Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-01-22
Congressional provision for its recovery,
and solemnly sdiudicatcd by the Supreme


were fugitives from labor. She lost an.
nually from this cause more than any
State in the Union: yet she never attcmp.
ted violence in its recovery. Although
she had much complaint against fanaical
citizens of the northwestern States she felt
the force of the distinction between ire
pressible individuals and the acts Of those
great commonwealth. She therefore did
not consider these vexations in'erlercnces
from her neghbors as just cause for her
to break up the fraternity of sister States,
or to seek redress outside of the Consti-
tuition of the United Strtes. She was
aware tha. instrument faithfully admin.
istered, constituted her best safeguard
for her slave and every othir species of
property, and when an attempt was made
to seduce her from allegiance "she frown
ed Indignantly" upon the first seductive
enticements upon her loyalty. In the
autecedcnt prctexts and Preparations for
the rebellious she took no part. As an
abstact question, and one Of but little
practical value, she looked on with in
difference upon the Kansas imbrog|io--
regarding it as more speculative than of
real importance, considering that accor-
ding to the conceded rights Of the States
each Territory, on becoming State,
would settle the question according to the
view it took Of its own interests. And
hence in the Presidential election. while
she choose for her own candidate ono who
maintained the abStarct view Of the
Southern question, she was glad to see
the Northern silc enunciating in their
Chicago platform distinct disavowal Of
any right or purpose to interfere with sla
very in the States where it already exists
by law. To this position the successful
candidate was unmistakably committed,
and hence it was that, while Kentucky
was disappointed by the defeat Of her
own candidate, sho felt hopeful that no
impassNblc barrier had been presented to n
peaceful adjustment cf all pending diff
culties. She never allowed herself for
one moment to stop to discuss the value
Of the Union. In her estimation nothing
could compare with it in value, or com
pensatc for its loss; and hence, when the
Southern politicians male bear their trca-
sonable purposes. regardless Of the dis
ruption it made in her own social fabric,
and the utter arrangement and ruin Of her
commercial interests, she took her stand
on the side Of the Union and has main
tained it with her treasure and her blood.
The constitution Of tho Union has not
yet been changed, and with her consent
never shall be.
But since the commencement of the
civil war, there has suddenly grown up a
the Dry outside of and above the constitu-
sion, and new doctrine has been intro
duced into practical exhibition--that mil.
,taty necessity is not 10 DO measured by
constitutional limits, but must be the ju lge
Of the extent Of its powers. AS an off
shoot from this political heresy, there
have appeared among us not only anti.
slavery propagandlats, but men who have
actually presumed to override our own
State laws and turn regiments brought
here oStensibIy Tor our protection into
cities Of refuge for runaway slaves. To
such an extent has this been carried, that
not only have our citizens been driven
from the Camps where they have traced
their own property into the possession OF
the soldiers, but the civil officers have
been prevented from serving any process
for their recovery. This high handed and
iniquitous conduct is daily and hourly
weakening the cause Of the Union, and
paralyzing the efforts to suppress the re.
bel.ion. And, in addition to all this, it
is putting the State to imminent peril
1t is asking too much Of the citizen to
expect him to fold his arms in quiet sub.
mission when his property is taken from
him in his very presence, and to be rude
ly thrust aside at the point of the bayonct
when he attempts to reclaim it. Your
State laws are already ample for rcdles-
Of offences against the property Of the cti.
zen, as the same have heea ordinarily com
mitteG, but sug lest to you the proprc-
ty Of other more stringent laws against
the infamous practice Of abolition soldier,
in this particular, and to do this eiicctu
ally there should be a rcailirmation of the
great truth, that in all free governments
the military is and must be subjected to
the civil authority, and by proper logisla
tion give it practical meaning by provi-
siuns for it, maintenance at all hazards
1t is but Just to add that this accusa
tion does not apply inaiscrminitrly to all
the regiments that have been quartelcd in
in Kentucky, The commanders Of many
of them oppose the practices as far
rs they can do SO consistently with
what they believe to be their duty as sub
jects TO the rules and articles OF war. AM
the proclamation Of the President of th,
United States issued on the 22l of Sep
tember last. To that proclamation
would now call your especial attention.
While | AIN willing to believe that th,
President thought that his proclamation
would have n beneficial effect in cxpedit
ing the close of the war, il is now appar
cnt that he has lent too factle an ear t,
the schemes OF Abolition partisan leaders
who have practiced upon his patriot
hoart, blinded his better Judgment, alarm
ed his fears, and induced him to publisl
n manifesto from which nothing but evil
and that continually. can flow. And as Al
operative edict in the southern rebellion
States. it can have no other effect than t
strengthen them ~ their rebellion, an
give tolcrablc pre,ex. to their cause.
lie might with Rs much reason have is
sued n proclamation to them to lay dow
their arms. Both equally expose him t
cotemptuouS rejection of his scheme.
But he makes distinction between sla
IL. II. 4 4