The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-11
state Government. .s- Kentucky,
Tonnessce and Missouri.


safely recognizing the State government
Well, State government in Kentucky has
been in operation all the time, and that
State has never been, and is not now, ex-
empt from guerrilla raids, or even from
invasion and temporary occupation by
large rebel armies. And what makes the
case stronger, the Union considers those
who style themselves Unionists in Ken
lucky, or at least q majority Of them, as
rebel sympathisers and traitors. Ought
not our neighbor, in fairness and consist
ency, TO issue an edict for abolishing the
State Government of Kentucky, and eg-
tablishing q proconsular administration
Of affairs, until the ground 10 cleared Of
such traitors As Bramlette Pres.
There are some gucrriIlas in Kentucky,
but nothing like so many as there are in
this State. The rebels never got posses
sion of Kentucky, either by civil or mill
tary rule, but they had complete control
of Tennessee for more than one year,
and unmolested control over the larger
portion Of it for more than another year,
while they have everything their own
way in most counties to-day. From the
commencement of the war, Kentucky has
within her borders, or between her
self and the rebel States, large and pow
erful Federal armies, who shielded her
from danger and she also had many
Home Guards organized under Federal
auspices. Notwithstanding all this pro-
lection, ii was not deemed prudent by
the Kentucky State authorities 10 hold an
election last August without taking
steps to prevent the casting of rebel
votes, and the interference of guerrillas
at the polls by distributing troops in
all quarters of the State, aud holding the
election under military authority.
There is no Home Guard in Tennessee
ct present, the enlistment of such force
having just begun. The present attitude
of military affairs upon our Southern
border absolutely precludes the possible
~ of distributing the Federal troops
so as TO protect the polls from rebel in
trusion. The writer of the Press would
no more risk his life by making Union
speeches in the counties adjoining Da-
wilson, or even in many precincts in
Davidson county, than he would jump
into the fire. What nonsense for a man 10
ask people to cast Union votes when he
would not risk his own life in making I'M
ion speeches. Every portion of Kentucky
was cAnvAssed by the Union candidates
last summer, but the boldest Union ora
tor in Tennessee would not venture TO
canvass one tenth of the counties in Mid
die and West Tennessee. We think that
these are sufficient reasons why we
should favor the continuance of civil gov
eminent in Kentucky, and oppose its
attempted restoration, at the present crisis,
in Tennessee; an attempt which must
Of necessity prove disastrous to the
Union cause, and highly advantageous
10 its armed enemies. In every county
in Kentucky there are loyal civil officers
to hold elections, but there is not one in
all Tennessee. Yet, notwithstan ding the
fact that there has been no intermission
or lapse Of civil authority in Kentucky,
IL is highly improbable that an election
would have been held there last August,
had there been rebel armies in The State,
and guerrilla bands marAuding in every
county, with no armed force 10 oppose
them.
II is somewhat remarkable that our
conservative contemporary is so ultra
constitutional that he insists upon eem-
plying with the Tennessee Constitution,
when such compliance must iDjure loyal
men and profit rebels, occupies different
grounds, and teaches very different doc
trine, when he considers the case of Mis-
souri,. He has for weeks past been de-
nouncing the Radical party of that State,
who are calling for the election of Cover
norby the people, and has been supporting
Gov. Gamble, who is only Provision
al Governor, elected, not by the people,
but by Constitutional Convention, who
usurped power never delegated to them
by the laws or by the people of Missouri.
The Radicals want an election for Gov
srnor to be held by the people, but Pro-
Visional Governor Gamble refuses TO al
low the people TO have voice in the
matter at all. Yet the Press, which is SO
anxious for the people to elect Cover
nor in this State, is for denying them
that privilege and right in Missouri. II
is olAmorous for the resignation of MIL
itAry Governor johnson, but yociferous
for the continuation Of Provisional Gov
ernor Gamble, who was never chosen by
the people, and who is to-day oae of the
most Audacious men in Missouri. The
only explanation which we are able to
give Of the Press singular anxiety for a
popular vote in Governor Johnson's case,
and singular opposition to il in Governor
CANDLES case, is that il hates the policy
Of the former, which is in behalf OF
freedom and free labor, and loves the
policy of the latter, which is pro slave
ny, as Tar as possible. If Gov. johnson
were 10 turn slave-oAtcher, stop negro
impressments and negro enlistments, and
declare himself An advnoata G,, tbo ,,o.