The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-08-29

i'1Ssii iouo pd>b suOui0 udte WIitbcu iOl
her, By her own chief Magistrate, q pag,
of history so utterly huniliating as this
But your Legislature have determined
that during the present unhappy war the
attitude of the state shall be that ofstrict
neutrality, and it is upon this determine
tion that | wish respectfully but frankly
to coDmet. As the motives which GO
verned the legislature were doubtless pa.
triotic and conservative, the conclusion
arrived at cannot be condemned as dis
honorable; still, in view of the manifest
duty of the state and Of possible results,
cannot but regard it as mistaken and
fslse, and one which may have fatal con-
sequences. Strictly and legally speak
ing, Kentucky must go out of the Union
before she can be neutral. Within it she
is necessarily either faithful to the Gov.
ernment of the United States, or she is
disloyal to it. If this crutch of Deutrali-
ty upon which her we'll meaning but ILL.,
judging politicians are hating. can find
any middle ground on which to rest, it
has escaped my researches, though l have
diligently sought it. Neutrality, in the
sense of those who now use the term,
however patriotieally designed, is, in eff
feet, but snake in the grass of rebellion,
aud those bo handle it will sooner or
later feel its faugs. Said One who spake,
He who is not with as is against u.s.
and of none Of the conflicts which have
arisen between men or between nations,
could this be more trutbfully said than
Of that in which We are now involved
Neutrality necessarily implies indiffcr-
ence. Is Kentucky Indifferent to the is
sue Of this contest! Fl as she, indeed, no.
thing at stakei Has che no compact
with her sister states to keep, DO plighted
faith to uphold. 20 reuown to sustain, no
glorpto winl Has she no horror Of that
or me of crimes now being committed a.
gaiust US by that stupendos rebellion
which has arisen like tempest cloud in
the South! We rejoice to know that she
is still member of thir Union, and as
such she has the same interest in resist
ing thia rebellion, that each limb of the
body has in resisting poniard whose
point is aimed at the heart. It is her
house tba: is on fire; has she no interest
10 extinguisbing the confagration! Will
she stand aloof and announce herself neu-
trail between the raging flames and the
brave men who are perilliDg their lives
to subdue them? Hundreds of thousands
of citizens Of other statesmen of cul.
ture and character, of thought and Of
toil-men who have deep stake in life,
and an intense appreciation Of it's duties
and responsibilities, who know the worth
of this blessed government Of our, and do
not prize even their own blood above it
i say, hundreds of thousands of such
men have left their homes, their work
shops. their Offices, their counting houses
and their fields, and are now rallying "a
bout our flag, freely Offering their all to
sustain it, and since the days that crusad
ing Europe threw its hosts upon the en-
battled plains of Asia, no deeper or more
earnest or grandcr spirit has stirred the
souls Of ueD, than that which now sways
those mighty masses whose cleaning ban
ners are destined ere long to make bright
again the earth and sky Of the dis.
traoted South. Can Kentucky look upon
this sublime spectacle of patriotism un
moved, and then say to herself: 81 vii
spend neither blood nor treasure, but
will shrink away while the battle RACES
and after it has been fought and won,
will return to the camp, we'll assured thai
if l cannot claim the laurels, | will a
least enjoy the blessings Of the sictoryl'
Is this all that emains Of her ehivslry-
of the cbivalry of the land of the Shell
bys, the Johnsons, the Aliens, the Clays
the Adairs, and the DaVisesf Is there {
Kentuckisn within the sound of my voice
tonight, who can hear the anguished CRY
of his country as she wrestles and writhel
in the folds of this gigantic treason, aod
then lay himself down upon his pillos
with this thought of neutrality, withou
feeling that be has something in his bos
om which stings him worse than would ar
adderl Have we, within the bricf perioc
of eighty years. descended so far frou
the mouGtain heights on which our faith
ers stood, that already, in our degenera
cy, We proclaim our blood too precious
our treasure too valuable, to be devoted
to the preservation OF suoh government
as thisl They fought through sever
years war with the greatest power oil
earth for the hope, the bare hope, of be
ing able to found this Republic, and nov
that it is no longer hope nor an expert
ment, but a glorious reality, which ha
excited the admiration and the bomag
Of the nations, and has covered rs viii
blessings as "the waters oover the chan
nels of the sea-" have We, their children
no years of toll, of sacrifice, and Of battle
even, if need bo, to give to cave it fron
absolute destruction at the hands of mel
who. stepped 10 guilt, are perpetratins a
gainst US and humanity crime, 10
which | verify believe the biackest psg
of the history of the world darkest Pc
ried furnishes no parallel Can 1t b
possible that in the history OF the Amer'
can people We have already reashed
f 3a,aneraeV so low, that the woT