The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1863-12-17

support OF the "State Agricultural Society.
This institution, organized under an act ap
lproved March 10, 1856, and continued by
subsequent enactments, has been of great
benefit to the agricultural interests of Ken
tucky. Although its efficiency has been
greatly retarded by the rebellion, for the
past two years, yet, in the midst of the
gloom the efforts of the society have shed light
and cheer upon the agricultural interests Of
the State, We are an agricultural people, and
every aid given to that interest goes to promote
the general welfare. The society has more
than met the most sanguine expectations ofits
| founders, and presents to our hopes cumula-
tive benefits to our agricultural-which is our
greatest-interest, which demand for the So
ciety the fostering care ofthe Commonwealth
At present the questions of most absorbing
interest grow ont of, and are connected with
the condition of our Federal Government, and
the rebellion of the Southern States. When
the rebellion broke upon US in Kentucky, we
had no military organization, except under
the State Guard law This law was prevented
by the Inspector General, Buckner, into trea-
sonable uses, and SO alarmed our people, at
the abuse, that the law was repealed, thus
| leaving Kentucky without military organiza-
tion To call an unorganized militia into the
field was, and is, impossible. The Legisla-
ture, by act approved the 3lst day of August
1862, revived the State Guard Law, with
amendments When l became invested with
the "chief executive authority no organiza
ton having been effected, steps were immedi-
ately taken to thoroughly organize the militia
The process Of organization is necessarily slow,
under the system as at present authorized.
Having obtained the services of an able and
accomplished officer, as Inspector General, the
work of organization is progressing with all
possible dispatch. Various and important a.
mendments, required to give efficiency to the
system, will be suggested by him to the proper
committee.
The Importance of having complete and
thorough organization of the militia has been
clearly impressed upon every iud cement, by
the calamities which have befallen our people
for want OF such organization, that need not
offer any additional reasons, beyond the facts
of history, to enforce the necessity of such or
ganization. Without organization we have
been and would continue, powerless, and lie |
at the mercy ofinvaders and bandits. With |
organization we can defy and punish them,
and give security to our homes, and protection
to our people. L urge upon you the proprety |
of having an efficient State force organized, |
for active duty in suppressing the guerrilla |
warfare which harasses our border. If it be |
said that it will cost the State too much, l an
swer, that il will cost less than to do without
such force. The economy which refuses to |
give protection to the property, the homes and
lives of our border citizens, and leaves them I
exposed to be wasted and ruined by guerrilla |
ueSerNeS IHe
of the age. He whose soul sits in watch over
his money bags, while the homes of his country
men are wrapped in flames of rebellion, and
the lives of true men are being sacrificed to
the Moloch Of treason, is wholly unfit to sit in
council with patriots and statesmen. We
have passed the silUer line; it is now a ques.
tion of the life or death of our Government
not of dollars and cents. 1t is not, therefore,
to be presumed that any representative of our
suffering people can for moment, hesitate to
make every possible provision for the protec-
tion and security of the citizens in his power.
Those who would "save the peoples money"
should appropriate from the common treasure
all that my be needed to give protection to the
homes, the property, and lives of the citizen.
Coming, as you do, fresh from the people, and
knowing their sufferings and wants, it is not
to be doubted but you will promptly respond
to the necessities of the occasion.
In a short time after the Executive duties
devolved upon me, the organized forces here
tofore giving protection to our people, were
necessarily moved to the front, leaving the
State more exposed than at any period since
the rebellion. We were left with some 900
recruits in camps, then without organization,
and not supplied with arms and equi ipments
for service. The guerrillas availed them
selves of our condition to inflict serious in +
iuries upon our exposed border, carrying their
to the very heart Of the State
1t is source of graduation that the patriot
ism of our people has met the efforts to place a
su fl cient force in the field for defense, and
that we are now more secure and better
guarded than at any time heretofore since the
rebellion. In a short time, under an arrange |
ment made with the Secretary of War, and by |
thorough organization Of the enrolled and |
volunteer militia, our defenses will be COM
plete, and security will again brighten the de- |
solated homes of our border people.
1t a source ofjust pride that, in this strug-
gle to maintain our national life, Kentucky,
under every reverse circumstance, has nobly
redeemed her pledge of duty to maintain the
Union. Kentucky can never abandon the I'm
ion. 1t is the life of her people, hopes When
the Union is broken, her hopes must per-
ish Her hopes survive the loss of every
thing but the Union. ''Give us liberty or
give us death" is the echoing response to
our revolutionary sires. of the living pa
triotism of Kentucky of the present day
Although we exposed 'front.' and our
people have been overrun and oppressed by
rebel armies, and have been wasted in their
substance, and slain by guerrilas, although
bad men and wicked fanaticism in our armies
have inflicted outrage and wrong upon our
loyal people, yet so steadily have our people
pursued the direct line of duty and patriot
ism, that the suffering Eeroism and invincible
loyalty, which nothing could divert or over
come, is being understood and appreciated by
our loyal brethren of other States, and our
voice and counsel will not be unheeded, as we
speak from the fiery furnace of this wasting
rebellion.
Out of an enrolled militia numbering 49,
577 we have contributed, to eustain our Gov.
ernment, 81, 444 soldiers for three years sery
ice, IL Oil for one year; 4l3 for nine months,