Year: 1861

shalt not steal !" we submit to this law, and


would not for the worlds worth rob our neigh


Dor of his forts, his arsenals, his arms, his mu-


nitions of war, his hospital stores, or anything
that is his. Indeed, so impressed are we with
the obligations of this law that we would no


more think of plundering from our neighbor
half million of dollars because found in one
of his unprotected mints, than we would think
of flching purse from his pocket in crowded
thoroughfare Write us down, therefore, sub.
missionists." Again; the law says "Thou
shalt not swear falsely" we submit to this
law, and while in the civil or military service
of the country, with an oath to support the
Constitution of the United States resting upon
our consciences, we would not for any earthly
consideration engage in the formation or exc.
cution of conspiracy to subvert that very
constitution, and with it the government which
it has given birth. Write us down, therefore,
again, submissionists" But again: When
President has been elected in strict accord
ance with the forms aud spirit of the constitu.
tion, aud has been regularly installed into of
flee, and is honestly striving to discharge his
duty by snatching the Republic from the jaws
Of gigantic treason which threatens to crush it,
we care not what his name may be OF what the
designation of his political party. or what the
platform on which he stood during the Presi-
Dental canvass,--we believe we fulfill in sight
Of earth and heaven our honest obligations to
our country, in giving to him an earnest and
loyal support in the struggle in which he is en-
gagged. .l.r.i u


Nor, are we at all disturbed by the fippant
taunt that in thus submitting to the authority
of our government, we are necessarily towards.
We know whence this taunt comes, and we es.
innate it at its true value. We hold that there
is higher courage in the performance of duty
than III the commission of crime. The tiger of
the jungle and the cannibal of the South Sea
Islands have that courage in which the rev.
olutonists of the day make THEN especial boast
the angels of God and the spirits of just
men made perfect have had, and have that cour-
age which submits to the laws. Lucifer was n
non -submissionist, and the first secessionst of
whom history gives us any account, and the
chains which he wears fity express the fate due
to all who openly defy the laws of their Gre
ator and of their country. He rebelled be-
cause the Almighty would not yield to him the
throne of Heaven the principle of the South
ern rebellion is the same Indeed, in this sub.
mission to the law is found the chief distinct
ion between good men and devils. A good
man obeys the laws of truth, of honesty, of
morality, and all those laws which have been





ment and protection Of the country in which he
lives; Devil obeys only his own ferocious aud
prohigate passions. The principle on which
selves no sanctions, no biuding force upon the
conscience, aud that every man, under the
promptings Of interest or passion or caprice
may at WILL and honorably, too, strike at the
government that shelters him, is one of utter
Generalization, and should be trodden out, as
you would tread out spark that has fallen on
the roof Of your dwelling It's unchecked
prevalence would resolve society into chaos,
and leave you without the slightest guaranty
for life, liberty or property. 1t is time that,
in their majesty the people of the United
States should make known to the world that
this government, in its dignity and power is
something more than moot court, and that the
citizen who makes war upon it is traitor, not
only in theory but in fact, and should have
meted out to him traitors doom. The coun-
try wants no bloody sacrifices, but it must and
will have peace cost what it may.


Before closing, l desire to say few words
on the relations of Kentucky to the present re-
belion; and, as we are all Kentuckians here
tonight, and as this is purely family matter,
which concerns the welfare of us all, l hope we
may be able to speak to each other upon it
with entire freedom. | shall not detain you
with observations on the hostile and defiant po-
sition assumed by the Governor of your State.
In his reply to the requisition made upon him
for volunteers under the proclamation of the
President, he has, in my judgment written and
finished his own history, his epitaph included;
and it is probable that in future the wofM will
little concern itself as to what his Excelency
may propose tn do or as to what he may pro-
MOI nnf m ri IL
brought burning blush to the check of mary
of her sons, and is destined to bring it to the
check of many more in the years which are to
come. 1t is shame, indeed a crying shame
that State with so illustrious a ~. st should
have written for her, by her own chief mapis-
trate, page of history so utterly humilating
as this. But your Legislature hive determined
that during the present unhappy war the att.
tude of the State shall be that, of strict neu.
trality, and it is upon this determination. that
wish respectfully but frankly, to COMMENT
AS the motives which goverI,ed the Legisa-
ture we're doubtless patriotic and conservative,
the conclusion arrived at carrot be condemned
as dishonorable; still, in view of the manifest
duty of the State and Of possible results .
cannot but regard it as mistaken and false, and
one which may have fatal conseeuences.--
Strictly and legally speaking, Kentucky must
go out of the Union before she can be neutral.
Within it, she is necessarily either faithful to
the government of the United States, or she is
dsloyal to it. II this crutch of neutrality
upon which her well-meaning, but il-judging
politicians are haltin9, can find any middle
ground on which to rest, il has escaped my
researches, though / have diligently sought il.
Neutrality in the sense Of those who now use
the term, however patriotically designed, is, in
ofya,t b,t so.lo in tba c-o.. of -.kull:z-