Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-02
Kentucky Liberty at the Feet of the
Military.

HENRY COUNTY, KY. Feb. 20, 1863
On the 18th of November. 1863, motion was
made i'm the House of Representatives of the
Kentucky Legislature to grant the Use of their
Hall to the citizens OF kentucky. who should
come to Frankfort on the 18th inst. to hold
Democratic Convention. The motion failed by
a small majority. The vote was as follows:
Those who voted for the resolution were
Messrs. Speaker, (Buckner), r. c. Anderson,
Blue, Boone, Bolts, Bowling, Brann, Burnam.
Bush, Calvert Chambers, Chandler, j b. Coch-
ran, Robert Cochran, COnklin, Garriott, Hamp
ton, Harney, Heady, Humphries johnson, Mar
tin, Miller Murphy, Proctor, Ricketts, Roberts
Rousseau. Ssyers, Spalding, Taylor. Thomas,
Underwood. Vanpet. Van Winkle and Ward-36.
Those who voted against the resolution we're
Messrs. Allen, J. w. Anderson. Bacheller,
Bailey, Barnes, Beazly, Bell, Brinkley. r. j.
Browne, ThOs s. Brown, Cyrus Campbell, j.
w. Campbell, Clay. Curtis, Downing Finnell,
Gabbert, Gibson. Hawthorne, Heeter, Henry,
Ireland, Johns. Kennedy, Layton, Lisenby, Me
Farland, Mercer, Morrow, POindexter, Powell,
Rankin, Rapier. Riguey. Smith, Starks, Tevis,
Warning, White and Wolie-40
A committee then procured the Metropolitan
Hall, renting the same of the proprietOrs for a
stipulated sum:
Threats and denunciatiOns against the proposed
meeting appeared in the so-called Union papers,
to the military to interpOse and prevent the meet
ing for some time before the day appointed. Just
before the hour for the Convention to- assemble
a company of armed soldiers were marched into
town and guards placed at the door of the hall. at
the bridge across the Kentucky river and other
places; and when the delegates met in the hall ,
or those of them who did meet (several hundred
not going there at all). Col Gilbert command
ing this post, announced that he had issued an
rdo ha fbo f
that he had information which led him to believe
there were spies and dsIoyal persons in the town,
and that he should take into custody all persons
not citizens of the town who could not be prop
erly vOuched for. And he thereupon required
the roll of the counties to be called and vouchers
TO be made, all of which was done without any
arrest.
At the conclusion of this proceeding he stated
in substance: As this assemblage had been de
clared by the loyal Democratic papers of the
State not to be Democratic, but to be composed
of persons inimical TO the Government, and as
the Democratic Legislature of Kentucky had re
fused the delegates the use of their Hall, he
would not allow the Convention to be held, and
he required that the meeting disperse. which was
thereupnn done.
The Governor of the Commonwealth was in
his Office, not over two hundred and fifty yards
from the scene. The Legislature and one of the
CDdFto kLne TIdHkliu OUCult OOuftJ were OOtn III
session. not further away than the Governor, and
all were advised of what WAS being done. and did
not in any way interpose, as far as we have
heard
By our State laws when there is any unlawful
assemblage of the people, any riots, rouis, &c,
too strong in numbers to be controlled by the
civil authority, the aid of the military NAV be
called in; but they are TO act under the direction
of the civil authority. In this instance the civil
authorities, as far find out. had not
been requested to prevent the assembling OF the
Convention. No charges or accusations had
been made in any responsible form, which re-
ouired the civil authorities 10 interpose
The Sheriff of the county, who in the
town all the time, had issued no proclamation
against the meeting. The Grand Jury, which
was in session, had examined no witnesses, nor
made any presentment OF any apprehended dan
ger though they all knew of the contemplated
meeting Of the delegates, and some Of them be-
fore they we're adjourned were seen looking at
what was passing at the hall door and speaking
approvingly Of it.
The Governor, whose sworn duty t Is TO see
the laws faithfully executed. who was well advised
that the Convention was TO be held, had issued
no warning against it; had not, as far as we
know, EXPRESSED even wish that it should not
be held. much less forbidding tits avowed pur-
poses being peaceful and lawful.
! The delegates were citizens Of Kentucky