Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-01
TTc,,nrlTy Armed Neutrality.

ed by the Government Of Kentucky.
! Government has not acted in the prem
/; nor is there any means BY which TO
DIV what II will do when callei upon to
II is proposed by a few of her citizens,
pectable gentlemen, no doubt, and, at
sent, rot without influence; but how far
.sy can control the action Of either the
bple or Of the Government, is question
.ich there is no known means to decide.
Do far as any thing has been done by its
vcrDment Kentucky is in position an
onist to the Union. As between a part
4 nation and the whole, neutrality is out
4he question. To refuse to respond to the
.uirements of the General Government
en- called upon to lend its aid 10 preserve
national peace and enforce the laws, is
act of rebellion. This Kentucky, by her
vernon, and apparently with the approval
her people, has done. A mere formal act
Secession would not change the relation
ween Kentucky and the Union particle.
he is not out of the Union, she is certainly
in. She has no part in its fortunes; and,
the very best, whether it stand or fall
la the present commissions, is to her
liter Of indifference.
h is of little importance by what inter-
1iate means practical Secession is accom-
shed. Being revolutionary act, there is
constitutional power to decree it. We
not know that there is any mode by
ich Kentucky can be put out Of the
ion more efFectually than she is at pros-
/. She is not at open war with the Union,
b true; but we have yet to learn that war
necessary concomitant of Secession.
q war, so far between the Union and the
eded States, is on the part of the latter;
b there is nothing in the position which
Government has assumed as yet which
aicates that it is at any future time to be
berwise.
As between Kentucky and Ohio, Ken
eky-that is to say certain of her rcitizens-
Dposes a state of neutrality. But Ohio is
bart of the Union, and recognizes, by pub
II acts, her obligations as such. Her Gov
pment, even if it were so disposed, can not
Id the nation, neither can her citizens
! parties with whom the compact of neu-
ality is proposed to be made-bind her. We,
citizens of Ohio, acting in our individual
pacity, may make an agreement with citi-
hs of Kentucky, but what authority to
nt oil others will it possessP How can we
Force it2 The whole thing resolves itself
% shadow. Ohio has cast her lot with
e Union; she must conform to its require
nts, al be involved in its destiny.
The people upon the north and those upon
south side of the Ohio have no ground
quarrel with each other. As things stand,
ere is no reason why they should not keep
$ peace. To this end, no compact is
eded; all that is necessary is to refrain
'm acts of hostility. Ohio as Ohio, nor her
izens ss such, will ever invade Kentucky !;
unless Kentucky takes part with the
cessionists to aid their schemes of con-
'est, will she be invaded by Ohio troops or
the national armies.
But the people of Kentucky want arms
h munitions of war, and, in order to be
Emitted to procure them, they talk of an
,.. tmed neutrality" What an armed neH-
lity is, In such case, is more than we
understand; and we suspect no rules for
conduct can be found in the works of any
our writers upon ethics or national law.
Kentucky is so far out of the Union as to
hse to respond to the obligations she
les to is Government, it is fair to presume
n she is so far out as to be unfit TO be
sted, by it, with guns and gunpowder.
the nation, neutrality, under present cir
Instances, is rebellion; aud what an armed
htrality will be but an armed rebellion, il
hot easy to conceive. The President oI
United States would certainly be guilty
most stupendous folly if he should con
ID to supply Kentucky with arms frou
national manufactures; and how the
would be diminished if the same should
done by its citizens, passes our compre
sion.
kentucky-so said her citizens at the latt
Ace Conference-wauts arms to enable he
keep the peace. This proposition wa
Dught to be of great cogency by som'
our peace.loviDg, trade-concerning
j.. ion saving friends and neigbbors. 1t dit
we emust confess, strike US in that way.
Dtucky is without arms, she can no
bose but keep the peace; if she has them
to say the least, within the bounds Q
sibilily that she may use them.
If Kentucky, being supplied with arm
ough the friendly agency of the people Q
lcinnati, should happen to go to war, wit
ON would she probably fight? The Con
eracy? Not by any manner of means
people of Kentucky are going off b
hdreds to join the army of the Confed
cy hundreds of others are only prevente
% going by the want of arms and means
is it TO be supposed that the State, or th
,ple that remain, will, in any contingency
t against these or the army to which the
Dng2 1t is the masses that rule, aud par
hlarly SO when revolutionary incitement
abroad; and dc not these movements o
ntucky troops Southwark indicate, will
nistakable certainty, the direction towar
ich tend the sympathies of the people?
Kentucky or her people fight at all
be against the Union, or some part q
There is nothing else which can be trans
ned into an enemy. 1t is therefore Ger
that for the peace of the Union, and tn
Dty of its citizens, she had better renal
rmed. 1t is quite as obvious that for he
> peace the same condition is preferabi,
is said that Kentucky needs arms {
rave and keep quiet her own uneas
disorderly masses. Possibly; but hor
bis to be done2 By arming-it win b
Eered--a part, to intimidate the remain
This is excellent, if we were to assuu
all the order and love Of the Unio
be found in those who are arme,
all the disorder and sedition in tho
are not armed. But let us tai
gs as they are, and learn lit
the history of revolutiona III