The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-06-02
STIRRING EVENTS Of
THE YEARS OF I86O-6l
THr INTEREST WITH Which The union AUTHORITIES WATCHED
EACH STATE DECLARE ITSELF


than he had in any other state ex-
cept Maryland In the old Whie
days Kentucky had belonged to
that party. It's illustrous son, Clay.
was the most prominent of its lead
ers during the entire career of that
party until his death in 1852, in
the last year in which it made a
demonstration in presidential cam
paign. Tho Wings carried only
! four states for their candidate that
year, and these were equally divid-
ed between the sections-Vrmont
4 Massachusetts, Kentucky and Ten
nessee. In 1860, Kentucky, with
Virginia and Tennessee, gave its vote
to Bell, the candidate Of the Con-
stitutional Union party, which con-
sisted chiefly of old Wings who re-
fused to join the Republican party,
founded 1S54-56, and who also dis
liked to join their old antagonists,
the Democrats.
In answer to Lincoln's call for
troops, Gov, Magof1n exclaimed:
Kentucky will furnish no soldiers
for the wicked purpose of subduing
her sister southern States" and he
called the Legislature to meet in
special session on May 9Th. Vir-
ginias SEPARATION from the union had
some influence with Kentucky, on
account of the close social relation
ship between the two states, but the
farthest she would go in following
her mother state was in declaring
her neutrality. On May 20 Magoffin
issued a proclamation demanding
the withdrawal of both beligerants
from the state. This policy was
quickly found to be impracticable,
and when the state discovered that
! it must take one side or the other
it chose the union side. In Sep
TENDER, by a large majority, the
| Legislature passed resolution over
Magoffin's veto demanding the i'm
mediate and unconditional evacua-
ton of the state by the rebels, and
other measures placed Gen. Robt.
Anderson, the hero of Sumpter, in
command of the union troops in the
state. and requested the senate at
Washington to expel her unfaithful
members, Breckenridge and Powell,
The senate did this when it met in
December. From September on
ward the Kentuckians who were in
the confederate army, and there
were thousands OF them, fought
against their state as we'll as against
their country.
Course of John Bell.
While the action of Tennessee did
not surprise the north, that of her
most distinguished living citizen did.
This was John Bell, the candidate
of the Constitutional Union party In
1860, who carried that state and
Virginia and Kentucky on a plat
form which declared for the union,
the constitution and the enforcement
of tho laws" Gov, Harris, In ans
wer to Lincoln's call, said that
tennessee would not furnish a man
for purposes of coercion" But as
Harris had been known as seces-
sion sympathizer ever since South
Carolina started the separation move
ment shortly after tho election OF
Lincoln, a response like this was OK
peoted.
But tho course of Bell who had
been a Whig. and n follower OF Clay
and Webster, and had also voted
against tho repeal OF the Missouri
Compromise in 1854. and who, very
shortly after Lincoln's election had
heen mentioned In some of the NORTH
ern papers as possible selection
for a place In Lincoln's cabinet. de
serted to the secesslonlsts just at
ter the fall of Sumpter, He united
In an address to thu people of his
state. indeed, on April IS, In which
no urged to maintain an independ
ent attitude, and refuse to take III
cause with either north or south
but he went straight over to tht
southern side Immediately afterward
Largely through Bells recreaney
/. tho Tennessee legislature passed
secession ordinance on May 6, to b.