Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-29
GEN. CHITrEs,ns's PROoLAmA-


The following proclamation was issued by
Gen Criltenden on his arrival at Mills Springs
HEADQUARTERS, MILLS sPINGs, KY,
January 6, 1852. 5
When the present war between the Coafede-
rate States aud the United States commenced,
the State Of Kentucky determined to remain
neutral. She regarded this as her highest int
rest, and balancing between hope for the TestO-
ration of the Union, and love for her southern
sisters, she declared and attempted to maintain
a firm neutrality.
The conduct Of the United States govern
ment towards her, has been marked with du-
phcity, falsehocd, and wrong. From the very
beginning, the President Of the United States,
in his messages, spoke of the chosen attitude of
Kentucky with open denunciation, and on the
one hand treated it with contempt and derision,
while on the other hand he privately promised the
people of Kentucky that it should be respected
In violation Of this pledge, but IN keeping with
his first and true intention, he introduced into
the State, arms, which were placed in the hands
o. persons known or believed to be in favor Of
AeoerciOn, thus designing to control the people of
! Kentucky, and to threaten the Confederate
States. Then the government of the Confede-
rate States, in self-defense, advanced its arms
into your midst, and offers you their assistance
to protect them from the calamity of northern
military occupation.
By the administration Of your State govern
ment, Kentucky was being held to the United
States, and bound at the feet of Northern tyrar-
ny. That government did not rest upon the
consent Of your people. And now having thrown
it of, a new government has been established,
and Kentucky admitted into the Southern Con-
tederacy. Can Kentuekians doubt which gov
e~rnLlent to sustain? To the South you are allied
by interest, by trade, by geography, by similari-
ty of Institutions, By the ties Of blood, and by
kindred courage. The markets Of the North DO
rot invite your products-yonr State is, to the
center Of Its trade, society and laws, but a dis
tant province, despised for its customs and in
setutiOns-yOW heroic lineage forbids ~associa-
ton in arms with their warriors Of Manassas. of
LeesbUrg and Belmont-and your former devO-
ton TO the Union must intensity your hatred
toward that section which has, in its abolition
crusade, broken TO pieces the Constitution, which
is now yainly endeavoring to destroy the liberty
Of the Southern States!
At first you may have been deceived as to the
purposes of the North. They talked of restoring
the Union. Do you not see that it is hOpeIessly
lost in the storm of war, and that while the rotten
government Of the North is shaking over its ruins
the South has erected out of them a new, pow
egful and free constitutional republici AndRow
indeed the mask is thrown off, and you find the
North, through its President and Secretary of
War, and public journals and party leaders, Civ
ing up the claim of the Union, aud procIalIniug
the extinction of slavery and the s~ubjugation Of
the South! Can you join in this ente. Prise
The South would never, IN any event, consent to
a reconstruction. She is c0ntending with I'M
conqusrable spirit, with great military power,
withunbrOken success, for constitutional freedom
and for her own national government. Where
is your spigit Of other days, that you do not rush
to her victorious standard Shall the sons of
Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi aud other
Southern States, with whom yOu have gathered
the laurels on other battle fields, win them all in
this war of Independence while you are inactive
and lost in slothful incidence May the proud
genius Of my native Kentucky forbid it.
IN these mountains, where freedom and patri-
otism stir the human heart, can you sleep with
the clarion OF a glorious war rigging in your ears!
True, you have refused to bear the arms and
wear the livery of northern despotism. Their
base hirelings have been among you but have
not seduced you into their ranks. VIII you stay
at home and let noble bands of soldiers, armed
in your cause as nyour own, pass on to the bat
tie fields ON your own soil eonsecTated by no deed
Of your valor!
Having assumed command of the forces of
the Confederate States on Cumberland river, in
Southeastern Kentucky, l make this appeal to
you. You are already assured that we come
among You as friends and brothers, to protect
you in your persons, liberties and property, and
only to make war against the invaders Of your
homes and Our common enemies. ] invoke you
to receive us as brothers, and to come to our
camp and share with us the dangers and the
honor of the struggle. Come to these h%eadquaT-
tors, as individuals or in comnanies-a4 JON
viii at once be accepted and mustered in with
Ply aud arms from the government of the Con
Tederate States. At first many Kentuckians en-
tered the ari.iy of the South for the great cause
it supports now this mas become the cause Of
kentucky, and it is your duty to espouse it.
Duty and honor unite in this call upon you.
VIII you Join in the moving columns of the
South, or IS the spirit of Kentucky dead.
-GEnRGE b CRrrrENnEN Hal Len