The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1863-02-05
crittenden on the Policy of Kentucky.

Crittenden on the Policy of Kentucky.
Mr.. Marshall of Mason, again arose and
said that he feared that his nephew whom
he loved and respected, had misunderstood
his position; that although he was no mans
follower, he would ask leave of the Senate
to read an extract from letter from the
venerable Crittendon to Gov. Robinson, and
ne did so simply because it contained the
words of modest wisdom. (Here Mr.. Mar-
shall produced the letter, dated Jan. oths
1868, and read.) "The proclamation of the
first of January and the proceedings OF
Congress are of a character to fill the hearts
of Kentuckians with discomfort and intig
nation, and may lead them to extremltless
Anv extreme action that our State should
now take, would probably have no: other
effect than that of aiding the rebellion II
not lead ing us into an association with the
Confederates. or ratherof making ourselves
their subjects. That is thing to be spurn..
ed. And so, on the other hand, 1t Woulo
be almost servile to submit In silence to the
unconstitutional and odious acts OF the
President In the Issuing his proclamation Oh
emancipation and his order establishing
martial law. What, then, are we of Ken
lucky to do? Our best course Is prooaoly
for our Legislature to pass resolutions de-
claring that the order of September last OF
the Presidents proelaiming. martial law and
| sp pbiectino to it the whote people of the
| United States, Is unconstitutional and void,
and that his proclaim alton of the lSt IN
slant is arbitrary and unconstitutional Volo
| and of no effect.
| with these resolutions simply declaratory
of the Judgment of the Legislature and
the people of our State, and without COM
mitino ourselves to any particular course, of
action, I think we may pause. The future
will take counsel of the future. through
the gloom of the present we can not sees
tt will be patriotic as we'll as prudent
neither to do nor say anything beyond the
| exigency of the present. We have three
| things to accom- plish-to protect our nation
| al Constitution from the despotic power
that Is now assumed and exercised by the
Administration; to suppress the reoelllon'
and to restore as effectually as we can our
ancient Union. 1t seems to me that the
course l have indicated, is, under present
circum stances, the most conductive to those
aroot ends that we can now adopt. It is
no time now for the indulgence OF passion.
Firm nurposes we must have, and we must
all feel that the momentous peril that sur
| round us, and the mighty issues that are IN
yolyed, demand all our courage, all our Ior-
besrapce, all our prudence, all our wisdom
and all our patriotism. . .r--..
| The Presidents proclaim ations are but
scords. We can fight them with our reso-
Iutions. The rebellion chooses other weap-
ons. They choose arms, and with arms we
must fight them, until they will agree to
recognise the Constitution and the Union'
and that being done We will be willing to
go far, hope in conceding to them any just
and satisfactory terms.
"Through this great crisis, am most de-
sirous TO see kentucky move and act with
consnicuous firmnsss, dignity and wisdom.
i (Signed) J.0' CRITTENDEN.