Year: 1861

| FRANKFORT Aug. 10, 1861.
To his Ercellency, Abraham. Lincoln, Pres.


ident Of The United States


SIR From the commencement of the
unhappy hostilities now pending in this
country, the people of Kentucky have in
dicated an earnest desire and purpose, as
far as lay in their power, while maintain
ing their original political status, to do no
thing by which to involve them in the war
up to this time they have succeeded in Sc
curing to themselves and to the State peace
and tranquility as the fruits of the policy
they adopted. My single object now is to
promote the continuance of these blessings
to the people of this State


Until within brief period the people
of Kentucky were quiet and tranquil, free
from domestic strife. and undisturbed by
internal commotion. They have resisted
no law, rebelled against no authority, en-
gagged in no revolution, but constantly pro-
claimed their firm determination to pursue
their peaceful avocations, earnestly hoping
that their own soil would be spared the
presence of armed troops, and that the
scene of conflict would be kept removed
beyond the border of their State. By thus
avoiding all occasions for the introduction
of bodies of armed soldiers, and offering no
provocation for the presence of military
force, the people of Kentucky have sincere
| ly striven to preserve in their State domes-
tic peace and avert the calamities of san
culinary engagements.


Recently a large body of soldiers have
been enlisted in the United States army
and collected in military camps in the CEN
tral portion of Kentucky. This movement
was preceded by the active organization of
companies, regiments, &C., consisting of
men sworn into the United States service,
under officers holding commissions from
yourself. Ordnance, arms, munitions, and
supplies of war are being transported into
the State and placed in large quantities in
these camps. In word, an army is now
being organized and quarted within the
State, supplied with all the appliances of
war, without the consent or advice of the
authorities of the State, and without con-
sultation with those prominently known
and recognized as loyal citizens This
movement now imperils that peace and
tranquility which, from the beginning of
our pending difficulties, have been the par
amount desire of the people, and which, up
to this time, they have SO secured to the
State


Within Kentucky there has been, and is
likely to be, no occasion for the presence
of military force. The people are quiet
and tranquil, feeling no apprehension of
any occasion arising to invoke protection
from the Federal arm. They have asked
that their territory be left free from mill
tary occupation, and the present tranquil
ity of their communication is left uninva-
ded by soldiers. They do not desire that
Kentucky shall be required to supply the
battle field for the contending armies, or
become the thcater Of war.


Now, therefore, as Governor of the State
of Kentucky, and in the name of the peo-
Iple | have the honor to represent, and with
the single and earnest desire to avert from
their peaceful homes the horrors of war,
urge the removal from the limits of Ken.
lucky the military force now organized and
in camp within the State, If such action
as is hereby urged be promptly taken,
firmly believe the peace of the people Of
Kentucky will be preserved and the hor,
rors of bloody war will be averted from
people now peaceful and tranquil.


l am, very respectfully,


... Your obedient servant,


b. MAGOFFIN