Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-08
mo 12l
No. Il.
LETTER FROM GOV. HARRIS, OF TENEEssEE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
NAsEvIi LE, Team. August 30, 1854.

NO. l..
LETTER FROM GOV. HARRIS, OF TENNESSEE.
FxEcUrIvE DrPARTmENr,l
NAsEvIt LE. Team. August 30 1854. !
HIS ExcsIIengy b. EaEgdiu:
SIR: | am Informed by gentlemen Of the
highest respectsbility, that on or about he2ist
inst a gun boat, commanded by Federal Off
GERS, and manned by Federal troops, seized the
steamer "TeTry" al PaducaA, Kentucky, and
carried her 20 Cairo, Illinois. The " Terry"
1 understand, was owned by citizens Of your
State, who retaiialed by ssizHg be steamer
' Samuel Orr" a mail packet plying between
Evansville, Indiana, and Psducah, and owned
by cit zens Of the former place.
The Orr" with her cargo OF groceries,
was, by her captCTs, TuR up the Tennessee TIv-
er, and now lies under the guns of Fort Henry,
within the State Of Tennessee. The boat and
cargo having been brought within the IgTs-
diction Of Tennessee by citizens Of Kentucky,
and placed in he Gus Ody Of military officers
under my command, / have deemed it due to
you, and the neutrality OF Kentucky, that |
report the facts 10 you, and hold the boat and
cargo subject o such order your Excelleucy
may see proper o make in the premises.
Il is with profound INF crest al reg ct that ]
have witnessed recently the open violation Of
the neutrality Of Ezntgcky by he government
Of the United S stes, By the establishment Of
military enCampm5ngs and other warlike pre-
parations within the terri Orial limits and Iurs-
die ion of vour State. Il we should unTortu-
nateiv be on the eve of a collision between our
States produced BY the Vaccinations Of a com
mon enemy, desire, at this time, on the behalf
Of Tennessee, 70 renew 10 your eXcellencv, as
tue official representative OF Kentucky, tie as
surances heretofore given that the authorities
and people OF Tennessee have fai htully OBJ
served and respected the neutrality Of your
State, and will, if permitted by the authorities
and people Of Kentucky, continue to do So; that
nothing but hostile acts and demonstrations
against Tennessee and the Confederate States
shall ever initiate the contest between our
States, though our citizens Of different govern
m=u's, and they at war with esCh other. Oar
people cannot forget the past. The Telati ne
and connections soTmed in peace and war dur
ing an association Of three fouTths Of a cen
turv, cannot be severed in A month or year.
The indignation felt by Us toward the aggres-
sive and vindictive majority Of TIE free States
has never been entertained toward K-ulUck-
ians.
We feel that socially, commercially, polid-
caiig, and gCogTap aphiralIy, you are SO connected
with us ss TO render hatred and hostility anOm-
alous and unnatural. The Confed rate gov
eminent has never demanded, and we trust and
believe never viii demand, that we should
wantoulv or uniustly infringe the neutrality Of
heAiuEEhs 6hlL tul Iltl4aLb dilii isltttiNito IA
this regard have been not only expressed but
demonstrated by our conduct up to hts time.
Under these circumstances, We cannot be
lieve that Kentucky will, at the instigation Of
either Of the JelligeTeHts, abandon The position
Of neutrality so lately and soiemnly assumed,
OF permit it to be usedso as 10 render hollow
peace more harrassing and dangerous than
open war.
| cannot close this communication without
again calling The attention Of your EXcelien-
ey to the continuance Of some and the lOFma-
tion Of other encampments OF Federal troops
within the State of Kentucky, evidently for
the purposes Of hostility to Tennessee and the
Confederate States, as well as the transporta-
tion Of arms and munitions to some Of our dis
c0ntented citizens.
have no doubt that Kentucky assumed the
position Of neutrality 10 good faith, nor DO
doubt the determination Of your EXcellency 0
maintain it fairly and honorsb!y, but would
respectfully ask the concurrence Of all depart
ments of your State government in the re-
uovaj Of these Irritating ard hsTrassing causes
Of controversy, which constantly eudanger the
peaceful relations Of our State and people.
have the honor to be,
Vsry respectfully, yours, etc,
ISHAM G. HARRIS.