Year: 1861

could this prohibition be effective, il
would not only be violation Of the fun
damental law, but would, in all its tend
encies, be directly in advancement of the
revolution, and might, in an emergency
easily imagined, compromise the highest
national interests. l was rejoiced thai
the Legislature so promptly refused te
endorse this proclamation as expressive
of the true policy Of the State. but
turn away from even this to the ballot
box, and find an abounding consolation
in the conviction it inspires, that the
popular heart Of Kentucky, in its devo
tion to the Union, is far in advance alike
of legislative resolve and Of Executive
proclamation.


But as it is well understood that the
late popular demonstration has rather
scotched than killed rebellion in Ken.
lucky, propose inquiring, as briefly as
practicable, whether, in the recent action
or present declared policy Of the Admin
istration, or in the history Of the pending
revolution, or in the objects it seeks to
accomplish, or in the results which must
follow from it, if successful, there can be
discovered any reasons why that State
should sever the ties that unite her with
Confederacy in whose councils and
upon whose battle-felds she has won SO
much fame, and under whose protection
she has enjoyed SO much prosperity.


For more than q month after the in
auguration Of President Lincoln the
manifestations seemed unequivocal that
his Administration would seek q peaceful
solution of our unhappy political troubles
aud would look to time and amendments
to the Federal Constitution, adopted in
accordance with it's provisions, to bring
back the revolted States to their allegi-
ance. So marked was the effect Of these
manifestations in tranquillizing the Bor-
der States and in reassuring their loyalty
that the conspirators who had set this
revolution on foot took the ALARM
While affecting to despise these States
as not sufficiently intensified in their de-
voton to African servitude, they knew
they could never succeed in their treas
enable enterprise without their sup.
port. Hence it was resolved to pre-
cipitate collision of arms with the Fed.
eral authorities, in the hope that, under
the panic aud evaporation incident to
the commencement of a civil war, the
Border States, following the natural bent
of their sympathies, would array them
selves against the Government. Fort
Sumpter, occupied by feeble garrison,
and girdled by powerful if not impregna
BILE batteries, afforded convenient means
for accomplishing their purpose, and for
testing also their favorite theory that
blood was needed to cement the new
Confederacy. It's provisions were ex.
hausted, and the request made by the
President in the interests Of peace and
humanity, for the privilege Of replenish-
ing its stores, had been refused. The
Confederate authorities were aware-for
so the gallant commander of the fort had
declared to them--that in two days q
from starvation must take
place. A peaceful surrender, however,
would not have subserved their aims
They sought the clash of arms and the
effusion Of blood as an instrumentality
for impressing the Border States, and
they sought the humiliation of the Gov
ernment and the dishonor of its flag as q
means of giving prestige to their own
cause. The result is known. Without
the slightest provocation a heavy canon
ade was opened upon the fort, and borne
by its helpless garrison for hours without
reply, and when, in the progress of the
bombardment, the forti6cation became
wrapped in flames, the besieging batter
les in violation Of the usages Of civilized
warfare, instead of relaxing or suspend.
ing, redoubled their fires. A more wan.
ton or wicked war was never commenced
on any government whose history ha,
been written. Contemporary with and
following the fall Of Sumpter, the siege
Of Fort Pickens was and still is actively
pressed; the property Of the United States
Government continued to be seized
wherever found, and its troops, by fraud
or force, captured in the State Of Texa,
in violation Of solemn compact with it.
authorities that they should be permitted
to embark without molestation. This
was the requital which the lone sta,
State made to brave men who, through
long years Of peril and privation, had
guarded its frontiers against the incur
sions Of the savages. In the midst of th'
most active and extended warlike prepa
rations in the South, the announcement
was made by the Secretary of War o
the seeded States, and echoed will
taunts and insolent bravadoes by til,
Southern press, that Washington CITY
was to be invaded and captured, and tina
the flag Of the Confederate States woulC
soon float over the dome Of its Capitol
Soon thereafter there followed an invi
tation to all the world--embracing ncces
sarily the outcasts and desperadocs o
every sca-.to accept letters Of marqu'
aud rcprisal, to prey upon tho rich anc
unprotected commerce of the UniteC
States.


In view Of these events and threaten
ings, what was the duty Of the Chic


Magistrate Of the Republic? He NIGH
have taken counsel Of the revolutionist,
and under their mensces; he might, upor
the fall of Sumpter, have directed tha


Fort Pickcns should be surrendered with
out firing q gun in its defence, and pro
ceeding yet further, and meeting fully
A r. Al IL -