The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-18

the doctrine Of armed neutrality was
ineulcated; and circumstances were
not long IN developing the objects Of
those who were its friends. If any one
doubted the designs Of these gentle
men, at first, their hesitancy was not
long in being dispelled- Neutrality was
only used to cover the real intentions Of
those who were at heart open conspira-
tors; and the moment they could do so
with safety, they threw of the mask,
and went actively with the rebellion
1t was through this process that
Tennessee was carried into hostility to
the Government; and the same thing
was attempted in Kentucky, but failed,
because Gen. Fremont would listen to
nothing so absurd as neutrality; be-
cause he recognized from the beginning
but two classes, patriots and traitors !;
and accordingly occupied Paducah, and
brought matters to a crisis, compelling
parties to assume positions at once,
either for or against the country.
Had Gov. Magoffin been permitted to
keep up the appearances of neutrality
six months longer, he would have
placed Kentucky by the side of Ten
pessee; would have used the whole
machinery of the State Government in
hostility to the legitimate authority Of
the Union.
BY his course, he Wheedled numerous
parties into the espousal Of his theories,
and among them Gen Mcclellan, as
the following document viii eyince:
HEADQUARTERS KENTUCKY STATE GTARD,
Louisville, June 10, 1851.
Sir On the Sth inst, at Cincinnati,
Ohio, I entered into an arrangement with
Major General George B. Mcclellan, com
mander of the United States troops in the
States north Of the Ohio river, to the fol-
lowing effect:
The authorities Of the State of Kentucky
are to protect the United States property
within the limits Of the State, to enforce
the laws of the United States in accordance
Courts, as far as those laws may be appli-
cable to Kentucky, and to enforce with all
the power of the State our obligations of
neutrality as against the Southern States,
as long as the position we have assumed
shall be respected by the United States.
Gen. Mcclellan stipulates that the terri
tory of kentucky shall be respected on the
part of the United States, eUen MOuqh The
Southern States should occupy ii but in the
latter case he viii call upon the authorities
Of Kentucky TO remove the Southern forces
from our territory. Should Kentucky fail
to accomplish this object in a reasonable
time, Gen. Mcclellan claims the right of
occupancy given the Southern forces.
have stipulated in that case TO advise him Of
the inability of Kentucky to comply with
her obligations, and 10 invite him to dis
lodge the Southern forces. He stipulates
that if successful in so doing, he win with
draw his forces from the territory of the
State, as soon as the Southern forces are re-
moved
This, he assures me, is the policy which
she will adopt toward Kentucky.
Should the Administration hereafter
adopt different policy, he is to give me
timely notice Of the fact.
The well known character Of General Nc
Clellan is a sufficient guarantee for the full
am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
S. B. BUcKNER,
Inspector General.
To his Excellency, B. Magoiin, Frankfort,
Kentucky.
BY the Constitution of the United
States, no State can enter into any
treaty or alliance with any party and
certainly no military officer can do so;
yet we have here a compact, mischiev-
Gus in its character and designs, signed
by Major General in the Union army,
and Simon Bolivar Buclrner, who was
then doing, as he has since done, all in
his power to to aid the rebels.
In this age, when events crowd so
rapidly upon US the document quoted
above has been nearly forgotten; but
now, when General Mcclellan is spoken
of in connection with the Chief Magis-
tracy Of the Union, we wish the people
TO understand the character of the man,
and the manner he was prepared to
treat with traitors, and practically ac-
knowledge the independence of the
State Of Kentucky. Such a man would
be an excellent exponent of the peace
party of the country; party favoring
the recognition of the South, The
principle contained in the above extract
need only be generally applied, and
JEFF. Davis would be '1et alone" and
the South would be severed from the
North Yallandigham men hold po-
sition no more odious than the above