Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-20
LincoIn,s knavery.

Reyuod, force on Cheat Mountain, and this side Huton'
vile, amounts to between FIVE and six thousand.
LincoIn's Knavery.
Gen. Buckner, Of Kentucky, who was employed oy
Gov Maccfn in arranging the terms OF the States neu
trsl,y with Lincoln Co.. has Published an account oil
his negotiations The first plst relates to his Transactions
with Mcclellan the last to an interview with Lncoln
CODY this portion deveopes the traits OF this bistor
cal parsonage We had been taught TO regard him as
coarse, vulgar oaf deghting in obscene jess proud
of his ergth Of body and obstinate as mule in bis de-
vo,ion to his low and vulgar tabudss. Commonplace
honesty was not necessarily Incompatible with such
traits of character, neither it indispensable man
NAV be a fool and knavs at the same time. Lincoln Is
So in point, His ignorance and stupidity is incones'
table, his inciuceriy and dupcity-hs disposition 10
crcumven and deceive has been betrayed by bis every
acton 10 Office 1t may be that he is tool in the hands
of more ariul knav; but he is at any rate, ready
and upress.ng tool Il would seem from the nice dis
,ircon which he drew between the words respser and
observe" In reference to the neutrality OF Kentucky
that his master had been giving him lessons, ard he had
every inclination to profit by them In respect to the
promise to ssobserve" the neutrality Of Kentucky, by
not sending troops there which he kept by organizing
armies within the State we have Illustration both Of
bis intellect and his good faith.
To be dubbed by such knavish ignoramus is fate
not uniting q Commonwealth, which, in such csisis,
should in gorousy shrink from the responsibilities Of ur
holding Freedom.
The following the conclusion Of General Buckners
publication
I learned, when in Washington, from some Of the
f,nds of the President that he xceedngy tender
f. o,ed on the meaning Of certain terms. He was not
W ling to rsspse the neutral position Of Kentucky for
that would be acknowledge her right to assume it
bu. he entirely wiling TO 'obsrre' II. To me the
discovery was OF interest," for it had not previously
CURED 10 me that would fad such nice discrimination
Of terms IN an official who had not apparently dscov-
cred the lines which divide constitutional republic fcom
Al absolute desIo5sn and who classes party Platform
above the Constitution which be is sworn 10 support
had q very friendly interview with the'Pres dent.
justified the attitude OF Kentucky, the ground that
the President had himssf corfessedy violated the Con
.tituon and therefore had no right TO cal upon Ken
ucky 10 aid him in this violation and that even II his
scs we're justified as he claimed by necessity, the same
course shen il question CT internal pescs IN Ken
lucky. would Justify the attitude she had assumed.
The President succeeded in impr6sspg upon me the
bsef that Sas long az there roads around Ken
ucky to reach the rebellion il was his purpose to leave
hersunmos.ed not yielding her right to the position
she occupied but observing az matter oil policy 80
fully was impressed with ths purpose on his part that
suggested that he would make to definite state
,uent of his policy would take pleasure in announcing
L 10 the pu lie assuring him that in my opnion would
end greatly to tly public excitement and to preserve
the peace Of the State.
On INV return by appointment, two days afterwards,
The President wrote ia ths presence OF Hon. John }.
Crttenden and myself aud handed me the following pS-
par Il bars all the marks OF the Characteristic md.
rsetness OF President Lncoln's mind He accounted for
the absence of his signature by saying that he did not
Hnrncam alton y buL q Ia
per, on which could base my statements Of his policy,
and which would be my evidence hereafter, il any differ
snce should arise relative to that policy sad he appealed
% Mr. Crenjeu who present to identify the paper
10 any way that he thought proper This was done by
the latter gentsmaDs su5joning his initials The follow
ing i. the paper referred to
lii nv DUTY as conceive to suppress insurrec-
ton existing within the United States wsh TO do this
with the eas: possible disturbance annoyance to well
sposed Dc ople anywhere So far, Ihave seat
ed force into Kentucky have any present purpose to
do So sincerely desire that necessity for it miy be
presented; but TO gay nothing which shall here
arer emblass in the performance Of what may seem
70 be my DUTY.
Jolly TO- 1861
(Sgned) J. J. c.
ibis memorandum was handed to me by President A.
Lincoln. IN the Executive Chamber Washington, on the
10Th July 1861 in the presence OF Hon. j. j. Crtten'
deu Who At the instance OF the President, witnessed 1t
by marking 1t with bis initials.
Though the paper is not generally characterized with
drectness there is in IL positive statement that no pur
pose sd in his mad TO send any troops to Kentucky
On this assertion, which bound to believe was car
did have until recently not hesated to state that
believed the President would continue to observe the
neutrality of Kentucky unless compelled to take d
frent course by few Union men who would be entire
IL willing make every hearhstone desoate ifit would
subs serve their ambitious purposes.
Blu: there is every believe that a. the very
l,... me- the he medated de.
cepou; fer on either the same day. or the previous day
n officer entirely 10 his confidence the subject left
hs presence and has since been engaged IN organ
ling trooss 10 Kentucky under the authority Of the Pre-
silent, and with bis subsequent approval.
This Of course Is as clear violation OF neutrality az
i tr,op, had been ordered from another State, and
could not conceive that the President would be guilty OF
such disiugenuousress endeayor TO make any dis
tncon between ordering troops from another State sod
organizing without the desire OF the Governor or tue
Legislature revolutionary force In tho State thus IN
teroosng between the Government OF Kentucky and Its
people Under his authority the State has also been in
vlded by an organized Union regiment from East Ten
nessee. -.. -#
Toe development. Of these facts renders 1t necessary
,has should now make public the plper which was
given me to Justify the statements have maze. That
and the other Of the President induced
me TO believe that he srcsre and determined me,
while would not give my active support to Govern.
ment that acting absurdly and SO wckedy wrong
Ia other respects least TO refrain from opposing as
long as there was enough Of justice left In Its administers
ton TO respect the attitude assumed by my State
Sirce then as before my efIrts, within the limited
sphere OF nv nlence have been directed towards pre-.
serving peace amongst the people OF Kentucky II war
should be the result Of the violation Of neutrality, my
| conscience Ia clear Of ofsnse.
RrssKLvrLLE, Kr., Sept IL. 1851,
Cornterfeits.