Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-11-15
The Southern Kentucky Move

! The following are the resolutions adopt
ed by the delegates from large portion
of Southern Kentucky, in conference at
Russellyille, on the Both Of October;
WHEREAS, The majority of the Legis-
lature Of Kentucky have violated their
most solema pledges made before the elec-
ton, and deceived and betrayed the peo-
lple have abandoned the position of neu-
traiity assumed by themselves and the
people, and invited into the State the or
ganized armies of Lincolnj have abdica-
ted the government in favor Of the mill
tary despotism which they have placed
around themselves, but cannot control,
and have abandoned the duty of shielding
the citizens with their protection; have
thrown upon our people and the State the
horrors and ravages of war, instead of at
tempting to observe the peace, and have
voted men and money for the war waged
by the North for the destruction of our
constitutional rights; haFe violated the
express words of the Coksttutien by bor-
rowing five millions of money for the sup
port of the war without vote Of the peo-
pie; have permitted the arrest and impris-
onment of our citizans, and transferred the
constitutional prerogatives OF the Execu-
tive to military commission of partisans !;
have seen the writ of habeds corpus sus-
pended without an effort for its preserva-
tion, and permitted our people to be driven
in exile from their homes, have subjected
our property to confiscation, and our per-
sons to confinement III the penitentiary as
felons, becazse we choose to take part III a
contest for civil liberty and constitutional
government, against sectional majority
waging war against the people and insti
tutions of fifteen independent States of
the old Federal Union and have done all
these things deliberately, against the war
ming and vetoes of the Governor, and the
solemn remonstrances of the minority in
the Senate and House of Representatives,
Therefore, be it
/. Resozued, That the unconstitutional edics
of factious majority of a Legislature thus
false to their pledges, their honor and their
interests, are not law and that such gov
ernment is unworthy of the support of a
brave and free people, and we therefore
denounce their unconstitutional acts and
usurpations, and bids defiance both to the
Federal and State government.
Resolyed, That abandoned and betrayed
as we have been by the Lincolnite major
ity of the Legislature of Kentucky, and
prescribed by the abolition party, who
J have usurped the Federal Government
} and broken the Constitution of the Fed
eral Union and being as yet no part OF
the Southern Confederacy, and therefore
a together without the protection of law,
, the people have, by the laws Of God, and
E the express letter of the Constitution OF
: Kentucky, "at all times an inalienable and
indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abol-
ish their Government, in such a manner
, as they may think proper; and in the
language of the same Constitution we de-
+, clare, that absolute and arbitrary power
: over the lives, liberty and property OF
freemen, exist nowhere in Republic hot
even in the largest majority"
Resolced, That I've do hereby declare
: that the majority of the Legislature, by
their acts have abandoned, betrayed and
/. abdicated the Government and that the
! people have now right to fair repre-.
t sentatf6n of their will, and that the Gov
ernor be, and is hereby invited to convene
a Legislature to meet outside the lines OF
D the Lincoln army to be composed of such
: members as are now elected and may at
2 tend, Or new members to be chosen by
the people.
S And Whereas, We have reason to be-
tlieve that the Governor is unable to con.
vene the Legislature outside the lines OF
: the Lincoln army, therefore
. ReSolred, That we recommend conven-
:. ton, to be chosen, elected, or appointed, in
z ANY manner now possible, by the people Of
= the several counties of the State, TO mee
n at Russelville on the 18th day OF Noyem
c Der, and we recommend TO them the pass
j. age of an ordinance severing forever oul
5 connection with the Federal Government
g and to adopt such measures, either by th'
IS adoption of Provisional Government o.
otherwise, as in their judgment will giv'
full and ample protection to the citizens IL
n their persons and property, and secure t.
J. them the blessings of Constitutional Gov
: ernment.
/ Resoiued, That we recommend to th'
= people in every county where they hay
1t the power so to do, to organize at once
,e County Guard ofat least one hundred men
/ to be armed by the people in every count.
II and mounted, if possible, to be paid u
It Confederate troops, and subject to duty i
il their own and adjoining counties, and sub
a.. iect also to the rules and regulations o
IS the Confederate States, and to the order
5 of the Commanding General.
= Resoleed, That we will never pay on
k cent of the unconstitutional loan OF hv
'e millions of dollars, obtained by the Leg
g islature from the banks for the prosecu
ie ton Of this war, instituted for the coercio!
aud subjugation Of the slaveholding States
and we will resist, by force Of arms, if ne
G. cessary, the collection by the sheriits OF al
It, taxes intended to be paid over to the Lin
coin party in the Legislature, and that "
denounce as enemies to their country an
GO constitutional government, all those wh