The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-06-13
A GOOD CID KENTUCKY SPEECH.
THE UNION CANNOT BE DESTROYED.


By Senator Rousseau, an tie kentucky
Senate, on tie 2la Nay, 1861.
THE question before the Senate was on
discharging the Committe on Military At
fairs from the further consideration Of a
petition of sundry citizens of Paducah,
praying for IN appropriation for the pur-
pose OF establishing a fort at that place.
Senator johnson made very able sreech b
against the discharge of said Committee. I
Senator Rousseau said /: | shall vote
for the discharge of the Committee. The
petition comes from the respectable con-
stituebts OF the Senator from McCracken
DIR. johnson. They ask for q appro-
priation to fortif, Paducah. Their re-
quest has been duly and respectfully cou,
sidered by the Com u ittee Oh Military AZ
fairs, and said Committee desircs to be
discharged from the further consideration
Of the suhject. The Senator from Nc
Crseken says he has little hope of obtain
ing the appropriation, or that his people
will be heard b. the Legislature that
they are defenscless, and provision should
tie made for their defense. | asked that
Senator against whom they would defend
ihcmselvesl He was then on the floor of
the Senate, but declined to answer
There could have been but one reply TO
the question, and that he would not give.
| will give him the answer. The assum-
ed preparation for defense was. in fact,
preparation to fight our Own Government.
OF this have 20 doubt. aud hence no re.
ply to my question. Can it be that de-
fcnsive measures are desired to oppose
jeff Davis! Manifestly not He would
be sustained by that Senator, an! tho-e
that act with hin. But who threatens
rsducahl Who offers to assail ber!-
Who will asssil herl Will our OVID Co.
vernmeDt assail her! Surely not. Then
why fortify Paducah more than CoViug-
ton, Newport, Louisville, Maysville. and
other exposed points on the Ohio Riscrl
There is no reason for it.
But the Senator tells US that Louisville,
too, might tie fortified. | au much o.
blised TO him. Louisville is in DO dau-
ger. She is already fortified by the
strong arms of her brave and patriotic
citizens. They are loyal and true to the
Union. She has no fears of our own Co.
vernment She knows that the United
States Government is hers, and she loves
it for its blessings, and relies upon it for
her protection. If assaled by the sece-
ded States, and hard pushed, she knows
where to 6nd defenders, and she will
have them. Her people will not tolerate
the enormous expense necessary to her
forti6eation, nor will she, 10 any event,
for,ify against her own Government. As
her representative here, I'll lend myself
TO 10 such atrocious purpose. | will rot
d-bt, nor prepare to fight, against my own
Government, nor countenance the sche emcs
of those who do. Never No, Sir, let
those who would fight the United States,
and like the work, 60 at it. | will not
aid them 10 their reasonable projects,
tut will resist them to the last.
But wish to sum up. Mr.. Speaker
Permit me to tell you, Sir, what | think
of this whole atrocious scheme of Seces-
sion. speak for myself only aud am a.
lone responsible for what say; aud |
thank God tha, l may still speak what |
think OF Kentucky soil. Yes, Sir, good,
brave old Kentucky, my mother, my
own native land" is still free. There is
no reign Of terror here. We still haze
free sp, ech, free press, and, as yet, we
are free men. Kentucky is true and 10y
al to the Government. She still rests her
bead 10 peace and security upon the fond
breast of her motber--tbe Union; and
there may she rest forever. She has
called upon her gallant sons to rally a.
round her and beat OF the vandals who
would tear her away from her earliest
and holiest associations, and bear ber to
certain destruction.
Bot Kentucky is in false position
felt il from the first. Yet, she having
assumed a neutral attitude, | felt it to be
ny duty to stand by her. and have faith
fully done so. | am willing still to stand
BY the position of Kentucky, if we can DO
SO in peace and security. But the posi-
ton is an awkward one, aud may be more
awkward yet before our difficulties are
ended. The Uuion is threatened; the
Government is threatened by those who
have not one we'll grounded complaint to
make against it-by those who have con
troled its destinies for years. | denounce
the effort. and those who make it. say
tits wroDg-infamous; aud if successful
it must entail ruin upon us aud ours
We see tho work of mischief goin on, and
quietly sit by with folded arms while it
is done.
Kentucky bss as much interest in the
Union as any other State. She loves it
as devotedly and shares its benefits and
blessings in comm on with her sister States.