Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-18

Is s-s Cttizsns OF the Commonwealth Of Kautuazy:
Anumerous, brave and well appointed arm
Of the men Of the Soa'h, stand now upon th
soil Of Kentucky, clothed in all the panoply o
war, both eager and able to assist as in th
maintenance for ourselves and our children, 0
the priceless privilege Of freedom Ct opinion, Q
action, the liberty of speech and OF the press
rights which ycuE common Constitution hatl
declared that no R,wer, net even Congress
shall be permitted tslsbridge.
It has been intlmsted that this movement O
the Confederate army was premature, an,
might cause some peAsons in this common
wealth, who, perhaps, may not be fally appris
ed Of all The circumstances that preceded, pro
ducsd and attended it, to reflect censoriousll
upon the southern government, and refuse to /
their sanction and approval. With the view
then, te prevent, if possible, prejuagement
aRd the formation OF opinion upon false an,
one sided statements, of which these times ar,
60 rife, we, who sre. citizens Of Columbus. arC
the county OF Hicsmsu, propose to lay bsfor,
you a plain, unvsrnished narrative Of all that
has marked the conduct Of the northern as vel
astbe southern government, touching this por
tion OF Kentucky. To tie embit.sred man
who is 50 much impressed With disfavol
toward tie southern cause as to render b u in,
capable OF Impartial judgment, We, OF eonrse
cannot approach; bat 10 the fair and can.
did man who is deairous 10 act impsrtially, and
base lis Judgment upon enlightened resson-
to such we say, tnat although you might have
entertained uufsv0rs bic opinions Of the south
eTn powers for their open and undisguised &C
eupaney Of Columbus and its suIroun ings
B5ll we say:
'sFhoa csrtainly wilt see
Ia falSlh55d thy belief o'erEhemed, Il we'll
TIN listen 10 the fsc-s which we
slaii brlng 10 race t %
We invite rigid inquiry into the state
ments We propose to maze and the array Of
fac-s we propose TO lay before our fellow-citi-
ze0s, and if when you shall have heard al
and considered all yo9 concur With US that in
stead of censurlRg, we have great reason to re-
lcice at the advent Of protecting arm able
and willing 10 shield Us, to restore to US once
more sense CT security for our families; the
enjoyment Of cur rights Of proverty; ana the
delights Of bone, our affairs, and our fresldes,
then like tTue-hsarted, bold and chiVaTous
ks1-ucAians. have the manliness to say 80.
Look upon the nap Of cur country and you
viii at once perceive that this portion of Kea
=
military position, is oftbe utmost importance.
If Tie northern army proposes to make move
ment into Tennessse and. the cotton States
further South; TO occupy Memphis, and the
cOuntTY II tue vicinity OF that city, then it is
absolutely necessary hat they have possession
of Columbus, because from the nature Of the
nights approaching to the waters edge, tbis
position commands and controls the naviga-
tiOn OF tee Mississippi, and By that river tneV
u N rae I've and
inforcemsuts- Ia like manner Ia order to
ifastrats such forward movement to 0veTrun
the S0uthern states, the possession Of Coium-
bus TO foitify ssd plant their batteries is OF
the last inp0rtSncs 20 the forces OF the Con-
fsderates. iD q word, Columbus has been
by both governments looked upon as the KEY
h4ch opens or closes the entrance TO lhe cot
ron states. We do know that hitherto the
southern government has been withheld from
occupying this place By their sense Of the obii-
gatioa they were under 10 respect the neutFali-
" OF ths State OF Kentucky. We know that
tennessee, as also the Confederate authority
have fully recognized the right Of Kentucky
20 ordsin this neutrality for herself because
iE tue assertion OK that position che was onlg
exercising State sovereignty, a principle fully
admitted ssd practiced By al the Coafedsrate
States We know, therefore, that notwith-
stsndin2 ihs pprsrfgi indacsment whieh ibis
commanding position held out to then, they
have permitted no consideration Of that
nature 70 persuade them TO OVeFstep
taeir obligation 10 a sister sovereign State,
bat % G. contrary, have allowed tue neutra
posture Of Kentucky to stand as an imPsssabis
W8d Between them ana much coveted object I
We know, also, that while the SOU hefn army
have been persisteRtly and regularly observing
ksntucky's position Of neutrality, it has all (
the waie been under protest that so long as
tais position a. COumbas was withheld from /
then, &c vas not 70 be suffered 10 fai into the /
hands Ct her e1euT. Tust tie very fret ia 1
hicati0n ef purpose 20 taze military possess |
sion O. that place would be a signal fer rush I
30 arms, 20 prevent a result which, to them, 7.
