The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1864-10-19
Life IN Kentucky.
j, IT. HERSHMAN.

Life IN Kentucky.
Gen. Paine, the new Yankee commander
appears to be tyrant and despot of the most
unadulterated order. Shortly after his arrival
ut his field of operations, he was waited upon
by several delegations of citizens, who repre-
sented the various interests in that section.
According to letter in the Chicago Tribune,
very bitter abolition sheet, the General heard
what they had to say and then replied to them
In substance as follows:
"Gentemen, it is a notorious fact that this
district is intensely disloyal. 1t has caused
more trouble to the Government than all your
tobacco, cotton, banks and business is worth.
The question is not how much money you can
make this year. IT'S not how much tobacco,
cotton or hemp you can grow. The only ques-
tion on trial here Is 'are you people of this
district ready for the Federal salvation" If
so, well; if not, you must die. have plan
to suggest, aud l hope God will give me grace
to sustain it. My plan will be the only plan
OF Federal salvation in this district. 1t is
substantially as follows: The first and great
commandment is that all you disoyal, rebell-
ious people shall not circulate one dollar of
capital in all this land. Not dollar, no debt
or bill of exchange, can be paid or made with
I out my signature, and | pledge you will not
approreany money transactions of a disIoyaf
man. All his capitalists moDey-every cent
of it-shall be placed at the disposal of the
disposal of the Government. l will teach you
that, having encouraged this rebellion, having
eomforted and aided your countrys enemies,
you pst-aye, shaI-rcap a. traitors reward.
'This is now the fourth year of the war;
aud you rebels have not learned the grand,
sollnn truth, that the life and peace of this
great nation are worth more than the life or
peace of an individual. You will never learn
this until you are made to feel The want of a
nations defense and support-made poor that
you may become rich-madc weak that YOU
may know how. to prize. strength.
''Talk about your rights Why, you have
no rights to talk about. A loyal citizen is the
only one left with any rights at this time.
And yet you come to me, asking for bank
ing privilege. Great God . the devil might as
well ask the Almighty for front seat in hcav
en-. No; if in your prosperity you have des-
pissed this great and good Government, you
may soon have the privilege to love it in your
adversely. Not only this but you ought, ave.
you must fight for this Government.
W GU are, all of you, able-boded men, but
think yourselves, too good to fight, afraid of
Federal bullets, or something else. And when
come to get your niger to make soldier
of him, you set up such howl-why, mig
ger is worth thousand dollars; you can't spare
him. Too cowardIytto fight yourself, you are
too mean and stingy to allow your ngger to
60; and yet you are harping about your rights
that miserable, insane idea, Southern. rights
Southern aristocracy-just as if man born in
Kentucky is better than man born in Him
ois, or either of them better than man born
in Maine or Massachusetts,. That is troubling
you people here, and the sooner you get rid
of it the sooner you will find the way to peace
again. intend to tie up every dollar of mon
ey now in the hands of rebels in this district
every dollar of it, gentlemen
"Ehe second command is, that all you noto-
rious rebels get out of your houses and leave
my district, SO that Union men and women
may come here to help me redeem this country
What do care about your tobacco interest,
the market value of your niggers or cotton
If you were loyal to your Government, your
interests in stoc ks and lands would as, are al.
ways has been, protected and defended. Not
man in West Kentucky can point his finger
to single act by which the Government ever
oppressed him-not one. II you then rebel
against this Government-(so generous, SO
good and true to, ou)-If you rebel against it,
How is it that you can come to me? Standing,
as l do, in the field of battle against you reb-