The weekly Butte record., 1863-12-19
KENTUCKY UNION DEMOCRATIC CONvFN
TTON

. TION.
The President called the Couyention 10 order at
O'Clock p. VI. Judge Wheat from the COMMITTEES
on Resolutions. made the following report:
Resoired, That this Convention approve and en-
dorSe the prlc.I ,tS embodied in the Joint res0lu
tioaS upon Federal Affairs adopted by the General
Assembly Of this Commonwealth 81 il, late session
hereby affirming the same.
The following are the resolutions Of the General
Assembly thus endorsed by the Convention:
ReSo're3, that our institutions are assailed by az
armed rebellion on Cne side which can only be met
by the sword. and on the other by unconstitutional
acts Of Congress and startling usurpatons OF power
by the Executive, which have seen by cxperi-
ment can be corrected by the ballot box. Policy.
As well as principle, requires that kentucky shat.
await the process Of reform which i slow hat sure
and refrain from all unlawful and unconstitutional
acts winch have already brought terrible CaiamtleS
upon the country; whilst We invoke the aid Of all
patriotic men to avert the evils that threaten our
free institutions.
Rcso'red. That this General Assembly declares.
aS before it has often declared. that he State of
Kentucky hath ever been, and is loyal to the gov
eminent of the United States of America. and is
determined 10 maintain that loyalty against bo,h
domestic and foreign foes.
ReSoired That this General Assembly recognizes
a manifest difference between any administration of
the government and the government itSelf-the
one is tranSitory limited in duration only to that
period of time for which the officers elected by the
people are charged with the conduct OF the same {:
endure forever.
Resoircd, That this General Assembly now in
the exercise of its right 10 diner in opinion with
the National Executive, enters lis solemn protest
against the proclamation of the President Of the
United States. dated lst of January 1858, by which
he assumes to emancipate all slaves within certain
states holding the same u be ulwise, unconstitl
tional and void.
Resolred, That this General Assembly declare.
that tie power which has recently been assumed
by the President of the United States. whereby
under the guise of military necessity, he has pro
claimed and eXtclded martial law over States
where war did not exist, and has suspended the
writ of habeas corpus. is unwarranted by the Con
Stution. and its tendency Is to subordinate civil to
military authority. ana 10 sUbvert constitutional
and free government.
Reso'red, That this General Assembly declines
to accept the Presidents proposition for emancipa-
ton. as contained il his proclamation of the 18th
Rcsoirtd, That this General Assembly deems 1t
proper further TO declare that it. together with all
the loyal people Of the State. would hail with pleas.
ure and delight any manifestation of a desire on the
part of the seeded States to return to their ale
glance TO the government Of the Union and ould
in such event. cordial and earnestly cooperate
with them in the restoration Of peace, aud the pro-
curement of such guarantees as would give security
to all their interests and rights.
ReSoired. That Kentucky viii adhere to the Con
stitution and the Union, the best II may bc tie
last hope OF popular freedom; and for all wrong.
may exist, will seek redress under the Constitution
aud within the Union. by the peaceful but powerful
and irresistible agencies Of the saffragas Of free
people.
Resoired, That this General Assembly halls with
pleasuiable bope the recent manifestations Of con
ser7ative sentiment among the people of the non
slayeholding States IN their lac elections and re-
gard the same a the earnest Of a good purpose on
their part 10 cooperate with all other loyal citi-
zen>-give security to the rights Of every section
and maintain the Union and the Constitution as
they were ordained by the founders of the Republic.
ReSoired, That in the Judgment Of this General
Assembly. a convention should he called for the
purpose of proposing such amendments to the Ma
tlonai Constitution as experience has proved to be
necessary 10 maintain that instrument in the spirit
and meaning Of its founders; aud TO that end we
re-aiirm and adopt the resolutions recommending :
call for Convention Of the United States, ap-
proved January .. lSGl.
RoSolreG, That the laws Of this State must be
maintained and enforced and that it Is the duty Of
the constituted authorities of the State to see to it.
that by all constitutional means this indispensable
end shall be attained.
ReSolred, That the Governor be requested TO for
ward a copy Of these resolutions to the Prcsiden.
of the United States. and 20 the Governor Ct each
State, with request that he lay the same before
the Legislature Of his State. and to each Of our
Senators and Representatives in Congress. Our
Senators are instructed and our Representatives
requested. 70 use their best efforts 70 accomplish
the objects OF these resolutions.