The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-01-21
Affairs in Kentucky-M Message
of Governor Robinson

To the General assembly of Kentucky, at
the Adjourned Session, January 8, 1863:
The first part of the message of Cover
nor Robinson is devoted to brief review
of the origin of the rebellion, the course
Kentucky has pursued, and the aid she
has rendered to the National Government.
He approves of the grant made by Con-
gress, for the establishment ofagricultural
colleges, and recommends the Legislature
to take steps to comply with the conditions
of the grant. The second half of the
message is devoted to the Slavery question,
in relation to the Presidents Proclamation
of Emancipation. This portion we give
in full:
From this brief but not vain glorious
allusion in the action of Kentucky, one
would naturally suppose that's much 10y
atty and so much sacrifice would have
nedeared her to all her sister States, and
that her rights would have been most
scrupulously regarded But has it been
SO? Has Kentucky no right to complain
ofa disregard of those rights, and frequent
ly of wanton violation of them. Let
this important question be answered by
setting forth the wrongs she has suffered
and which daily increase in frequency and
violence.
She has right to complain that her neu-
trality has been denounced in the halls of
Congress as either reasonable or coward
ly or both This is most unkind return
to those patriotic and loyal men, who per-
fectly understanding the difficulties in
their path, adopted the only line of policy
that could stem the tide of Southern sym
pathy, and in so doing keep safely to her
moorings great State wich, ifit had been
lost to the Union, would greatly have
weake ed the National strength, if it had
not indeed changed the whole character of
the war But this perhaps is an ephemer-
al. wrong (which eventually may reeoil upon
its perpetrators and lie visited upon them
with, coteihporaEeous and historic con-
tempt.
She has right to complain, that since
the occupancy of her country by the Fed
crxl troops, the rights of property have
not been duly respected. Under the
specious plea of military necessity"
farms have been laid waste, provisions
have been seized, forage has been collect
ed, and instead of being bought in open
market, where the supply would have been
ample and the competition fair, Commits
snrles have gone with teams and soldiers,
taking grain and other commodities from
the farmers at whatever price the Commits
saries chose to affix to them, and utterly
regardless whether the farmers could spare
them or not. and, instead of prompt pay
ment, leaving in its stead cum mbrous certi-
fcates which have to pass through many
hands before they are properly audited,
and then to pass into the general vortex OF
claims. In consequence OF
this oppressive and inexcasable, because
unnecessary conduct, many of our farmers
have been deprived of the means of sub
sistins their own stock during the present
winter, and the direct and consequently
losses to them have been ruinous in the
extreme. Yet even this might have ano
has been borne as one of the unpleasant
that follow the marches OF
encanlpments, of troops; but stilllit is
matter of wonder to Kentuckians why
different rule prevails on the opposite sid
o he river. Why is it that all supplies
are bought and paid for in Ohio, the Gov
ternnent coming in as any her purchase er
while the same things are an moniously
seized in Kentucky? Had Kentucky los
AM of her equality with other loyal States
Land, ifnot who is responsible for making
disparaging difference with her?
! call your attention to these as among
the many annoyances our Ieople endure
and perhaps they complain less of them be
cause there looms up before them NOR
gigantic cvil-one, the bare contemplation
of which sickness the heart and fills al
with gloomy and dreadful forebodings.
fallude to the disturbance ofthe slave prop
erty of Kentucko.
Whether it would have been better fo
her that the institution had never been in
Icorporatcd in her civil polity it is useles
now to inquire 1t was brought from ou
old mother Virginia, and by men who ha,
fought through the Revolutionary Wa
until. its triumphant conclusion. What
ever Utopian notions there may be abou
African liberty. these men had achieves
American freedom 1t came among u
uhimcumbercd with prejudiccs, and tn
gradual growth of a century Of mutual ac
lcommodation until the relative rights q
master and ave were fully understood ar
20 administered as TO lead to mutual pros
perity. and Advancement. The Africa
captive, thecreature of superstitious igno
rance and savage cruelty, was gradual
lemerging from his low estate to one
comprehension of the true principles {
the Christian religion and human civiliz,
Itior. He had broken his idols and wol
shipped with fervor and intelligence th
great God of the Universe. To such a
extent had this amelioration pro, r,sse
that, at this day, and in this State, to co,
pare the American of African descent wit
his Caffree or Hottentot progenitor woul
be absurd. This advancement had bee
under the tutelage ofa humane but nesce
sary subjection to a superior race, and
/ false humanity violates it, the result wi
be, that the "American of African descen
must either revert to his original barba
ism, or perish from the earth, the yicti
of liberty he could not appreciate, or Il
victim of vices that have already extermil