Resolved, That this Legislature will co-operate with the General Government in the selection of the line of said road, and in preparations for its speedy completion, by all suitable enactments necessary to the accomplishment of the great end proposed. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted by the Governor of this Commonwealth to the President of the United States, to be by him laid before Congress; and that our Senators be instructed, and that our Representatives in Congress be requested, to urge upon Congress the speedy passage of a law carrying out the recommendation of the President. Approved December 23, 1861. 1861. No. 30. RESOLUTION in relation to furnishing the members of the Legislature with the general laws. Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: That the Public Printer be, and he is hereby, directed,. immediately after this Legislature shall take a recess, to publish, in pamphlet form, the general laws passed at the present session, and forward two copies of the same to each member of the Senate and House of Representatives, and two copies to each of the county and circuit court clerks of this Commonwealth. Approved December 23, 1861. No. 31. RESOLUTION in relation to property lost and destroyed during the present war. Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: That the Hon. John K. Goodloe, Senator from Woodford, with the aid of the Military Board, be instructed to memorialize Congress upon the following subjects: 1st. To obtain pay for the officers and soldiers who have been in actual service before they were mustered into the service. 2d. To obtain bounty and pensions for such officers and soldiers as have been killed or wounded in service before they were mustered in. 3d. To obtain compensation for property that has been lost or destroyed when in the use of the service by soldiers that had not been mustered in. Resolved, That the Senator aforesaid report on the 2d day after the recess, at 12 o'clock, M., if any, and what legislation is needed upon these subjects; also, to report, whether any, and if any, what legislation is necessary upon all kindred subjects. Approved December 23, 1861. RESOLUTIONS concerning Federal relations. Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: That Kentucky has ever cherished and adhered to the Federal Union, and she will cling to it now, in this time of its extremest peril, with unfaltering devotion. While at the beginning of the mad and wicked war which is being waged by the rebellious States for the destruction of the Government, she forbore to take part, in the hope that she might interpose her friendly offices in the interests of peace, she has, nevertheless, sternly repelled every movement which looked to a change of her political relations to the noblest and freest Government in the world. And now, since her proffered mediation has been spurned and her soil invaded by the Confederate armies, she deems it fit that she should announce to the world that, standing firmly by her Government, she will resist every effort to destroy it; and she calls upon her true and heroic sons to rally around the standard of their country, and put forth the whole energies of the Commonwealth, till the rebellion shall be overthrown and the just supremacy of the National Government shall be restored and maintained everywhere within its limits. Resolved, That the existing civil war, forced upon the National Government without cause by the disunionists, should not be waged upon the part of the Government in any "spirit of oppression, or for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, or purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights or established institutions of any of the States, free or slave, but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution and to preserve the Union with all the dignity, equality, and rights of the several States unimpaired; and that as soon as these objects are accomplished, the war ought to cease." Resolved, That in the adoption of the foregoing resolution by the National Congress, with unprecedented unanimity, at its late session, a rule of action was prescribed to the Government from which it cannot depart without a disregard of the plighted faith of the National Legislature, which we would be slow to believe can be seriously entertained. Against any such departure we solemnly pro test. Resolved, That the purpose expressed in said resolutions is the great end demanded, and that which inspires Kentucky with patriotic ardor to seek their achievement with all her loyal energies and means, in the confident hope of success, and belief that the country saved, in our triumph, to us and to posterity, will still be glorious in the freedom of its people, in the unity of its government, and the security of society, and worth infinitely more than it cost to save it. Resolved, That we have learned with amazement that the authorities of the Confederate States have armed negroes and Indians to wage war upon our Government and people, and utterly condemn it; and that we would deplore and protest against our National Government following their example and arming slaves to be used as soldiers to fight in the existing war, and we cannot believe that the National Executive entertains any such purpose. Resolved, That slavery is a State institution, guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, and we cannot agree that the National Government, to which we are and intend to be loyal, shall undertake the emancipation of slaves against the will of slaveholding States. That in his modification of Fremont's proclamation and Secretary Cameron's report, the President of the United States has given earnest and gratifying evidence of his purpose to administer the Government under the sanction of the Constitution, and for his faithfulness under the circumstances he is entitled to, and should, receive, the thanks of every loyal-hearted man in the State and nation; and that we respectfully request the President of the United States to dispense with the services of Mr. Cameron, a member of his Cabinet. Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded by the Governor to the President of the United States, and to our Senators and Representatives in Congress, to be laid before that body. Approved December 23, 1861. 1861. No. 33. RESOLUTIONS relating to the assumption of the Federal direct tax by this Commonwealth. Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: That the State of Kentucky will, and does hereby, assume the payment of her proportion of the direct tax imposed by the act of Congress of 6th August, 1861. Resolved, That the Governor of this Commonwealth be directed to transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury, at the city of Washington, a copy of these resolutions. Approved December 23, 1861. P16 RESOLUTION concerning the Federal courts for the District of Kentucky. Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: That our Senators in the Congress of the United States be instructed, and our Representatives requested, to procure the passage of an act of Congress repealing so much of any act as authorizes the judges of the circuit and district courts of the United States, for the District of Kentucky, to hold terms of said courts at Covington, Paducah, and the city of Louisville. Approved December 23, 1861. No. 35. RESOLUTION in regard to mileage of the members of the present Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of That in all cases where members of the present General Assembly cannot travel to and from their places of residence, by the road nearest and most usually traveled, in consequence of the condition of the State, the Auditor, in settling the accounts of such members, shall pay them mileage according to the routes of travel they are necessarily compelled to pursue to reach their homes respectively. Approved December 23, 1861. No. 36. RESOLUTION in favor of Chinn, Gwin, and Bradley. Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: That there be, and is hereby, appropriated to M. B. Chinn the sum of ten dollars, and to George Gwin five dollars, and to William A. Bradley twelve dollars, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, and the Auditor shall draw his warrant therefor in their favor. Approved December 23, 1861. No. 38. RESOLUTION relating to Senators Breckinridge and Powell. WHEREAS, John C. Breckinridge and L. W. Powell do not represent the will of the people of the State of Kentucky: therefore, Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: That they be instructed to resign their seats in the Senate of the United States. This joint resolution, not having been approved by the Governor, nor returned within the time prescribed by the constitution, became a law on the 2d day of December, A. D., 1861. NAT. GAITHER, JR., Secretary of State. No. 39. RESOLUTIONS relating to the neutrality of Kentucky. Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: That Kentucky has always looked upon the Union of the States, and the preservation of liberty, as one and inseparable, now and forever. Resolved, That we assumed neutrality and mediation, not to destroy, but to preserve the unity of the States; not to cast off our allegiance to the Federal Government, but to try and win back peaceably, by proper mediation and compromise, the seceded States to their allegiance. Resolved, That when we assumed neutrality we intended it merely as an abeyance of one constitutional duty by the sufferance, not in independence of the General Government, nor for the selfish purpose alone of preserving our peace, but for the far nobler and holier purpose of refraining from the combat, so that we could appeal both to the North and the South, to stay the fratricidal and unnatural combat, and to offer our services as mediator to adjust the difficulties that unhappily had arisen, and restore the work of our fathers. Resolved therefore, That when the General Government occupies our soil for its defense, in pursuance of a constitutional right, it neither compromises our assumed neutrality nor gives the right to the Confederate forces to invade our State, on the assumption that our neutrality has been violated, especially when they first set foot upon our soil, upon the plea of military necessity. Resolved further, That the honor of Kentucky will not permit her to make any concessions or compromises to the Confederate forces as long as one hostile foot presses her 1861. |