Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-15
Kentucky - Letter from Hon. w. L..
Underwood.

The st. Louis Republican was permitted to
publish the following letter from Hon. W. L.
Underwood, of Kentucky, to a friend in that city:
Mt. AIR, WARREN Co., Ky Nay ], 1851.
DEAR SRI returned from Washington yes
terday. where | was when your letter reached
this city. NV object in going there was to ascer-
tain for myself the true purposes of the Govern
ment, and as dependent upon this the true policy
of Kentucky. The condition of Missouri, So
caly and geographically, is very similar to that
of Kentucky except that she is even more ex-
posed, in the event of her secession, than Ken
lucky is. They in conditions sufficiently sim
liar to make their policy the same Secession is
alike fatal to both You are almost peninsular
of slave territory, jutting into an ocean Of free
soil. You are subject to exposure, therefore,
from which no courage nor constancy can relieve
you-to nroads, raids and incursions, from al
most every quarter. Your neghbors are willing
now to be friends, but they are resolved, as is
every other free State, TO support the Govern
ment in the rghtful exercise of its legitimate
functions, the first Of these being to maintain its
own existence against the plOttings of those who
would annihilate it, in order to form new and I'M
authorized combinations out of its fragments
Should Missouri place herself in cooperation
with these and in hostility to the Government,
she will, by her own acts, thus place herself in
hostility with her neighbOrs. and she will have
no cause to be disappointed that her fields NAV
be devastated, her trade ruined, and her slave
property swept from existence. Ancient friend
ship, and the remembrance of the past good
neighborhood, will but embitter the coming feud
and that war which is first civil, will become so
cial and then servle until all that is worth pre-
serving is gone
Stand then, my dear friend, by the COnstitu-
ton of your country, enforce its laws and main
tain the integrity Of the Union. In this alone
consists your safety. Let no folly or indiscretion
or the imbecility of Mr.. Lincolns Administr7l
ton, on the one hand, nor sectional pride and
affinity, nor glowing pOrtraitureS of wrongs, real
or imaginary, which the South has endured, (but
the existence of which she can alone redress in
the Union and not out ofit,) swerve your gallant
State from her allegiance to the General Govern
ment that has never deprived her of 4 solitary
right, or inflicted on her a single wrong. The
policy of the Administration to all the border
States which have not seeded is the same I'm
reference to Kentucky, Mr.. Lincoln told me he
haped Kentucky lrOuid stand by the Government
IN the present difficulty; but, if she lrould not DO
that, let her stand still and take no hostile paTt
against IL and that h0stIe step should tread her
soil. tbs is true with Missouri. Let me tell
you further, that the temporizing policy OF the
Administration, in reference to the assaults and
capturing of the forts, arsenals and property is
over. Henceforth they who make war will have
war made on them. The monopoly which the
South has enjoyed in that direction has ended
and all the powers of the Government henceiorth
viii be eXerted to maintain the property and the
legal authority of the Government within its lust
limits. lou need not, therefore, be surprised to
/ hear of the vigorous blockade of the Chesapeake
and Hampton Roads, and the ports of the seeded
States, and that, if these States erect batteries at
Memphis and Nicksburg to interrupt the com
merce of the Mississippi, that measures of stern
retaliation or resistance will be inaugurated bv
the Government to force the poisoned chalice to
the lips of those who first drugged it. | could
enter much more into detail, but have not time
start when this is closed to fill my appointments
to make Union speeches. God grant that Mis-
souri, may stand firm. | trust Kentucky will .
though the storm beats heavily against her.
Yours truly, WI UNDERwoop.