New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-07
mAGOFFIN.

We print this morning all Of the Message Of
Gov. Magofin of Kentucky which relates to na-
tonal affairs. 1t requires no comment. The in
cipient treason crops out everywhere, and nothing
but the fear of swift vengeance has prevented or
now prevents Magofin from openly going over TO
the Rebel cause. As it is, the ConfederateS have
had all of bis sympathies md as much Of his ac-
ton ss personal safety would admit In spite OF
the overwhelming Union msjority at two recent
elections be affects to doubt the will of the peo-
pie, and is eagerly looking for some sign In the
action of the Legislature which he can interpret
into taking sides for the rebels True, he says he
will abide by the State laws and carry out the
will Of the Legislature; but there is no sincerity
in this. His awkward attempts to preserve neu-
trslity invariably end in service to treason; his
heart is with the Rebellion, and cannot be trust
ed. The necessary array Of Government troops
on the borders Of the State, and their presence
therein, he denounces as Northern aggression,
while the hypocritical cant about subjugatng the
South falls as gibly from his pen as from that
Of the now dead Arch Rebel himself. A more
impudent specimen of studied misrepresentation
and unmauly whining never came from q State
Executive.
Accompanying the Message are several letters
which have passed between Msgofin and Pres
ident Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and others. Ma
Coffin, it seems, sent a pair Of commissioners
10 Washington, charged with letter to the
President, which requested tho removal OF the
Government forces from the State. Mr. Lin
coin replied that the forces were all Ken
tuckians, that they were there at the urseLt
solicitation of the Union men Of the State,
and he decidedly declined to remove them.
There is home.thrust in Mr.. LinG0in'S letter,
where, after joining MagOfin in desire to pre-
serve peace in Kentucky, he says: at is with
regret search and cannot find in your not
every short letter, any declaration or intimatiOn
/" that you entertain any desire for the preserva-
tion of the Federal Union" But, on the same
day that he sent these men to Presdent Lincoln,
the double-faced Magofin sent also commits
sionsr to JEFF. Davis, bearing q very gngerly'
worded letter recognizing Davis by bis assumed
title OF president Of the Confederate States, y
and telling him that inasmuch as he (SiSsSlhn
had warned Lincoln off Kentucky soil, he hoped
Davis would not complicate matters by allowing
the Rebels to intrude. OF course, Davis com
plies, as mere form, knowing very well that
Magoffiu would be the last man to complain OF
such invasion. At the same time, he intimated
that, as the door is open to United States troops,
il must not be shut TO the Rebels.
But Davis is dead actually, and Magoffin is 50
politically. The great change now going on in
North Carolina, accelerated by the Government
success at Hstteras, and the energetic action Of
Gen. Fremont in Missouri, will doubtless have a
good effect upon the Legislature of Kentucky,
and We may confidently hope ere long to see
that gallant State standing in the front rank for
the def ense of the Constitution.