Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-08
KENTUCKY OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.
ADDRESS OF TIE LEGISLATURE TO TIE PEOPLE
OPKENIlJCKY

kENTUCk1 DOSSA1'AS
ADDRESS OF TIE LEGISLATURE TO THE PEOPLE
oPKENfUGKY.
Il this extraordinary cris We deem II dnsy wac"
we your reprts ,ntativts owe 10 you and ouis ives "
s,y few words 70 YOU as 10 the condition OF the Uem
mnnwealth, and the duties we have oeen caieo uP'a
perform.
We have ard ,nily desired peace, and hoped to sve
Kentucky from the calami.iis of war When the fede
raj authorities dsemed il Necessary 20 employ force 10
self defence aud TO execute the laws e the u1sernea
We ss.lred QUE Southern neighbors Of purpose not
10 take IN arms voluntarily against them; notsfhsatd
inc their wick attempt sroy the GoverDmentfrom
which we and our fathers have received he greatest oen
efs Every effort made, both before and al the
employment Of force to effect some compromiss ana SCI;
Element that would restore tne onioh a"u Pe'eu' WV
effuson of blood.
The Federal Government did insist upon our active
aid In furnishing troops, seeming content We eoeyeu
the laws and executed them upon our soil Tnose en-
gagged in rebeon however with hypocrircai professions
OF friendship and respect planted camps Of soldiers all
along our Southern border seized, by military power
the stock on our railroads within Their reach, N defiance
of chartered rights impudenty enlisted soldiers upon
our soil for their camps, whom they os.entauonsly
marched through their territory. Tney made constant
raids into THU State robbed US OF our properly )nsu
ed our people selzsd some OF our citizens and ciFrsd
hcn away, prisoners into the Confederate STATES
Our military demoraz ID by the treachery oil It's CHIEF
officer in comm ind aud many OF his su5osdnates, unti
became more an arm Oh OOuItuctaN ooseo si--
Guard of the State Of Kentucky. Thus exposed To
wropg, and indgniies with power prepared 10 pre-
want OF resent them Of the citizens OF this STATE
formed camps under the Federal Government, LOT the
defence and protection of the State OF Kentucky what
ever might bave been thought OF the policy once recent
events have proved they formed none too aoon
In this condition We found Kentucky when the Il ;gls.
hture met on tho first Monday IN Septemoer we stu
hoped to avo d on our oEn soil. we were met oy
from tho President OF the Confederate States
that position should be respected but tue ink VISA
scarcely dry with which the promise was written when
VIC were sariled by the that our soil was invaded
and towns in the southwest of our State occupied by
Confederate armies Toe Governor OF Tennessee dis
aycwed the act and protested hs innocerce His COM
nisoners Frankfort professed the same innocence OF
the admitted wrong; but warnings TO leave were
only answered by another invasion in the southeast OF
the State and still direct aud deadly ass iut upon
the very OF the State by way OF the Nanye toao
te sudden iruplions OF such magniude, skiuly o.
rected chow that the assault on Kentucky was pr.ccA-
certed prepared aud intended long b,o'e. The excuses
made for any Of them bu. add insult Iry. We snail
not repeat them Tney bat for acts intend
ed, without any cause.
The purpose ia 20 remove the theatre Of the from
the emss Of bcse who wickedy originated il to those
of sntucky ard involve this State In The rebellion
Tb. purpose appeared be well understood ia the
csded states They reed the territory of Kentucky and
are determined to have it. il it MUS be, by blood and
conquest.
Ihu9 forced into war, we uau no crCLIc W en-
on the strong ars and have hearts Of Kentucky TO
De che invader from our SOIL and TO III for the aid OF
the Federal Government, as We had right to do under
the FEEDER Constitution.
Our foes would dictate terms 10 brave people upon
which VIC can have peace We are required 70 join
them in their unwarfanted REBELLION become accessory
10 their crimes and sacrifice last hope OF
permanently uphodng republican institutions, or meet
their invasion as becomes Kentuckiaas.
We believe have done our duty to a chvarc
k,,a hfs vrtll fail
last resort, to resent injury and punish insult-
We should hold ourselves unworthy 20 represent you,
we had done less The only error, we fear, ia that we
have not been prompt may Think az toe occasion
demanded Tar have the revolutionists appealed TO
the bao,-box in this State and thrice have the psople
Expressed BY vtrEh'lmng maj ores, their determine
ion to stand by the Union and is Government. They
have not active in this war; not from Indifference,
or want Of loyalty, but In the hope of better promoting
a restoration OF Union, and checking the rebellion by
that course Our hope of Smicabe adjustment, and
desire for peace led TO forbear, until forbeance
has ctas'd TO b, virtue. The attempt 20 destroy the
Union of these Sstes believe to BE- crime not only
against Kentucky, bui against all mankind. Bu, Up
this time we haga left others TO vindcae by arms the
integrity of the Government The Union Is not only
sailed now but Kentucky herself threatened with Sob
jngaion by lawless usurpson The invasion is carried
on with ruthless destruction OF property, and the lives
and liberties OF peopls that belongs only to savage
warfare.
| We have no choice but actior-prompt and decided
Let us show the insoen invaders that Kentucky belongs
to Kentuckiins and that Kentucky valor will vndicate
Kentuckys honor An nsolent aud trescherous invader
tells the people that their legislators have betrayed them
he with FIRE aud sword To correct their error
| by crusade against property, liberty, and life.
Young men OF Kentucky, TO armsl TO protect the
home OF your "a hers, mothers, and sisters Sound the
ccsn on every Hill and in every valley until kentucky
shall drive the insoleut invader from her soi
| J. II. HARVEY,
GEO w. YEArMAN,
| NAIH'L WOLFE
JOHN W. FINNELL,
w. S. RANKIN,