Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-06-26
The Administration aud X Kentucky-tsene-
raj McCIelIan's Diplomacy.

A state of Civil War, at least until the
parties have come to full recognition of
the fact of its existence, and have accepted
all the conditions that naturally belong to
it, is full of startling anomalies. The parties
are in one aspect enemies, and in another
fellow citizens and until some Standard
can be fixed by which enmity can be with
certainty distinguished from friendship, the
whole is scene of confusion.
The true rule in civil war is, "He that is
not with us is against u.s." In international
wars, there is such a thing as neutrality; but
when Government is at war with its rebel
hous subjects, there is no place within its
boundaries for a neutral power. To refuse
to support legitimate authority is to give aid
and comfort to those who are arrayed against
it; ard all indulgence to such is a mistake,
capable of two fold injurious effect-to
weaken the moral force of the Govern ment
and to add to that of the party in arms for
its overthrow.
Nothing in the whole history of the pres
ent difficulties has exhibited more striking
evidences of feebleness than the policy of the
Government toward Kentucky. If it has
been sincerely desirous that Kentucky should
remain in the Union, no course could have
been more i'll advised. Whether or not a
majority of the people Of Kentucky are in
fnvor-in case the South remains Confed,
eracy-of continuing their connection with
the Northern Union, this much is certain
Kentucky will go out unless she is pre-
vented from doing so by means other than
exist among her citizens and within her
boundaries. Any arrangement, therefore
by which the Government is prevented from
taking such action as, at any time, shall seem
to be desirable to prevent Secession, is un.
wise in the extreme.
Within day or two there has come tc
light papers showing that an agreement
was entered into, on the 10th inst, between
General McClellen, asking on the part of the
United States and S. B. Buckner, Inspector.
General of Kentucky, acting for the Gov.
ernSr in which the former has for certain con.
sideIations, stipulated "that the territory o.
Kentucky shall be respected on the part of the
United States"-an expression, which in its
full force, means that to move forces of the
United States into Kentucky would be an
insult or an injury to the sovereignty, or the
honor of that Commonwealth.
We are unable to say what is the present
policy of the Government in respect to Ken
lucky; but from the view which it took of g
similar arrangement entered into by Genera
Harney with the Governor of Missouri, We
can hardly believe that it will look upon the
act of General Mcclellan with feelings o
approval. He may, it is true, have acted
under the instructions of the Administration
in which case the blame lies at the door Of
the latter as well as the charge of inconsist.
ency. But, by whose authority soever il
was done, we can not but look upon it a;
illadvised, and likely to be productive o.
evil consequences.
1t is wrong in principle for a Government
to release its paramount right over any por
tion of its territory. To do so is in its logica
consequences, an admission of the right o.
secession. That which it may do or permit
temporarily it may permanently; and if one
is justifable so is the other and for an army
officer to become party to an act even o.
transitory disunion without specific author
ity from his superiors to that effect is pitch
of discretion which it will require strong
and urgent inducements to Justify.