The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-25


grand army of the Union. .
The NcutralxAy Of Kentucky.
We published day or two ago tde intelh-
gence thai en- agreement had been entered into
between General McClelland, conman0iog tee
United States forces at the West, ard Goverpsr
MagofaD, Of Kentucky, by which the neutrality
OF Kentucky during the present wsr wa 40
knowledged and secured. We bage not yst
received the literal text of this agreement;
but its points, as telegrsphed % VI. are
that "the Kentucky authorities will protec.
the United States property in the State; will
enforce the laws of the United States, accord
ing to the Interpretation of the United STATES
courts, and will enforce all obligations of nsu.
trality as against the seeded States. General
McClelland agrees to respect the territory o.
Kentucky, even though rebel armies occupy II;
but in such case he will call on the Kentucky
authorities to remove the rebel forces, aud
should Kentucky fail to do this, he claims the
same right Of. occupation as given to the rebels;
and that If NBntucky should be unable to r.
move the rebel forces, che will call to her aid
ing II EN- then General McClellsnd agrees to
withdraw. If the administration adopt diff
ferent policy Kentucky is to be given timely
notice of the fact and if Kentucky changes her
determination like notice is to be given"
1t strikes us that this timely notice" of a
change in the policy of the administration to-
wards Kentucky ought to be given Immediately.
If the administration has authorized and en-
dorsed this arrangement Of Gen. McCielland-
and of this there can be little doubt-we sub
init that the policy thus inaugurated is unwise,
incopeiderate and dangerous. It has nothing
to recommend, and everythi 10 discourage it.
By such policy nothing is gained, and almost
everything is lost 1t has no precedent, and
can have but one inevitable and most infamous
sequel.
There can be no such thing as the neutrality
of State In such contest as this Neither
about the legal nor the common sense view of
the matter can there be the slightest argument
The cole issue is the preservation of the 60
vernment the only question, care you for the
government or against it," How can we con.
ceive of State which refuses to answer this
question, which declares that it is, just now,
neither for nor against the government, but
that, come time or other in the future, it will
declare for the government if the govern
ment triumph and against it if it be defeated?
The very idea of State being thus disloyally
loyal-thus in the Union, but not Of its the
height of absurdity. The question is one Of
those upon which neutrality Is impossible, and
for which Christ laid down the law: HE that
is not with me is against me-" This is the only
law for the case Of Kentucky.
Upon what principle, then, has the adminis-
tration recognized and endorsed this attemptat
q bogus neutrality? This agreement places US
in the most absurd, ridiculous and injurious po-
sition, at home and abroad; for it is nothing
lees than distinct, unequivocal recognition of
the right of secession. If Kentucky can be neu-
trail in such contest; if her authorities can
make treaties Of neutrality with this govern
of the United States or of the Confederate
States at pleasure, then she must be q distinct
nationality. If Kentucky is separate nation,
then 60 are the other States; the con-
stitution is mere agreement between
different nationalities, for their mutual
protection, and any of the States can Withdraw
from the agreement at pleasure. So, then, the
States North and South are warning nationali-
ties, and we have neutral nation-a miniature
EDgland-a diminutive France-right among
US, in the shape of Kentucky! This may be
called an arg,tmentum ad absurdum but If the
fact of the absurd agreement between Gen.
McClelland and Gov Magonin be admitted,
then this deduction is clearly logical, and we
may be sure that we shall not soon hear the
last Of it. The absurdity is only in the pre-.
mise, and for that the administration is re-
sponsible.
Indeed, we find that by the terms, as well as
by the very fact of this agreement, the admi
nistr alton recognizes this idea of Kentucky's
separate nationality. The agreement is made
with her as with any foreign nation. If the
rebel troops "invade" her Kentucky will beat
them back. If the Union army marches across
her border Kentucky will resist them. 1funable
to do this successfully she will call upon either of
the belligerents to aid her-North or South, as
the case may be-just as any one nation calls
upon another to assist it in defending its neu-
trality. Kentucky denies to us and to the Con.
federate States alike the use of her soil, her
waters and her ports. This neutrality
is accepted by us, and doubtless will be by the
Confederate government. Now, this is exactly
what England and France have agreed to do
and exactly what we have demanded of them
Kentucky, one of our own States, does no more
for us than foreign nation. Nay, she does
less; for abe does not bind herself to respect
our blockade Of the Southern ports, nor to re-
frain from sending to the South articles con-