New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-11
LETTER FROM HON. w. L. UNDERWOOD.
The following is letter from the Hon. w. l.. Un-
derwood Of Kentucky TO q friend in st. LOUIS

derwood Of Kentucky to a friend in St. LOUIS
MI. AIR, Warren Co., Ky May |, 1861
DEAR SIR: l returned from Washington yesterday,
where was when your letter reached this city. My
object in going there 10 ascertain for myself the
true purposes Of the Government, and as dependent
upon this the true policy of Kentucky. The condition
OF Missouri, socially and geographically, is very sim-
lar to that of Kentucky except that she even moro
exposed in the event OF her secession than Kentucky
Is They are in condition sufficiently similar to make
their policy the same. Secession is alike fatal to BOTH
You almost peninsula OF Slave territory utting
into an ocean of Free soil You subject TO exposure
therefore, from which courage nor constancy can
relieve you-to nroads, raids and incursions from al
most every quarter. Your neighbors are willing
to be friends, but they are resolved, as is every
other Free State, to support the Government In
the righfu exercise of its legitimate functions, the
first Of these being to maintain Its own existence
against the plotngs of those who would annihiate it,
in order to form new and unauthorized combinations
out of its Fragments Should Missouri place herself in
cooperation with these and In hostility to the Govern
ment she WILL by her own acts, thus place herself in
hostility with her neghbop, and she will have
to be disappointed that her fields may be devas-
tated her trade ruined and her slave property swept
from existence. Ancient friendship, and the remem
brance of past good neighbOrhood, will but embter
the coming fend, and that war which Is at first civil
will become social and then serve, until all that is
worth preserving is gone.
Stand then, my dear friend, by the Constitution of
your country enforce its laws, and maintain the In
tegity of the Union. In this alone consists your
safety. Let no folly or ndiscreton the mbecility
of Mr. Incoln's Administration the one hand, nor
sectional pride and affinity nor glowing portraitures
of wrongs real or imaginary, which the South has
endured but the existence Of which che can alone
redress In the Union, and not out Of ~ swerve your
gallant State from her allegiance TO General Govern
ment, that has never deprived her OF solitary right
OF inflicted on her single wrong. The policy Of the
Administration to all the Border States, which have
not seeded is the same In reference to Kentucky,
Mr. Lincoln told ne he hoped Kentucky would stand
by the Government in the present difficulties, but II
she would not do that let Der stand still and take no
hostile part against it, and that no hostile step should
tread her soil. This is true with Missouri. :.
Let me tell You, further that the temponnng policy
of the Administration In reference to the assaults and
capturing of its forss arsenals and property over
Henceforth, they who make war will have war made
on them. The monopoly which tho So1tn mas en-
loved In that direction 6as ended and all the powers
Of the Government hsnceforth, viii be sxerted TO
maintain the property and the legal authority Of the
Government within bn Just limits You pssd not,