New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-09-10
a%~ mo. l2.]
LETTER FROM GOV. HARRIS, OF TENNESSEE.

-g.. lNo. AZ
r LETTER FROM GOV. HARRIS, OF TENNESSEE.
-.... EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
y .'. re Nashville, Tenn Aug. 50, 1861. s
His Excellency, B, NagoHfn:
Sri am informed by gentlemen of the highest
responsibility, that on or about the 2lst inst.
gunboat, commanded by Federal officers, and
manned by Federal troops, seized the steamer
Terry at Paducah, Ky, and carried her to Cairo,
Ill. The Terry, understand, was owned by citi-
zens of your State, who retalated by Selling the
steamer Samuel Orr, mail packet plying between
Evansville, Ind, and Paducah, and owned by citi-
zens of the former place .,
The Orr, with her cargo of groceries, was, by
her captors, run up the Tennessee river, 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
military officers under my command, have deem.
ed it due TO you, and the neutrality of Kentucky
that / report the facts to you, and hold the boat
and cargo subject to such orders as your Excel
lency may see proper to make in the premises
1t is with profound interest and regret that |
have witnessed recently the open violation of the
neutrality of Kentucky by the Government of the
United States, by the establishment of military en-
campments and other Watlike preparations within
the territorial limits and Jurisdiction of your State
II we should unfortunately be on the eve of col
lison between our States, pro duced by the mach
nations of a common enemy, | desire, at this time
on the behalf Of Tennessee, to renew to your Ex-
ceency, as the official representative of Kentucky,
ties and people Of Tennessee have faithfully OBJ
served and respected the neutrality of your State
and will if permitted by the authorities and peo-
pie of Kentucky, continue to do SO that nothing
but hostile acts and demonstrations against Ten
nessee and the Confederate States shall ever initi-
ate the contest between our States, though our
citizens are of different Governments, and they at
war with each other Our people cannot forget
the past. The relations and connections formed
in peace and war during an association of three
tourths OF century, cannot be severed in month
or year.. The indignation felt by US towards
the aggressive and vindotye majority of the free
states has never been entertained towards Ken
tuckians.
Wefeel that socially, commercially politically,
and geographically, you are so connected with US
as to render hatred and hostility anomalous and
anhaluIai; me confederate Government has never
demanded, and we trust and believe never will
demand, that we should Wantonly or uniustly in
fringe the neutrality of Kentucky and our policy
and Intentions in this regard have been not only
expressed but demonstrated by our conduct up to
this time.
: Under these circumstances we cannot believe |
that Kentucky will, at the nstigation of either of
the beiligerens, abandon the position of neutrality
so lately and solemnly assumed, permit it to be
used so as to render hollow peace more harrassine
and dangerous than open war.
cannot close this communication without again |
calling the attention Of your Excellencv to the |
continuance OF some and the formation of other |
encampments of Federal troops within the State of
Kentucky, evidently for the purposes ofhostty |
to Tennessee and the Confederate States, as well |
as the transportation of arms and munitions to
some of our discontinued citizeus
!! have no doubt that Kentucky assumed the po |
sition Of neutrality in good faith, nor do doubt
the determination of your Exceency to maintain |
t fairly and honoraby, but would respectfully ask
the concurrence of all departments Of your State |
Government in the removal Of these irritating and
causes of controversy, which constantly
sndanger the peaceful relations of our State and
1eople.
lhave the honor to be, respectfully yours etc.,
7eE ISHAM t. ABRIS.