would BE- 70 damaging. Such has been tie /
feeling, eetion aad purpose 0. the CJnfederstes I
from the beginning OF the HHhEppg war that is 4
now being SO bitterly waged between tive /
powers, one Of whom has al the while held 4
& lsrge army Only taeatY miles above, ana the 4
other 2 similar force about the sane distance 4
below this poi8t.
Whils the citizens Of tbis portion Of Ken {
tucEy rave feit the most un5oUHded confidence 1
tnst C0icn5as vas projected from military 1
occupancy on he part Of the southern army, /
by reason II the declaration Of neutrality, we /
have never felt, nor have we had any evidence /
to create any hope that we were equally secure |
on tie part Of the soidiery of tie northern /
army. We purpose, in as brief manner as /
possible, 30 give you the reasons why. As /
already stated, we knew tBsr the right Of Ken (
tueky 10 take this PositioR was fully Teeog- /
B.zed By the southern government. 10 deny it 1
would have been to stultily themselves. Be- I
cause, State Sovereignty is the principle which /
lies at The very foundation Of their govern 1
meut. We had furthermore seen tae tempting 1
bait held QUITO them 8Ore than once, and tbeY !
refused it. We have seen their anxiety 70 aD- /
pr0sch Cairo where their enemy was in force,
and We have seen them restrained By the fact 4
that TO do SO they would be compelled I
to tread With an armed force on Ken
lucky soil. We have been witnesses
of the removal of large force from
the encampmeut at Union City to New
Madrid ia Missouri. We knew that the rail-
road from Union City 90 Hickman would have
transported the troops, and they would have
been in Missouri in q couple Of hours without
toll or exposure. Bat that railroad Bsssa6
across tie bus0n Of Kentucky and ter
minated in a city ef that State. Tlis safe,
and expeditions mode Of transport
.ation was rejected, and tedious, Worrying
sad expensive route by land was adopted.
Now lee us inquire what has been the conduct
Il the other party to this war. Ia the first
4lace they utterly deny the right Of Kentucky
o assume ber posture Of neutrality. They
claim thst this Is itself secession and rebellion,
and that the soil Of Kentucky is and OF right
must BE- open TO their army. 50 they have
lever Acknowledged any restraint on them i'm
posed by Kentucky's nzutTdiity. IH the secoBd
lace tbeY have repeatedly shown tbeir con-
smpt for his position, by openly infracting
he neutrality Of the State, and foreibiy enter
ng her limits and mistresting Der citizens
md, faaliy, By actually oTganizing an armed
orcs and quartering hem IN the very heart Of
be Ssate-Placing arms in their bands and
giving them commanders commissioned by
Abraham Lincoln. Now, fellsW citizens,
bearing these things in mind, let US put you in
Of what transpired at Columbus,
from tie p 10 the 4th day Of this present
month, and we viii let the candid men of Ken
ucky decide where the right Of the cause doth
s In order 10 understand this matter Justly.
you muat gain have recourse to your map. The
Federal forces were In possession Of Ohio CITY J
3r BIRDS Point, ana Charleston, the county Z
lite OF Mississippi county. The Confederate
orces were encemped at Sikrston, ten miles {
vest Of Charleston, aud at New Madrid, a
bout thirty miles south Of it. These were {
he relative positions Of the belligerents, when,
n Monday, Sept. 2i, the steamer Graham,
.iisd With sol5ieTs and military armament, q
sme to Columbus, Kentucky, from I
ysiro, accompanied by two OF the {
federal gunboats. Tee ggnbosis took their {
POSITIONS Immediately in front Of the town and {
uchored in lne river, with 5Bsir cannon beaI- y
~ point blank upon our citizens and our dwell
1eg. Toe Graham tEen went to the NJ EsouTi G
hrra and disembarked the cannon and men, ]