Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-04-22
Altgn!0n0 Enqnlrtt.
BY l. &
"WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 20, 1864
KENTUCKY.

KENTUCKY.
! While a war for conquest is beyond tho
purposes Of the Confederate States, yet peace,
& without e full and complete settlement Of all
the questions that caused the present war,
would be only o hollow truce. 1t is necessary.
he:are peace can be permanent, that Kentucky
( should DO acknowledged by our enemies rs o
State Of tho Confederacy. To stop the war
short Of this-to leave Kentucky to the tender
! mereies of ballot box after d~isbanding our
armies-would be to desert and abandon her.
kentucky is with US in heart and soul, and
must DO with the Confederacy in destiny also.
/, Our natural national boundary must be the
Z Quo river, from the top of the Panhandle"
to its mouth.
Tie selection of Breckenridge and Buck
nar-Keutucky's noblest statesman and SOL
liers-to command upon her eastern frontier
and before the gates that lead to her green
pastures, can not be understood otherwise than
a. n determination of President Davis that
kentucky shall be again fought for, and that
one effort for her redemption shall not satisfy
cur aspirations.
yThe policy Of our enemy has greatly
strengthened our cause in Kentucky. The
folly of neutrality has been demonstrated,
AMI her outraged and deceived people have
learned in the school of adversely the lessons
IF true wisdom. Her public men, have seen
the mistakes made by them and felt the sting
Of contempt which the deceiver always has
for his victim. Senator Powell, in the Senate
Of the United States, the object of even
Chambers contempt, cannot but see, however
much lie may dislike to acknowledge, the folly
OF the choice he made. But her people most
deeply feel tho humiliation brought upon
them by their enemies; their negroes stolen
by the "best Of governments" from loyal as
vel! as disloyal people; their ballot-boxes
covered by the protecting mgis of artillery and
musketry; their people uotsd by the merocna-
~ troops of Northern States; their sufrages
dependent upon the grace Of an Illinois, or
Indians, or Ohio Provost Marshal. 1t is I'M
possible for a people, proud and brave as
Kensuckians, to submit much longer to the
tyranny that degrades them, to the outrages
that wrong them, and to the insults that dis
grace them. Generals Buckner and Breckin-
Ridge once in Kentucky to defend their fell
low-citizens, to rouse their pride, and to urge
npon them the performance Of duty, must
speedily rally her wronged and suffering peo-
plsin their own defence. An insurrection in
kentucky would do more to end the war, to
break down the enemy, and to strengthen our
cause, than any other event of which we can
conceive. While Grant is ostentatiously col
Letting his masses to assail the Notifications of
Richmond, the time for advance into Ken
tucky is at hand. General Ice CON take care
of Grant, and General Johnston Of Sherman.
Holding the wings wide apart, tho centre is
open, and Kentucky lies exposed to our
grasp.
We cannot say what preparations are being
made, for the occupancy of Eastern Kentucky,
but the "situation" is so inviting that we
Spannot but call attention to it. By last ad-
vices from Mt. Sterling, but q small battalion
sHss there ON observation duty" which
means the speediest retreat.
q Whether it be sound policy to again invade
!, Pennsylvania, we shall not sss-but who will
question the propriety of seeking in Ken
tpSsy the aid Of our friends and the strength
of that great State. As a stragetical man9u-
vre it would force the withdrawal of troops
fhAm Chattanooga; West Tennessee is already
stripped Of Federal troops, Forrest goes where
hia fancy may lead-picking up forts and
stores, killing negroes, but never encounter
ing soldiers. Where, then, would the troops
come from that would defend Kentucky?
If an advance should be attempted by the
enemy from Knoxville, Longstreet at Bristol
would show tho enemy that he was not 50
nosr Richmond as their enterprising scouts
@haye reported.
breckenridge and Buokner, native Ken
tuskians, arc the proper officers to be ensrust'
eawith On enterprise demanding not only
military genius, but no small amount of gen
alne diplomacy. There are many wounds to
&c healsd-wsunded pride and wounded
spirit Cancellation and Judgment will be res
.qdirod, as we'll as military science and physi.
csl force.
but would the expedition be proper, while
Grant threatens Richmondi IfGrant should
ssaceeed in concentrating the army that the
United States papers threaten as with, Beau.
regard and Pickett, from the departments of
w. carolinas, can reinforce Lee to the extent
s forty thousand tried and seasoned veterans.
$50 lines of railroad-ths Petersburg and vii
ssAsngton, and the Dauville and Greensboro
a9gfoadsEwill facilitate concentration at any
asmen it should be really required, while a