Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-10-03
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TriWeekly, per ear. MISUNDERSTANDING SS
weekly, per year ,.........."............s 90
address OF the Legislature 10 the PeO.
Pie OF Kentucky.
In this extraordinary crisis, we deem it dnty
we, your representatives, owe to you and our
selves TO say few words to you as TO the con.
dition OF the Commonwealth and the duties we
have been called upon to perform.
we nave ardently desired peace, and hoped
70 save kentucky from the calamities of war
when the Federal authorities deemed Il ne.
cessary to employ force In aelf.defense, and "a
execute the laws Of the Government, we assur.
ed our Southern neighbors of our purpose not to
take up arms voluntarily against them, not.
withstandiDg their wicked attempt to destroy
the Government, from which we and our fathers
nave received the greatest benefits Every ef-
iort was made, both before and after the en-
ployment OF force, to effect some compromise
and settlement that would restore the Unon
and prevent the cffusion of blood.
The Federal Government did not insist upon
our active aid in furnishing troops, seeming
content II we obeyed the laws aud executed
,nem upon our soil: Those engaged in rebel
hon, however, with hypocritical professions OF
friendship and respect, planted camps of soldiers
all along our southern border; seized, by mill
tary power, the stock on our railroad within
Their reach, in defiance of chartered rights; i'm.
pudentiy enlisted soldiers upon our soil for their
camps, whom they ostentatiously marched
tnfougn their territory. They made constant
RAIDS into this State; robbed us of our property
lnsuited our people; seized some of our citizens,
anu carried them away, as prisoners, into the
confederate States. Our military was demor
alizeu Dy the treachery OF its chief officer in
command, and many of his subordinates, until
u became more an arm of the Confederate
states than Guard Of the State of Kentucky.
linus exposed to wrongs and indignitles, with
no power prepared TO prevent or resent them,
some OF the citizens of this State formed camps
under the Federal Government for the defense
and protection of the State Of Kentucky. What
ever might have been thought Of the policy
once' recent events have proved that they were
formed none too soon.
In TINS condition We found Kentucky when
she Legislature met on the first Monday in
september; We still hoped to avoid war on our
own soil We were met by assurances from the
President of the Confederate States that our no.
sition should be respected; but the ink was
scarcely dry with which the promise was writ.
ten' Wnen we were startled by the news that our
soil was Invaded, and towns In the southwest of
t,, our state occupied by Confederate armies
Inc governor OF Tennessee disavowed the act,
anu protested his innocence of it. His commits.
sioners at Frankfort professed the same inno-
cence OF the admitted wrong; but our warnings
70 leave were only answered BY another invasion
IN the southeast of the State, and a still more
direct and deadly ASSAULT upon the very heart Of
tne State by way Of the Nashville road, These
suooen irruptions Of such magnitude, skilfully
directed, SHOW that the assault on Kentucky '
vas preeoncerted, prepared aud intended long
oeioie' Ihe excuses made for any of them but
aod insult TO injury. We shall not repeat them
Ihey are but excuses for acts intended, without
any excuse. - ''0'
Inc purpose is to remove the theater Of the
war from the homes Of those who wickedly orig
mated lt 70 those of Kentucky, and TO involve
Inis state In the rebellion This purpose ap.
peareo 70 De well understood IN the seeded
oates' Ihey need the territory of Kentucky,
snu are determined to have it, if it must be by
blood and conquest
Thus forced into war, we had no choice bu,
70 call on the strong arms and brave heart, OF
kentucky to expel the invader from our soil
and to call for the aid of the Federal Govern
ment, as we had right to do under the FEEDER
| al Constitution. Wv WV
Our foes would dictate terms to brave peo-
pie upon which we can have peace, We are
required to Join them in their un warranted re.
oellion, become accessory to their crimes. and
consent to sacrifice the last hope of permsne nt.
y upholding Republican institutions, or meet
tneir invasions as It becomes Kentuckians.
we believe we have done our duty to ohiy.
alric people, who have forborne long, but will
never fail, as last resort, to resent an injury
and punish an Insult. We should hold our.
selves unworthy to represent you, If we had
Sone Tess; Inc only error, we fear, is that we
nave nos Deen as prompt you may think, as the
occasion demanded. Thrice have the revolu-
sonists appealed TO the ballot box, in this State,
and thrice have the people expressed, by over.
whelming msjorities, their determina,ion n 70
stand by the Union and its Government. Tbey
have not been active in this war, not from in.
difference, or want Of loyalty, but In the hone
OF petter promoting o restoration of the Union.
ana ohecking the rebellion by that course. Our
hope oil an amicable adjustment, and a desire
ior peace, LED US to forbear, until forbearance
mas ceased TO be virtue. The attsmpt to de.
stroy the Union Of these States we believe to be
crime, not only against Kentucky, but against
all mankind. But up to this time We have Jeff
70 others to vlndlcste, by arms, the integrity Of
the Government The Union Ia not oDlv ss.
sailed now, but Kentucky is herself threatened
with subjugation by lawless usurpatlon. The
invasion is carried on with ruthless deatruc.
tion OF property, and the lives and liberties of
our people that belongs only to savage warfare.
we have no choice but aotiou-prompt and
decided. Let us show the insolent invaders
that Kentucky belongs to Kentuokians, and
tnat kentucky valor Will vindicats Kentucky 4
non9r. we were unprepared because unsus-
peoung' An insolent and treacherous invade,
tells the people that their legislators have be.
rayed them; and he comes with fire and sword
70 correct the error, by q crusade against prop
young men Of Kentucky, to arms! to protect
sne nome Oh your fathers, mothers, and sisters
Sound the tocsin on every hill and In every val
ley, until Kentucky shall drive the ipsolen, IN
vader from her soil. ' -
LII. HARVEY,
GEO H YEAMAN,
NATHL WOLFE,
JOHN W. FINNELL,
w. s. RANKIN, (