Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-10-09
&ntlaua Aerald.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 0, 1862.
KENTUCKY.

lion is not well received III Kentucky. The
Louisville Journal fatty says that "Ken
tucky ,oM not submit to it." The majority
Of the people of that State assume to oonsid-
or it as most impoltic measure at this time,
and declare that il will greatly strengthen the
South, and will be Of no advantage to the
North in short that it will convert hundreds,
and thousands Of loyal citizens in the Border
States into avowed and active enemies Of the
Government. The rebel papers boast that
since the Proclamation was issued Kirby
Smith has enlisted more men in Kentucky
than he can supply with arms, and that they
are Aocking to his standard by thousands.
That there are and have been very large
number of unconditional Unionists in Ken
lucky we have no doubt. But it is notori-
susly true, that the majority Of the people,
from the outset OF the rebellion, though re-
fusing to join the Southern Confederacy,
have nevertheless lent mere luke-warm
support to the Government of the Union.-
They first assumed a position Of "neutrali-
ity," and ostentatiously forbade the armies of
the Union an entrance upon the soil OF their
State. Driven as by moments reflection they
would have seen they must be, proved po-
ition SO untenable, they next professed to be
loyal to the Union, and openly espoused its
cause. But it is evident that in taking this
step, the people Of Kentucky were governed
in large measure by their supposed local in
terests, rather than by hearty, loyal senti-
nent. So far as real fighting is concerned,
they have done comparatively little, and
have depended in great part upon the gal
ant troops of the Northwest to protect their
borders from the devastation of rebel inva
sion.
It's idle therefore to say that the Presi-
dents Proclamation has made dsunionists OF
loyal Kentuckians. 1t is not true. 1t may
have afforded an occasion for conditional
Unionists to give expression to their treason
which has all along been lurking in their
hearts, but that is the extent.
We say, emphatically, shame on Ken
lucky il she repudiates the proclamation o.
the President. 1t is made directly in her in
terest. She knows very well that if the re-
bellion continues slavery must inevitably 60
down in blood. She knows that If the wal
continues year longer, and Kentucky il
made the battle ground, as she will be, there
will not be slave left in Kentucky. Sht
knows this would be SO, though the Presiden
were the veriest pro-slavery man in thu
whole nation. She knows that the Procla
nation is nothing more than a simple deere,
of fate, and declares only what would hav
inevitably happened, had it not been pro-
mulgated. Kentucky of all the States in th'
Union has the least cause to complain of tn,
Proclamation. Of all the States IT has tn,
strongest reasons for giving to it heart,
support. So far as it affects her it is proc
clamation Of indemnity for her slave proper
ty. 1t does not affects her SO long as sh
remains in the Union. 1t invites her to &C
eept the proposition made by Congress t
pay her in full for her slave property Oh
y condition that she will give freedom to ,th
slaves. She may rest assured that If she n
pudiates these offers the heavily taxed pei
Pile of the North will not complain. If
surly mood, she will lay down in the tu
row, and permit the rebel armies to com
within her borders, and make her soil th
scene Of strife between the contending armle
the consequences be upon her own head
She cannot hide from her vision the blood
repast which must follow. She cannot
deceived as to the effect which will be pr
duced upon slavery. She knows the ettet
that has been produced in Virginia. Tb
Richmond Examiner says that wherever tn
Union armies have advanced the negroe
have been swept oil as clean as the easter
locusts sweep. a cornfeld." "The Piedmon
the Upper Valley. the Peninsula, the countl
watered by the Rappahannock, and the Pa
tomac, have been stripped Of their neg
population" 1t declares that "there is n
security for the negro population ofthe Stat
unless the legislature make the removal c
negroes from thedistrict invaded compulsory
This is the fate which awaits Kentucky,
the war continues. The Shareholders rebe
"a lion has made it inevitable. The free Nor
are no more responsible for it than the apos
ties in their graves, and there is not an int
igent Kentuckian who does not know it.
If Kentucky does not perceive, all the re
Of the world does perceive, that there are b
two alternatives for Kentuckians to embrac
They must lose THAR slave population eth
without compensation or with it, as they m;