. After the Union
army shall have been removed there will be no safety
of life or property for loyal men in either State. The
Rebels will murder aud despoil with impunity, and
will have Judges and jurors ever ready 10 clear the
guilty There is but way to crush out the rebel
lion permanently and that is to outlaw those actively
engaged in it, confscate their property, and let their
banshment from the localities they have infested be
thorough. Let this DO done, and the Government,
when once restored, can never be moved
The above is in substance, the deliberate view Of
distinguished Kentuckian, who has done more for
the cause Of true loyalty in this State than all our
douehfaced papers and all our weakened legisla.
tors and Congressman. If the President desires to
reaer his acquaintance, will introduce him. He
needs the counsel of such men, perhaps to sen bis
back lone against the self-styled Conservatives"
who are striving to bend him to their purposes.
As you learned from tbs Louisville papers, and
from kilograms, there was fight yesterday evening,
commencing about 2 O'Clock, beyond Green River,
between four companies Of Texas Rangers, two
companies of Infantry, and battery OF Six pieces on
the rebel side and four companies of COL Wiilich's
Indiana Regiment, with two pieces OF artillery, on
our SIDE IL is said that about thirty Of the rebels
were killed-auong them, Col. Terry or Taylor, Of
che Rangers Our forces were guarding the recon-