The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-03-13
Letter from Kentucky.
NORTHFORK, KY, }
Feb. %. 1S63. {

quasi Democratic convention at the capita
Of this state, by Col Gilbert, of the 44th O
l.. He regarding the members as traitor.
in Disguise what no doubt they were,-
went. Cromwell-like, into their midst, ant
stated, contrary to rule precedent, the OBJ
ire. Of the meeting, winding off by informing
'lem that they could hold no convention foI
the domination Of state officers within tn,
.oands Of his department. He concluded
~ advising them to go hcme,-and the,
withholding over with ill,suppressed fury
: SOW the seeds Of dissension still wide,
Mons the people Of Kentucky.
So far as | have learned, the action Of Co
&, IS approved by the Union papers and peo
p." OF the state 1t was done hanlsome,
..l timely, and no doubt nipped in the bud
IL" sec 'ssion rose, which, bat for that little
frosty snap" might have bloomed. at our
ae%, August election, in full proportions. and
Sled is foul odOrs on the wholesome Union
ar. Il is understood that Gems Gilmore
a'. Boyle, commanding the department in
kentucky. fully endorse the policy of Col
Gilbert, and order that no treason-makine
conventions or asSemblages shall meet with
in their respective commands. Traitors in
hrntlcky thus have hard road to travel 1t
will be long and diflicult-and bloody one
ere they accomplish their designs, to get
control Of the affairs of the state. Only 40
counties, olt of l01, were represented in this
bogus convention, and most Of these are in
The southern part Of the state, next to Ten
ncssee. y preliminary meeting was held in
this county, at Maysville, consisting of 40
.er>oas, who appointed 80 delegates most
0! whom are known to be willy traitors, al
though they don the Union uniform TO serve
JET! PAWS in. At this meeting money was
raised to purchase and circulate 1000 copies
of Nallandigham's great little speech, as an
eiectloneerins document. This county was
tn.l, but badly represented in the late squash
ed convention. The " high delegates" (tipsy)
came back, looking like escaped convicts
from the penitentarv, or jeff Davis hye-
mas let loose from some travelling menage-
re, swapping their teeth to devour every bit
OF Union flesh and bones that might ask
them who were the nominees
he doctrine announced by Col Gilbert,
that none but avowed Union men would be
allowed to run for the state offices, or fill
them if elected is heartily endorsed by all
except the sneakish sympathizers with the
rebellion. These latter, in this vicinity, in
Consequence Of this resolve, are frothing with
rage, asserting that the last vestige of their
liberties is gone, but swear that they will
have a vote at the August election-or blood i!
This is their temper. If they had the power
they would naugurate a revolution, auxiliary
10 Jeti'S, and make this again the dark and
bloody ground of America. But thanks to
God and the virtue OF the American people,
traitors, whether open or disguised, have not
Vet cot, ard trust may never get control Of
o.d kentucky. If they attempt it through
revolution, they will meet host of determin-
ga men. who viii settle with them the ques-
ION of their voting-for all time to come
The great body of the people OF this state are
anaHcrahIv attached to the Union, although
bat a handful! fully endorse the acts of the
administration. The principal objection lies
against the emancipation proclamation, and
'an artning of negroes, which they regard as
lnpl;,;c as war measures, even were they
within the puryiew Of the constitution. III
..!yr to give expression to the true senti-
maa! of the people of Kentucky, Union
g Hy"n.0a for the nomination of state off
ucS Is called to convene at Frankfort on the
-I,l inst, and also a Union Democratic
douglas stamp of which Harvey is the type,)
y'cyenton is TO meet at Louisville on the
20 itNL llIJuti lOl pul pOSS.
The friends Of this latter claim to be (as they
a-~D the true heirs of the old (dead) Democ
raoy, and Genounce the Breckenridge cohe-
rants as bastards and pretenders. They are
as much opposed to their ascendency in the
>'ate, as the true-blue- Henry-C Clay-old-line
Nhig Union men.
Il is 20 be regretted that the Unionists o
he state cannot agree to 20 into convention
'ogether, and thus present solid front tc
the enemy. But the leaders of each quon
dam party are jealous of their privileges and
seem determined to run candidates of theil
own. If the Union convention should no y
ever, make proper nominations, the Unior
Democratic convention may endorse th'
same. and thus there will be but one set O
candidates before the people. 1t is to b.
Loped that such consumaton may be reach
I'll.
There are no military movements at pres
ent in the state, in fact the state of the wealth
er would prohibit anything of this kind
Since wrote You last, We have had twe
SHOWS, one about foot in depth, and tn,
other, now on the ground, of four or fv
inches. Still, on the whole, We have had
mild winter, with rain "every other day,
since Christmas. The rivers are consequent
Very high, and water crafts of every nam
are busy in the Interests of Uncle Sam an
commerce.
Last night we had a Vermont-fashio
Northeast snowstorm, with high wind, driv
!ns the teathery fakes through every crevict
and broken pane, and covering the carpet