Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-10-25
Gbc National Crisis.
KENTGCKY AND MARYLAND.
From the Marlboro Advocate. |

that have marked the progress of the
present unnatural and devastating war
for, although the internal struggles in
Missouri have proceeded to greater and
bloodier extent, q conflict there was more
to be expected, because it was well known
there was more decided difference
among its mixed population, and fac
tious division that could not possibly be
bridgcd over. But that the people of
Kentucky should become divided even
unto battle, is fact which would have
been deemed an impossibiity if it had
not actually come to pass. That the State
which, of all others, stood forward with
the greatest popular unanimity for COM
promise, and profered a settlement even
after hostilities had begun; which indig-
nantly refused to furnish troops to the
Federal Government to prosecute the war ::
which repeatedly washed her hands of
the whole strife-proclaiming herself eu-
trail, and declaring that she would main
tain that position-that Kentucky should
after pursuing this course, be plunged
into the horrible abyss of civil war
among her own people, is a matter well
calculated to excite surprise, until we OBJ
serve the steps by which she has de-
scended into such dreadful position.
And the manner in which such a result
has been precipitated, is of the highest
Importance to us in Maryland, for the
reason that the course now pursuing by
the Union party in this State, being pre-
cisely analogous, bids fair to lead here to
the same melancholy result.
Kentucky was the proposer and the
chief defender of the principles Of Com
promise, when the trouble began in Con-
gress. Through her Senator she offered
the famous Crittenden adjustment, which
though indicating a merely arbitrary set
Element and not one of principle, was
heartily acceptable to the whole South.
Though earnestly pressed, it eventually
failed. She warmly entered into the
Peace Congress, which also was failure
Even after the war began, she called a
Peace Conference of the Border States,
which was a still greater failure, because
coming too late When Lincoln made
his demand for troops, her Governor in
dignantly refused to make the levy, say
ing thar Kentucky would furnish no
troops for the unconstitutional object of
subjugating the South" Her Legisla-
ture ratified this position Through both
these sources she repeatedly declared that
she would occupy a neutral position,
ard would take no part nor lot in the
matter; that no troops should occupy her
! territory, and that it should not be
scene of hostiltics; and as long as she
occupied this position, her neutrality was
fully respected by the Confederates, who
recognized her right to be neutral, upon
States Rights principles. No one can
doubt that the peace and prosperity which
Kentucky enjoyed during her neutrality
would have been long continued, if she
had not been betrayed into throwing it
off, and ranging herself on the side Of
one of the belligerents. In process of
time, what with the departure of South
ern men from the State and other causes,
and the deception of the people by the
cry Of Union" a Legislature was cleo
ted containing majority of Union men,
but were supposed to be friendly to the
existing status of Kentucky Mt that time.
But no sooner was it convened than the
majority turned out to be more friendly
to Lincoln than to the Union. They
promptly showed their hand. The Fed
erals having occupied Kentucky, in vio-
lation Of her neutrality, with the evident
design Of making her territory basis Of
operations against the South, the Con-
tedera;es we're forced, by the principles
of common sense and of military me-
cessity," 20 do the same thing, for self
defence. The Legislature, however, as
sumed to order off the Confederate troops,
and invited the Federals to enter; beg
ged Gen. Anderson to take command
called out the State forces to repel the
Coufederates; requested her States Rights
Senators to resign; and, GENERALLY, has
openly placed the State, as far as it can
do it, on the side of the Federal Govern.
ment. The result is seen in the fact that,
at this time, there are large armies in the
field composed chiefly Of Kentuckians,
preparing for deadly strife for the mas
terry Of the State, and ready to deluge
with the blood Of brethren the sacred
soil on which they might have continued
to prosper if the position of peaceful
neutrality had been observed. 1t is a
fearful and a sckening sight-shocking
to our sensibilities as men, and signiG-
cantly ominous Of our dcslines as free
men.
The parallel which this course of az
fairs in Kentucky presents to what has
occurred, and to what the Union party is
(perhaps unconsciously) striving to bring
to pass, in Maryland, will forcibly strike
the reader; and yet there are some diff
ferences TO be observed. though they do
not touch the point to which We are tend
ing Thus, il may be doubted whether
there was in this State so absolute and
extensive Union spirit as existed in
Kentucky--it being, as we believe, true,
that majority here was, from the start, |
on the side Of the South In the second |
place, if Maryland did not early call
Convention and take definite action, it
was owing, not to the people, but to the
Governor, who would not convene the
Assembly; aud if, aiiss~1rds. ahen the
Ce,..,,or .hauo;po, ia ,-N ~