Year: 1864

TON


The President called the Convention to order at
O'Clock P. NJ. Judge Wheat from the Committee
on Resolutions, made the following report:


R6So'rcd, That this Convention approve and en-
dorSe the principles embodied in the JOINT resoln-
tiOns upon Federal Affairs. adopted hv the General
Assembly of this Commonwealth Al lis late session.
hereby affirming the same.


The following are the resolutions of the General
Assembly thus endorsed by the Convention:


Rdsoirsd, that our Institutions are assaiiei by an
armed rebellion on one side. which can only be met
by the sword and on the other by unconstitutional
acts of Congress and startling usurpaionS of power
by the Executive which we have seen bv eXueri-
ment can be corrected by the ballot box. Policy
well as principle, requires that kentuckv shall
await the process OF reform which is slow but sue
and refrain from MI unlawful and unconstitutional
acts which have already brought terrible calamlteS
upon the country: whilst we invoke the aid If all
patriotic men to avert the evils that threaten our
free institutions


Resoiref. That this General Assembly declares
before j. has often declared. that the State Of
kentucky hath ever been, and is loyal Ia the gov
ernment of the United States Of America and is
determined 20 maintain that loyalty against both
domestic and foreign foes.


Resolred. That this General Assembly recognizes
manifest difference between any administration Of
the government and the government itselt--the
is transitory, limited in duration only to that
period Of time for which the officers elected by the
people are charged with the conduct of the same
the other Is permanent, intended by its founders TO
endure forever.


Resolred That this General Assembly now in
the exercise of its right to differ in opinion with
the National Executive, enters its solemn protest
against the proclamation of the President OF the
United States dated lst OF January 1868. BY which
he assumes to cmancipate all slaves within certain
States, holding the same to be unwise, unconstitu.
tional and void.


Resolred, That this General Assembly declares
that the power which has recently been assumed
by the President of the United States. whereby
Gnder the guise of military necessity he has pro
claimed and extended martial law over States
where war did not exist. and has suspended the
writ OF habeaS corpus, Is GnvaTranted by the Con-
titut0n and its tendency Is to subordinate civil to
military authority, and to subvert constitutional
and free government.


Resoircd, That this General Assembly declines
to accept the Presidents proposition for emancipa
tion, as oontained in his proclamation OF the 18th
of May Is62.


Rfsolred That this General Assembly deems it
proper further to declare that it. together with all
the loyal people Of the State. would hail with pleas
IRE and Geli ght any manifestation of a desire On he
part of the seeded States TO return TO their ale.
glance to the government Of the Union and ould
in such event cordially and earnestly cooperate
with them in the restoration of peace, and the pro-
curement Of such guarantees as would give security
to all their interests and rights.


Reso'red, That kentucky will adhere to the Con
stituton and the Union, as the best. il NAV he the
last hope of popular freedom: and for all wrongs
which may have been committed or evils which
may exist will seek redress under the Constitution
and within the Union by the peaceful but powerful
and irresistible agencies Of the sGtrages of free
people.


Resolred. That this General Assembly halls with
pleasurable hope the recent manifestations Of con-
servative sentiment among the people of the non
slayeh0ding States in their la:e elections and re-
gard the sane as the earnest Of a good purpose on
their part TO cooperate with all other loyal citi
zens-give security to the tights Of every section
and maintain the Union and the Constitution as
they were ordained by the founders of the Republic


RoSoired, That in the Judgment of this General
Assembly, a convention should be called for the
purpose Of proposing snch amendments to the Ma
tional Constitution as experience has proved to be
necessary to maintain that instrument in the spirit
and meaning of its founders; and TO that end we
re-aidrm and adopt the resolutions recommending
call for Convention Of the United States, ap-
Proved January ., 1851.


Resoired, That the laws of this State must b.
maintained and enforced and that it is the duty Of
the constituted authorities of the State 10 see 10 it.
that by all constitutional means this INDISPENSABLE
end shall be attained.


Rssolred, That the Governor he requested 20 for
ward copy Of these resolutions to the President
Of the United States. and to the Governor Of each
State. with a request that he lay the same before
the Legislature OF his State and TO each Of our
Senators and Representatives in Congress. Our
Senators are instructed and Representatives
requested, To their best efforts TO accomplish
the objects OF these resolutions.