True Democrat., 1863-02-11
THE POSITION OF KENTUCKY.


 from the State Called upon to Oppose A"'
 Further. Aid m Prosecution cf Me Vdr.
 The following preamble and resolutions em bodying the opinions of the democratic n'e'hosr of the Kentucky legislature, We're introluceo III 10 the Senate by Hon. A. r. Grover, ron the county of Owen, ard into the House by W. I. n Rnsb esq. ofthe couxy of Hancock, on the 18th inst and ordered to be printed, and refer rod to ,be committee on federal relations.
 In times of war, as in peace, the constitution of the United States IS the supreme law of the land. It prescribes the powers of the governs ment in it's executive no less than in Its ether departments, and it is the only legal bond of union between the States.
 The federal government, as defined by the constitution when exercising the powers grant ed to it. is entitcdt the allegiance ot the peo- ole; but loyalty to the government does not im- pose upon the citizen any obligation to support an administration in the enforcement of policy unauthorized by the constitution or forbidden by its provisions but it is the duty of all good citi- zens to resist encroachments upon their rights, and to defend the constitution of their country from violence He who upholds the executive ora other department of the government, in the violation of its provisions, Ia disloyal to the constitution, and an enemy to the freedom of hls counrJ.
 The federal government deriving all it's le- gitimate powers from the constitution, Is, therefore, the creature of the constitution, aud has no power in any department to suspend any of it's provisions or throw off Its restrictions un- der any pretence waatever
 The maxim that governments derive ther inst bowers from the consent of the governed, y is one which We ought never to forget. It in wolves fundamental principle of freedom,- hv and for which they fought and won our independence of the British crown, and which we never can surren- der It should also be borne in mind, that gov ernments were instituted for the protection of life, liberty, and property, and that such as fail to perform this duty will, sooner or later, be overthrown by an intelligent virtuous, and courageous people.
 The history of the present administration of the federal government IS a history ot repeated injuries and usurpstions, tending directly to the overthrow of State authority and State institu- tions, and consolidation in the federal govern ment of all political power, and tue erection up on their ruins of a great military despotsm, as tyrannical and potic as the worst govern ments of Europe to prove which we refer to the following facts
 The President has, without authority of Con- gress, suspended the writ of hdbeas corpas- thus striking deadly blow at the liberties ot the people.
 He has caused citizens to be arrested, trans ported to distant States, and incarcerated Tn ioathsome prisons, without charge or accusation against them.
 He has denied to citizeus thus arrested and imprisoned a trial by jury, or indeed any trial, and has wthhe from them all knowledge or information as to their accusers or the cause of their arrest.
 IT.. r,,h;aotoA hiS thuc hpl1 to barbarous andinhuman treatment, endangerlng both life and health, and has req fired hundred, of them so held, as condition upon which they might be released, to take illegal oaths arbltrA- ry prescribed by himself or his agents.
 He has attempted to destroy the freedom ot the press by the forcble suppression of news papers, because they saw proper to crtIcise the measures of his adm inistratIon; anI such as have escaped suppression have been subject te censorship wholly incompatible with tree> dom of thought or expression of opinion.
 He has attempted to destroy the freedom of speech, by arresting citizens who animadverted upon the measures of his administration.
 lie has caused to be arrested persons engaged in circulating petitions for the signatures of the people interfering with the right of pc ttion.
 He has wholly disregarded the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable search es and seizures"
 He has interfered with the administration of justice in the State courts by violently forcing the judges to adjourn, and dispersng their grand juries, and by breaking open jails and re leasing prisoners confined under regular judicial process for felones and other crimes.
 He has in some of the States (among which is Kentucky forcibly wrested from the citizen his right to be candidate for office within the gift of the people,-thus striking down the elec- tive franchise; and eminent citizens of this State are now in confinement beyond its Dor ders for no other known reason than they pre- sented themselves as candidates for office before tho people.
 He has quartered soldiers in the houses o citizens against their will, and not in the mau- ner prescribed by law.
 He has permitted his troops to overrun this State, destroying houses and fencing Of farm and lots. They have sacked the houses of peaceful citizens, destroying their furniture, family pictures, carpets, clothing, and other ar ticles of household goods, and robbed them oi their silver ware, stock, and provisions.
 He has permitted his wagon masters and others with armed soldiers, to seize the corn, oats, and hay, etc., of our citizens for the of the armies, without their consent, and with out lust QlSCrlmlnaUOn aS to whether the ldfin cr could spare the articles or not,-6xing ther own price upon them and making their estimate as to the value and quantity taken, and giving no receipt or name whereby the owner could successfully seek his pay; and often, when vouchers were g vent they were so informai that no money could be drawn upon them.
 He has permitted his officers and soldiers to entice slaves in great numbers to leave their masters and owners, and to take them within their camps, and there, with bayonets, to proteci them from reclamation, and, when civil suits have been brought for their recovery,.in many instances the process of the court has been re sisted by armed forces, and the owner of the slaves maltreated and imprisoned for no known cause other than his attempt thus to recover and protect bis property.
 He has permitted his officers and soldiers, without authority of law, to levy large contribu- tions of money upon unoffending citizens under the pretence of reimbursing other citizens for losses sustained by the casualties of war. He has permitted his officers and soldiers with impunity to murder peaceable citizens.
 He has given his assent and approval to acts of Congress appropraing and proposing to ap propriate enormous sums of the public money to purchase the freedom of slaves and their de portaton to some foreign country, and has in- vited the border slave States (including ken- tucky) to hberate their slaves with promises of compensation from the federal treasury.
 IT, has set asidn tha ,n titutiop or tb, TTnitad