The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-08-09


possible that in the history Of the Ameri-
can people, we have already reached a
point Of degeneracy so low, that':he work
Of Washington and franklin. of Adams
and Jefferson, of Hancock and Henry, is TO
be overthrown by the morally begrimmed
and pigmied conspirators who are now
tugging at its foundations 1t would be
The overlurnng of the Andes by the mis-
erable reptiles that are crawling in The
sands at their base.
Blu: our neutral fellow-cilizcns in the
tenderness Of their hearts say "This ef-
fusion Of blood sickens US" Then do all
in your power 10 bring it TO an end. Let
the whole strength Of this Commonwealth
be put forth in support Of the Government
in order that the war may be terminated
by a promp; suppression Of the rebellion.
The longer the struggle continues, the
iiercer will be its spirit, and more fearful
the vase Of life attending it. You there
fore only aggravate the calamity you de-
plore, by standing aloof from the combat
But again they say: ave cannot fight our
brethren" Indeed But your brethren
can fight you and with good will too.-
Wickedly and wantonly have they COM
menced this war against you and your in
siitutions and ferociously are they prose-
cutting it. They take no account Of the
fact that the massacre with which they
hope their swords will ere long be clogged,
must be the massacre OF their brethren
However much we may bow our heads at
the confession, il is nevertheless true that
every free people that have existed, have
been obliged at one period or other Of .heir
history 10 fight for their liberties against
traitors within their own bosoms, and that
people who have not the greatness Of soul
thus to fight, cannot long continue to be
free, nor do they deserve TO be so.
There is not, and there cannot be any
neutral ground for loyal people between
iheii own Government and those who at
the head Of armies are menacing its de-
structioB. Your inaction is not neutrality,
though you may delude yourselves with
J the belief that il is so. With this rebellion
confronting you, when you refuse % CO.
operate actively with your Government,
in subduing it, you thereby condemn the
: Government and assume toward it an at
/ titude. Of sntagonsm. Your inaction is
: virtual endorsement Of the rebellion, and
5 if you DO not thereby give TO the rebels
! precisely that "aid and comfort" spoker
t OF in the Constitution, you certainly affort
them most powerful encouragement an,
n support. That they regard your presen
!, position as friendly TO them is proved b,
l. the fact. that, in recent enactment G
8 the Confederate Congress confisca!ing th
o debts due from their own citizens TO thos
d Of loval States, the debts due to the pee
i pie Of Kentucky are expressly excepted. -
d Is not this significant Does it leav
o any room for doubt that The Confederat
I Congress suppose they have discovere'
] under the guise Of your neutrality a lurk
, ing sympathy for their cause which en-
, titles you TO be treated as friends il not a
. active allies Patriotic as was the pur
S pose Of her apprehcnsive statesmen il
, placing her in the anomalous position she
! now occupies, il cannot be denied tha
Kentucky. by her present attitude, is ex
I erting potent influence in Strengthening
: the rebellion, and is therefore false alike
e 10 her loyalty and to her fame, You may
j rest we'll assured that this estimate Of you
e neutrality is entertained by the true me-
e Of the country in all the States which ar
8 sustaining the Government. Within tn
d last few weeks how maay Of those gallau
n volunteers, who have left home and kin
l. dred ana all that is dear to them, and ar
3 now under Southern sun, exposin
is themselves TO death from disease an
ot to death from battle, and are accouniin
7, their lives as nothing in the effort the
re arc making for The deliverance of you
ir Government and theirs how many {
'e them have said TO me ir sadness and i
g longing, "Will not Kentucky help me :?
IS How my soul would have leaped could
5 have answered promptly, confidently. ex
o ulingly, "Yes she will" But when
il though of this neutrality, my heart san
It within me, and did not and could NO
$ look these brave men in the face. An
Q yet | could not answer "no." coul'
d not crush myself to the earth under tn
J.. self abasement Of such reply. there
'i fore said-and may my country sustai
r mel hope, l trust, pray, nay, be
'r leve, Kentucky will yet do her duty"
e II this Government is 10 Re destroyed
II ask yourselves: Are you willing it sha
II be recorded in history that kentuck
j. stood by in the greatness Of her strengt
e and lifted not hand TO stay the cataslro
e phe ? II it is to be saved-as verify be
c lieve it is---are you willing it shall b
e written that in the immeasurable glor,
a which must attend the achievement Ken
c lucky had no part?
J will only add, il Kentucky wishes tn
s waters OF her beautiful Ohio to be dye'
d in blood; il she wishes ker harves
' fields now waving in their abundance, Il
It be trampled under the feet OF hosli
$ soldiery as a Aower-garden is trample,
d beneath the threshings Of the tempest |
u she wishes the homes where her lovet
7 ones are now catered in peace, invade'
r by the proscripiive fury of a military des
: po!ism, sparing neither life nor property
J, il she wishes the streets Of her towns ant
o cities grown with grass. and the steam
boats of her rivers TO lie rotting at he
n wharves, then let her join the Souther
Q Confederacy. But if she would have tn
y bright waters Of that river flow on in the
d gladness il she would have her harvest
: peacefully gathered TO her gamers
n IL ,,o,,ll l. 80 a. n III IL r. \