New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-09
BORDER-sTATE LOGIC AND PAT
RE0TISM.

vention at Frankfort, Ky. The States Of Della
ware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Missouri, and Arkansas, were invited to partici-
pate, but only Kentucky and Missouri saw fit to
respond. A gentleman appeared who held him
self somehow commissioned by two border coun-
ties of Tennessee, aud, as delegates were scarce,
he was taken in. The Hon. John j. Crittenden
presided. 1t finally adjourned last Monday, hav-
ing produced Addresses to the People of the
United States and to those Of Kentucky res
pectyely. Among the signers of the latter is
Mr.. Charles S. Morehead, who appends note,
explaining that he concurs 80 far as the Ad-
dress backs Gov Magoffin's refusal to obey the
Presidents requisiton for Militia to aid in
putting down the Cotton Rebellion, and further
saith not.
The two addresses are of course Identical In
drift aud scope, and are signed by nearly the
same persons. Their purport may be fairly summed
up in three resolves, as follows:
l. Resolved That the pretended secession Of certain
Slave States from The Union is unauthorized, invalid,
= inexcusable suicidal, and ougbtto be put down.
9. ReSoired, nevertheless, That We will do nothing
toward putting down. toward vindicating in any
y way the rightful authority OF the Union.
3. Res0fved, tbereupOn, That our attitude IN the
premises is exceedingly noble wise, brave, patriotic,
and dignifed, and excites special admiration
Such is Border-Stateism, stripped of all
hummery and reduced to its lowest dimensions.
That we do not misrepresent it, let the following
citations from the twin Addresses establish:
"Our present purpose does not require discuss
the propety of the acts Of these he seceding States
yet it may be proper for to say that they find
to0rraHt an any knogH principle Of GOrernmeHt,
and no Justification IN The taets er'sing ghea t.ey
at ia proper for TO say that in opinion the
Constitution delegates to no one department Of the
Government, to all of them combined, the power
to destroy the Government itself, would he done by
the division Of the country into separate eOnedeIaces
and that te obligation eTists TO maintain the Consti
futon Of the United States, and TO reser0e tie Union
vasmPdued."
Has President Lincoln said or done anything
that is not fully warranted-nay, required-by
the foregoing paragraphs Surely not. Seces-
sion, they tell US, is utterly unauthorized and
unprovoked, and "the obligation exists to maintain
'the Constitution of the United States, and o
''preserve the Union unimpaired." Well: that
is just what the President soys tries to do, and
asks Kentucky to render her quota of aid in
doing. Her Governor "a thorough Secessonist
at hearty ostentatiOusy refuses to call out or
furnish any such aid, and vituperates the Presi-
dent for requiring it. And this Convention in
view Of these facts, declares that
"0ar States DESIRE and bave indicated purpose 70
take no p0Yt an tins W0T, and believe that In this
course we will ultmatl best the interests of
our common country 1t is impossible that we should
be Indifferent spectators; sder that our interests
would be iIretrievaby ruined by taking part in the
conflict the side where the strongest synpathes Of
our people are, aud that sense Of honor and OF
duty requires that should not allow ourselves 70 be
drawn or driven into a war in which other States,
her
yolve themselves. Our safety and our dignity az
among the most powerful of the Slave States demand
Of US that we take this position"
But they are not content with merely refus-
ing TO fulfill their constitutional obligation; they
offer to mediate between the Federal Govern
ment, which they pronounce entirely right, and
the rebels whom they declare inexcusably wrong.
They say:
IF the time shall come when our friendly media |
ton may arrest the further progress OF the srie our
most and strenuous efforts shall not be wanting
10 bring about peace and II by such efforts that we
hope 10 serve the interes of our country"
Very good Here is a rule indicated that
win work at least two ways. If henceiorth any
loyal Kentuckian or Miesourian comes into the
Free States hunting fugitive slaves, it will be
the duty Of their loyal citizens to preserve
strict neutrality in "the strife" and offer their
+" friendly mediation whenever they see pros.
pect of its proving available. Friendly media
ton "--certainly-f any Kentuckian or Mis-
sourian, whose slave has run away, wants dose
of this, it will be our duty and pleasure to ac-
commodste him.
The volunteer medistors propose to inaugurate
their official activity at once. Here are their pro-
positions;
First Tsa' Congress shall ~ once pro CO \
eonstituonai atne dments ar W II eel urc 10 slave.
hesdsrs their Lssal rights, aud ailay thei !. .-.-