The National tribune., 1906-03-08
ARMY OF THE
CUMBERLAND.
CONTINUED from page IL


removal from the limits of kentucky
of the military force now organized and
in camp withirtSthe STATE. II such ac
tion as is hereby urged be promptly
taken. l firmly believe the peace of the
people of Kentucky will be preserved.
and the horrors of a bloody war will be
averted from a people now peaceful and
tranquil"
President Lincoin's Reply.
To this the President replied:
I'm all | have done in the premises
haye acted upon the urgent solicitations
OF many Kentuckians, and in accord
ance with what / believed and still be-
lieve, to be the wish of the majority OF
all the Union-loving people of Kentucky.
While | have conversed on this sub
ject with many eminent men of Ken
lucky. including large majority of her
members of Congress. | do not remem-
ber that any one of them, or any other
person, except your EXcellency and the
bearers of your Excellency's letter. has
urged me to remove the military force
from Kentucky, or to disband it. One
other very worthy citizen of Kentucky
did solicit me to have the augmenting
of the force suspended for a time.
Taking all the means within my
reach to form a judgment. I do not be-
lieve it is the popular wish of Kentucky
that this force shall be removed beyond
her limits; and with this impression 1
must respectfully decline to so remove
it.
'I most cordially sympathize with
your Excellency in the wish to preserve
the peace of my own native State, Ken
lucky. 1t is with regret I search. and
cannot find, in your not very short let
ter, any declaration or intimation that
4.
vation of the Federal Union"
Again, a man who entered into con-
troversy had Season to regret it. Gov.
Magoffin made a poor showing on paper
in comparison with the great President
In Louisville.
Louisville. then a city of 5000, was
the most considerable town in Ken
lucky, and ranked Immediately after
New Orleans and st. Louis among the
largest cities in the South 1t was
strongly Union, made so by Its large
population of skilled mechanics. AS a
rule, the better classes of workingmen
everywhere were strongly opposed to
slavery and slavery extension. In the
Municipal election the Citizens and
Workingmen's Association which de-
manded unqualified allegiance to the
Union, without regard to former party
affiliations, had elected ]. NJ. DELPHI as
Mayor by a large majority, although
the knights of the Golden Circle. with
the notorious Buckley at their head,
openly drilled In the streets, marched
definatIy through them. and made every
effort to intimidate loyal voters. Prom
inent among these was John w. Tomp
kins, notorious bully, Clerk to the
Board of Aldermen, and we'll known
to be recruiting men for the Confeder-
ate army Buckner's State Guards also
gave all their assistance to electing the
States Rights candidate. Collisions be-
tween Union men and Secessionists
were of daily occurrence, and civic war
seemed often imminent. The Seces-
sionists were insisting that they be
stroked gently the right way, or they
would crimson the streets with blood.
One of these occasions was upon the
celebration of WashingtOn's Birthday
by public meeting i'll the Court
House grounds. Hon. James Speed de-
livered stirring patriotic address. and
the Star Spangled Banner was raised
with reverent ceremony. Buckner, who
was present with a strong force of his
State Guards withdrew them, without
saluting the Flag. Mayor DELPHI, car
rying out the purposes of his election,
was organizing Louisville as a Union
Government, independent of what the
State Government might decide to do.
The Union men We're all properly DIS
trustfuI of Gov. Magoffin and his CO.
terie as to what they might attempt.
The city had its own Union army
the Marion Rifles, battalion under
the command of Maj. Woodruff. who
subsequently became Colonel of the Cd
KY The Marion Rifles refused TO fol-
low the State Guard, but remained and
properly safuted the Flag. AS soon as
the Union organizations began to pa
rade the streets the Secessionists ceas-I
ed, because it made revelation of how
far they were outclassed.
The Killing Of Tompkins.