Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-14
peace convention in Kentucky.

Peace Convention I'm Kentucky.
A Peace Convention vas held at Frank
fort, KY, on the 10th inst, some fifty coun-
ties being represented. Capt RICHARD
HAwEs, of Bourbon, presided. Nessrs VIM.
Preston, B. P. Cisseii, Gen. Stephens, Gov.
Powell, Jacob Golladay, A. G. Talbot, C. p.
Mattingly, Squire Turner, Gov. Morehead
Geo. W. johnson, ]. W. Moore, and A. B.
Chambers. were appointed Committee to
prepare resolutions expressive of the sense OF
the Convention, which they did as follows:
WHEREAS. We, the delegates Of the people
from all parts of the State in popular Con-
vention assembled, without distinction OF past
party organization, have met together at a
period of profound interest and public dan
ger, to consider the best means of preserving
the peace of the Commonwealth. and secur-
ing our own rights and liberties unimpaired;
therefore,
Rssolped. That every material interest of
Kentucky. as we'll as the highest dictates of
patriotism, demand that peace should be
maintained within her borders, and this Con-
yention sdemnIy pledges the honor of its
members to do all in their power to promote
this end.
2. That il is the deliberate sense of this
Convention, and it is believed of an over
whelming majority of the people of Kentucky
that the best and perhaps the only mode of
effectiUg this great object, is by tdhering
strictly, rigidly, and impartially to her
chosen and often declared position OF neutral
ity during the existence of the deplorable
war now raging between the sectious, taking
sides neither with the Government nor with
the seeding States, and declaring her soil
must be preserved inviolate from the armed
occupation of either.
3. That the organization and presence up
on the territory of Kentucky OF military
force of either of the belligsrents is viola
ton of the neutrality iDdorsed by the people,
and we believe can be attended by none
other than the most fatal and disastrous re-
suits: and in that belief we earnestly advise
the immediate removal by the proper author
tiles of all such force from the limits OF the
State
4. That it is the deliberate Judgment of
this Convention, and they believe of more
than two-thirds of the people of Kentucky,
that '.tbe policy of coercion is wild and sui
cidal, promising only to deluge the land with
blood, and dissolve the Union lrretrievably
in the crimson tide;' and they therefore
earnestly invoke good and true men of all
parties, the patriots and lovers of liberty,
both North and South, to exert every infiu-
ence to bring about a cessation of hostilities
In order that fair and honest effort may be
made to agree on terms OF permanent peace.
5. That il is the deepest convictions of their
hearts that this is not less demanded by the
interests of humanity and the dictates of pa
triotism, than by the preservation of that lib
erty which they so highly prize, and upon
which such fearful inroads have already been
made.
6. That the late Act of Congress confscat-
ing paoperty and emancipsting slaves as a
penalty for the crime of the owner, is gross
and palpable violation of the Constitution of
the United States, and justly alarming to the
freemen of Kentucky. IT such power exists.
Congress may, with equal right, annex the
penalty of emancipation to every violation
of any of its laws.
7. That we should not consider ourselves
faithful sentinels of liberty, if we failed to
raise our voice in unqualified condemnation
of the open aud fragrant violation of the Con-
stitutiOn of the United States by the Presi-
dent, in arrOgsting to himself powers vested
by that compact of union exclusively in Con-
gress; by increasing the regular army and
navy; and calling out volunteers for three
years; by regulating at bis own will and
pleasure commerce between the States; by
blockading ports without any declaration of
war by Congress; by the suspension of the
| writ of ho6eas corpus, the bulwark of Ameri-
can liberty; and exercising powers which nei-
| Their he nor Congress possesses; b. authorlz-
| Jog his military commanders to proclaim
| martial law, to arrest persons arbitrarily
| without legal warrant, to imprison whom
| sOeyer they please without their conviction
/ of any crime, to deny them speedy public
| trial, and to dismiss the police officers OF CT
| ties, and to appoint others in their place; by
| lettering the freedom of commerce of State
within its own bounds; by suppressing news
/ papers and prOstituting the mail OF the United
i States, by refusing them transportation, thus
/ DESTROYING the freedom of the press; by in
1 fringing the peoples right to bear arms; and
i lastly. by making unreasonable searches and
| seizures We consider these acts q crime
against the liberty of mankind.
| g. That the late proclamation OF Gen. Fire.
| mont in Missouri. abolishing and subordina.
| ting the entire civil power of the State to his
| own arbitrary will, and emancipating the
/ slaves, is such manifest violation of the
| plaiuest provisions of the Constitution, and
| such bold invasion of the liberties OF the
| people, as demands the unqualified condemna-
| ton Of every CT ken. and should meet with
| the determined rebuke OF every loyal State,
| whether slavehOlding or otherwise.
g. That We consider it incompatible with
| the neutrality avowed by Kentucky to vote
| money for the prosecution of the civil wal
| now pending, or tax the people of the State
/ or augment its debt for purpose so unwise,
| and for a cause so hopeless. as the military
| subjugation of the Confederate States.
10. That having first secured the neutrality
of Kentucky, we advise the union of all
good men, for the purpose of producing
peace between the belligerent parties on the
best practicable basis, maintaining the honor
and embracing the interests of each.
IL. That for this purpose we recommend a
truce between the belligerents, and the ap-
pointment of Commissioners by the United
States and the Confederate States, to treat
for permanent peace.
IL. That the exercise of powers by the Pre-
sident not warranted by the Constitution of
the United States, upon the plea of necessity.
is precedent too dangerous to the liberties of
the people to be sanctioned or Endorsed by
them.
These resolutions were unanimously
ado