Year: 1861

cations to our country, in giving TO him an


earnest and loyal support in the struggle In


which he is engaged.


Nor are all disturbed by the flippant iaunt


that in thus submitting TO the authority Of our


Government we are necessarily towards. We


know whence this taunt comes, and estf-


mate il at its true value. We hold that there


is higher courage in the performance OF duty


than in the commission of cline. The tiger


of the Jungle and the cannibal of the South Sea


Islands have that courage in which the reyo-


lutionists of the day make their especial boast.


the angels OF God and the spirits OF just men


made perfect have had, and have that courage


which submits to the laws. Lucifer was a


non submissionist, and the first secessionist of


whom history has given any account, and the


chains which he wears fitly express the fate


due to all who openly defy the laws of their
Creator and of their country. He rebellcd be-


cause the Almighty would not yield TO him


the throne OF Heaven; the principle of the


Southern rebellion is the same. Indeed, in


this submission to the laws is found the chief


distinction between good men and devils. a
good man obeys the laws of truth, of honesty,


OF morality, and all those laws which have


been enacted by competent authority for the
government and protection of the country in


which he lives; devil obeys only his own fe-
roucious and profiigate passions. The princi-
pie on which this rebellion proceeds, that laws


have in themselves no sanctions, no binding
force upon the conscience, and that every man,


under the promptings of interest, or PASSION,
or caprice, may at viii, and honoraby, too,
strike at the Government that shelters him. is
one of utter decentralization, and should be
trodden out, as you would tread out spark
that has fallen on the roof OF your dwelling.
Its unchecked prevalence would resolve socie-
ty into chaos, and leave you without the slight
est guaranty for life, liberty, or property. 1t
is time that, III their majesty, the people of
49,.
world that this government, in its dignity and
power, is something more than a moot court,
and that the citizen who makes war upon il is
a traitor, not only in theory but in fact, and
should have meted out to him traitors doom.
The country wants no bloody sacrifices, but il
must and will have peace, cost what it may.


Before closing, desire to say few words
On the relations of Kentucky TO the pending
re ebellion and, as We are all Kentuckians here
together tonight, and as this is purely fam
lily matter, which concerns the honor of us ali,
l hope we may be permitted TO speak to each
other upon it with entire freedom. | shall
not detain you with observations on the hos
tile and defiant position assumed by the Gov
ernor of your State. In his reply TO the
quisiton made upon hin, for volunteers under
the proclamation of the President, he has, in
my judgment. written and finished Lis own
history, his epitaph included; and it is prob
able that in future the world will little con-
Germ itself as to what his Excellency may pro-
pose to do or as to what he may propose not
10 do. That response has made for Kentucky
a record that has already brought burning
blush to the cheek of many of her sons, and is
destined to bring it to the cheek of many moro
in the years which are to come. 1t is a shame,


indeed a crying shame, that State with so
llustrous past should have written for her,
by her own chief magistrate, page of history
so utterly humiliating as this. But your Leg
stature have determined that during the pres
ent unhappy war the attitude of the State shall
be that OF strict neutrality, and it is upon this
determination that l wish respectfully, but
frankly to comment As the motives which
governed the Legislature were doubtless pat
-iotic and conservative, the conclusion ar
rived at cannot be condemned as dishonorable;
still, in view of the manifest duty OF the State
md of possible results, cannot but regard it
rs mistaken and false, and one which may
nave fatal consequences. Strictly and legal
y speaking, Kentucky must go ont of the u
ZION before she can be neutral. Within it sho
S necessarily either faithful TO The Govern
nent OF the United States, or she is disloyaI
o it. II this crutch of neutrality upon which
Ter well meaning but ill-judging politicians
ire halting, can find any middle ground on
which to rest, it has escaped my researches,
hough l have diligently sought it. Neutral
ty, in the sense of those who now the
erm, however patrioticaly designed, is, in





nd those who hardle it will sooner or later
eel its fangs. Said one who spake as man
lever Spake, she who is not with us is against
is - and of none of the conflicts which have
risen between men or between nations, could
his be moro trnthfully said, than of that in
rhich we are now involved. Neutrality ne
essarly implies Indifference. Is Kentucky
Indifferent to the issues of this contest Has
he, indeed, nothing at stake? Has she
ompact with her sister States TO keep. no
lighted faith TO uphold, no renown TO sus-
ain, no glory to win Has she no horror OF
hat crime OF crimes now being committed
gainSt US by that stupendous rebellion which
as arisen like tempest cloud in the South
We rejoice to know that she is still member
f this Union, and as such she has the same
interest in resisting this rebellion, that each
NIB of the body has in resisting poignard


hose point is aimed at the heart. 1t is her
ouse that is fire has she no interest in
the confagration Will she
tand aloof and announce herself neutral be-
yeen the raging flames and the brave men
ho are periing their lives to subdue them
hundreds of thousands of citizens of other
tates-men of culture and character, of
lought and of toll men who have deep
lake in life and an intense appreciation OF its
uties and responsibilities; who know the
orth of this blessed Government OF ours, and
o not prize even their own blood above i'll
", hundreds OF thousands of such men havo


1T their homes, their workshops, their othces,
,eir counting houses, and their fields, and
re now rallyng about our flag, freely offering
leir all to sustain it, and, since the days that
-usading Europe threw Its hosts upon the
nbattled plains of Asia, no deeper or more
,rnest or grander spirit has stirred the souls
T men, than that which now sways those
lightly masses whose cleaning banners are
estined ere long to make bright again the
lrth and sky of the distracted South. Can
entucky look upon this sublime spectacle of