Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-08
Exodus sf the Loyal Population OF
Western Kentueky---A Plea for the
Refugee

OF preeb river 10 iast becoming the ex
elusive domain of disloyalists. Ia this
village, and in other towns ard cities on
the northern bank Of the Ohio, every
day chronicles the arrival Of disheart-
ened and impoverished families, who,
after having endured every conceivable
species Of outrage at the hands Of guer-
rilias or their citizen confederates. are
at length compelled to abandon their
possessions and seek an asylum among
strangers
Il is easy and profitable to make noisy
professions Of loyalty outside Of insur-
reetionery districts In the North this
style Of patriotism, which incurs no 20.
euniafy loss or personal peril, is found
- be the "open sesame to political
preferment Like Al!adius cave, the
doors Of the Treasury open At magic
sounds Sharks, sharpers, and shoddy
ties, mix indiscriminately with the
throng which forces its way within the
portals; and there they luxuriats aud
! reYel, without hindrance, in wealth which
Is coined from the heart blood Of the
faithful OF the nation. But the sterling
patriotism of the refugee, which has
been tried aud refined in the crneible Of
suifering--the man who signalizes bis
patriotism By enduring social martyr
dom rather than betray bis eonntry--
not only has his Just claim for pre-.
cedence ignored by sleek officials who
iatten on Government patronage, but il
actually often made the subject Of heart.
/ taaa he l..
are incapable Of aPpreclatiug the no.
bllity Of sentiment whice impels one 60
sacrifice self for country
That such sacrifices ars daily made,
is attested BY the anguish aud despair
Of many OF these fngitives who, per-
chance, having lived in ease ia their
Southern homes, are but lily prepared
10 battle with the ten thousand evils
which beset the path OF an impoverished
stranger in the oyercrowded towns and
cities Of the border.
In Western Kentucky the wrongs OF
loyal citizens are be coming insuppOrta-
Bile. For four loug years they have been
skulking about their homes in mortal
peril or watching near by across the
border, waiting hopefully for the time to
come when they can assume the rights
Of citizenship without danger te person
or property.
But IL ia now beginning to dawn upon
the understandings Of some that as a re.
ward for their fidelity to the Govern
meut they arc likely to become home
less, houseless, penniless wanderers,
with fair prospect OF being stigmatized
ia certain circles as vagrants and vaga-
bonds. To add to their chEgrin they
> are allowed to perceive their rebel neigh
bors living in uudisturbed comfort aud
ease, aud gradually assuming the entire
proprietorship OF the soil They know,
too, by bitter experience, that this plan
Of coneiliating rebels is not only unjust
70 themselves, but is impolitic on the
part OF the Government A rebel can't
! be coaxed, be must be subdued The
/, malice and vindictiyeness of the rebel
population Of this section does not d.
minish under these indulgenees. Every
day their hatred against the Government
: and its supporters becomes intensified.
They have become adopts in the art OF
: dissimulation. Under the assumed garb
of submission TO Federal authority, they
, carry the most deadly hatred in their
hearts However obsequious and lamb
like they may appear 10 be under the
gieam of Federal bayonets, they turn
j. with genuine eopperhead malignity OF
T. their loyal neighbors as soon as those
: bayonets disappear in the distance
They have become hardened to scene.
= OF rapine, violence and bloodshed The
I. take the life or the property Of an ob
noxious individual with equal indiffsr
ence--extemporized guerrilla bands be
!, ing the usual executioners.
iH The forbeArsnee Of the Governmen
y towards this rebellious element in Ken
- tueky has degenerated into positive in
Justice Cancellation has been pursue,
to the limits of imbecility. Every Wig
. orous military measure to quell insub
ordination, or to extermiuate the iiend
called gHerrillas, who are holding a car
:. nival OF blood throughout the State, ha
been thwarted By the interposition c
the civil authorities, or by the clamor O
= those who have loyalty 70 the Unio
"a on their lips and a hell of treason i
their hearts
- His Excellency Gov. BramIe,te la
- made many indignations against th
arrest of quasi-Tebels. His time
: taken up in carping at the acts OF th
military commsndant Of the district, {
:. in vindieAting suspected enemies of th
'N Government The Legislature is Ell
/, gagged in making pSper war on Jei
N. Davis, and passing desd.letter Law
iS. against horse-thieves. Il is entertain
ing resolutions of inquiry in regard
military arrests, and demanding rem
e. S~A q
use of the Federal service. The mer
bers are greatly exercised over the 10
Of a negro or horse which may ha
~ been sustained By one Of their rebel co
stituenis. Bat who vindicateS the righ
!. OF the wronged refugeel Who deman
reparatiou for the injuries, or restituti,
EW for the losses, inflicted upon him2 w
calls for the punishment OF his oppvel
Ct orsS
- He is robbed OF his substance, his f;
Ind side made desolste, his feelings outrs
ed BY every species Of insult, his fam
made homeless wanderers and his l
imperiled- Overwhelmed by the M
hers OF his prosecutors, his manho
Id and his courage are OF no avail.
calls to the ministers Of the law for 5,
y cor; but his excellency is deaf.
TOr calls 10 the military for protection, a
if ifperchance they attempt to visit VI
lee, geance on his oppressors, up jumps
excellency, 10 longer deaf, crying
in proclamations, and flashing lightni
g. remonstrances 10 Washington agai
Mr.. the tyranny of Federal Generals.
viii claims immunity for the acts of &
%. taeky rsbeI citizens, and saks for