The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-09-26

6G~ We hope that every man viii read
the following article from the indianapolis
Journal Il is plain language and no doubt
from the pen of Governor Morton himself
Kentucky
War has begun in Kentucky, and under
circumstances in no wise credtable to the
Government The rebels are about 1900
strong at Bowling Green under Backner,
and probably little stronger near Paducah
under Polk, with rapid additions being
made from the secessionists in all diEeehonE.
Opposed to the 6rst the GoTernnent has
nearly the- same force, half Of thea well
armed and drilled, but & portion of them
entirely undisciplined and but poorly arm
ed against the last it has force more I'M
equal in -numbers, bat superior N arms and
discipline. AS they stand, our men are no
doubt able to hold the rebels in check.
But this is not the position in which the
Government ought TO stand, or would be
standing if it bad shown proper care or
foresight. This sounds strong, but we
mean it all, and can prove it all, and more.
The forces in Kentucky are utterly made
quate a present to drive the rebels oat of
the State If they can hold their own it is
all they can do. The borders of the loyal
States adjoining are entirely unprotected,
There is not piece of artillery ia Indiana
bigger than a siz-pounder, and but very
few pieces of that size. There are not guns
enough on the border to arm three regi-
ments. All the Government forces have
been ordered GH to one point or another.
In case OF invasion We should be helpless,
not because we have not. men and pluck
enough, but because the Administration has
paid no attention TO our necessities, AID
bestowed no care ia preparing for the revo-
luton in Kentucky. IT has been blind and
deaf and if it were lighting in no better
cause than it's own. wisdom and energy it
ought to be defeated. We speak very
plainly, for We feel very deeply. ....
Six weeks ago Gov Norton notified the
War Department ia The most impressive
terms that there was trouble brewing in
Kentucky, and that ON border was exposed
and defenseless He begged for. arms, no
matter of what kihd, anything. that would
shUot and for the old cannon rusting IN the
arsehals to erect batteries at the principal
towns on the river. No attention was paid
hrn. He was not even vouchsafed reply.
Tine and again these warnings were re-
peated, and earnest requests for arms made,
bUt not Il solitary &ord Of reply a0as eve7'
made About three weeks ago he sent a
letter directly TO The President setting forth
the facts in regard to Kentucky as he had
learned them from trustworthy agents,
warning him that danger vas near at hand
and an attack might sbe expected at any
moment, repeating his request for arms on
the border, and no reply fras made. He
still, as opportunity offered, reiterated his
efforts to beget little attention in the Adj
ministration to Kentucky and the border,
md al, 4,E5IaTs frSf fl, last hia
warnings were utterly unheeded and nnsE-
swered. In sheer desperation, be wrote, at
last, to Mr. Seward who has at least the
merit of attending to his business, and the
reply, written the very day that Polk en-
tered Kentucky, was that "no danger was
apprehended in Kentucky now
If it is possible to make stronger case
of indifference we don't SEQ how it is TO be
done. IF these warnings had been needed
Home Guard could haXe been Organized
and armed IL Indiana fuzzy 30, 900 strong,
exclusive oc tbethree years men, ? force
that, if preGL8.tated into Kentucky the day
that thesTennesseans invaded eit,+getiId have
madeft safe. Six weeks, with arms in their
hands, would have sufieed to make a re-
serve along our border that would have
been q most formidable force tor any ssr-
rice, and an invincR5le one far delehce
EaLLerie3 ~ f+RttLff t+ttt @hHuSlAGlB New
Albany, 4 Madison, and .awreneeburg
would Aayo protected our most important
towns. Nov, if either one OF our columns
should be broken there ia nothing to hinder
the enemy from advancing straight 70 the
OHIO, and destroying by batteries across the
river am towns they please, aud nothing to
hinder them from rayaging our border at
will. We are placed ia a position that is
safe only Just so leBg-as both columns,so
equally balanced by the rebels, are able 70
maintain their Positions. We can tell at
what moment some accidenk or some blum
der, like that which sacrificed Lyon and
Mufligan, may not break this perilous de-
Tense, and open Gar State %, invasion2 It
may may happen in a week. And that it
may happen is the fault Of that inattention
which let judieious and timely warnings
pass without heed. Now he evil has
come, and the Government, which might
have been prepared TO crush it the moment
it appeared, is only able 10 prevent it from |
crushing the Government. May be the les
son will not be lost, but there is only Della
foEFf e. : 81 z,nru