The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-06-13

THE Hon. JOSEPH HoLT has written a
most eloquent and powerful letter, which
is published in the Louisville papers. 1t is
addressed to Mr. J. F. Speed. 1t is entirely
too lengthy for our limited space, but we
cannot forbear copying at least the first
paragraph, as indicating how Mr.. Holt re-
CARDS the neutrality position:
J. F. SPEED, FsQ.:-My Dear Sir The
recent overwhelming vote in favor of the
Union in Kentucky has afforded unspeaka-
BILE qualification to all true men through
out the country. That vote indicates
that the people of that gallant State have
been neither seduced by the arts nor terri
fed by the menaces of the revolutionists in
their midst, and that it is their fixed
purpose to remain faithful to a Gov
eminent which, for nearly seventy
years, has remained faithful to them
Still it cannot be denied that there is in the
bosom of that State a band of agitators, who
though few in number, are yet powerful
from the public confidence they have en-
joyed and who have been, and doubtless
will continue to be, unceasing in their en-
deavors to force Kentucky to unite her for
tunes with those of the rebel Confederacy
I
well-known fact that several of the seed
ed States have by fraud and violence been
driven to occupy their present false and
fatal position, l cannot, even with the en-
/ cOuragement of her late vote before me-
look upon the political future of our native
/ State without painful solicitude. Never
have the safety and honor Of her people re-
quired the exercise of so much vigilance
and of so much courage on their part. If
/ true to themselves the stars and stripes,
] which, like angels wings, have so long
/ guarded their homes from oppression, will
1 still be theirs; but if chasing the dreams
of mems ambition, they shall prove false,
/ the blackness of darkness can but family
predict the gloom that awaits them
The Legislature it seems, has determin-
. ed by resolution that the State, pending the
present unhappy war, shall occupy neutral
ground. I must say, in all frankness and
without desiring to reflect upon the course
or sentiments Of any, that, in this struggle
for the existence of our Government, can
neither practice nor profess nor feel neu-
trality. | would as soon think of being
neutral in a contest between an officer of
Justice and an incendiary arrested in an at
tempt to fire the dwelling over my head for
the Government whose overthrow is sought
dred and friends, but of every earthly bless
ing which can hope to enjoy on this side
of the grave. If, however, from II natural
horror of fratricidal strife or from her in
innate social and business relations with the
South, Kentucky shall determine to main
tain the neutral attitude assumed for her by
her Legislature, her position will still be an
honorable one though falling far short of
that full measure of loyalty which her his
tory has so constantly illustrated.
Her executive, ignoring, rs l am happy
to believe, alike the popular and Legislative
sentiment of the State, has, by proclama-
ton, forbidden the Government of the
United States from marching troops across
her territory. This is, in no sense, a leu
trail step, but one of aggressive hostility
The troops of the Federal Government have
as clear a constitutional right to pass over
the soil of Kentucky as they have to march
along the streets of Washington, and could
this prohibition be effective, it would not
only be a violation of the fundamental law,
but would, in all its tendencies, be directly
in advancement of the revolution, and
might, in an emergency easily imagined,
compromise the highest national interests.
l was rejoiced that the Legislature so
promptly refused to endorse this proclama-
ton as expressive of the true policy of the
State. But I turn away from even this
to the ballot-box, and finding an Astounding
consolation in the conviction it inspires,
that the popular heart of Kentucky, in its
devotion to the Union, is far in advance
alike of legislative resolve and of Execu-
tive proclamation.