The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-10-04
Armv Matters in Kentucky4-- Ger

Army Matters in Kentucky Gen.
Johnston's Proclamation.
Tic following Proclamation Of Gen, A.
s. Johnston was issued at Columbus, Ky,
on lie odd ult.: @ VE Ia
WurNrAs, the armed occupation Of q
mari of Kentucky by the United States,
and the preparations which manifest the
intention of their government 10 invade
the Confederate States through that ter
ritory, have imposed it on these last, as a
necessity OF self.defence, to enter that
State. ,and, meet the invasion upon the
best Inc for military operations; And,
whereas, tits proper that the motives Of
tlr tovernment ofthc Confederate States
in taking this step should be fully known
/ 10 the world; Now, therefore, /, Albert :.
Johnston, general and commander of the
western department Of the army Of the
Confederate States of America, do pro-
claim that these States have thus march.
cd their troops into Kentucky with no
hostile irtcfiion toward its people nor do
they desire 10 seek to control their choice
in regard to their union with either OF
the Confederacies, or to subjugate their
State or holo its soil against their wishes.
On the contrary, they deem it 20 be the
right Of the people Of Kentucky TO de-
termine their own position in regard to
the belligerents. II is for them to say
whether they will join either Confeder-
acy, or maintain separate existence rs
an independent sovereign State. The
armed occupation of their soil, both ns
| to its extent and duration, will therefore
be strictly limited by the exegencies oil
self defense on the part Of the Confeder.
ate States. Those States intend to con.
form to all the requirements of public
law and international amity, as between
themselves and Kentucky. and accord
ingly hereby command nil who are sub
ject to my orders, to pay entire respect &c
the rights of property and the legal au
| thorities within that State So far us the
same may be compatible with the neces
sites of scf-defense. ''#
II it he the desire Of the people o.
Kentucky to maintain strict and ian
partial neutrality, then the effort to drive
out the lawless intrudcrs, who seek tc
make their State the theatre of war, will
aid them in the attainment of theil
wishes If, as it may not be unreasona
ble to suppose, these people desire tc
unite their fortunes With the Confederate
States, to whom they are already bound
by SO many ties of interest. then the ap
pearance and aid of Confederate troops
will assist them to make an opportunity
for the free and unbiased expression OIL
their will upon the subject. But II it DC
true, which is not TO be presumed, that O
majority of those people desire to adhere
TO the United States and become partie,
to the war; then none can doubt the
right Of the other belligerent TO meet
that war whenever and wherever It may
be waged. But harboring no such suspi
cion, now declare. in the name of the
government which serve, that Its army
shall be withdrawn from Kentucky SO
soon as there shall be satisfactory evi.
dence OF the existence and execution OF
like intention on the part of the United
States.
by order of the President of the Con.
fcderate States of America. -"H
A. S. JOHNSTON,
General Commanding the Western De-
partment Of the Army of the Confed-
crate States of America.