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GOV. JACKSON FIGURING FOR SECESSION.

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established the endurance and forbear- | protection to treason only, was repu

ance of the volunteers, so long as patience was a virtue.

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The rage and hate of the Secessionists were intensified by this serious blow; but they took care not to provoke further collision. The unquestioned fact that the streets and alleys of the discomfited State Guard's Camp Jackson' were named after Davis, Beauregard, etc., was not needed to prove the traitorous character of the organization. Capt. Lyon was made Brigadier-General of the First Brigade of Missouri Volunteers. Gen. William S. Harney returned from the East to St. Louis on the 12th, and took command of the Union forces. Nine days thereafter, he entered into a truce or compact with Gen. Sterling Price, whereof the object was the pacification of Missouri. But this did not prevent the traitors from hunting and shooting Unionists in every part of the State where Slavery and treason were locally in the ascendant-thousands having been driven in terror from their homes before the end of May. Some of them were served with notices from one or another of the secret societies of Rebels overspreading the State. In at least one instance, a citizen was arrested and sent to Jefferson City, to be tried by Court Martial on a charge of raising a Union company; and, on the "22d, the American flag was taken down from its staff in front of the Post Office in St. Joseph, and the authorities of that city (in the Northwest corner of the State) formally resolved that no American flag should be planted within its limits. Gen. Harney's compact with Price, proving a

33 June 4th.

diated at Washington, and Gen. Harney himself superseded in the command of the department by Gen. Lyon.

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Gov. Jackson thereupon " issued a circular, professing to regard the Harney compact as still in force, and insisting that "the people of Missouri should be permitted, in peace and security, to decide upon their future course; that they could not be subjugated," etc., etc. Very soon, an interview was had, at St. Louis, between Gen. Price, on behalf of the Governor, and Gen. Lyon and Col. Blair, on the side of the Union; whereat Gen. Price demanded, as a vital condition of peace, that no Federal troops of should be stationed in, or allowed to pass through, the State. Gen. Lyon peremptorily refused compliance. Jackson and Price returned that night to Jefferson City; and the next morning brought tidings to St. Louis that the Gasconade railroad bridge had been burnt, as also a portion of the bridge over the Osage river, and the telegraph wires cut, under the direction of a son of the Governor. On the back of this came a proclamation from Jackson, calling out 50,000 State Militia to repel Federal invasion, and closing as follows:

"In issuing this proclamation, I hold it to be my most solemn duty to remind you that Missouri is still one of the United States; that the Executive department of the State Government does not arrogate to itself the power to disturb that relation; that power has been wisely vested in the Convention, which will, at the proper time, express your sovereign will; and that, meanwhile, it is your duty to obey all constitutional requirements of the Federal Government. is equally my duty to advise you that your first allegiance is due to your own State, and that you are under no obligation whatever

34 June 11th.

But it

to obey the unconstitutional edicts of the military despotism which has introduced itself at Washington, nor submit to the infamous and degrading sway of its wicked minions in this State. No brave-hearted Missourian will obey the one or submit to the

other. Rise, then, and drive out ignominiously the invaders, who have dared to desecrate the soil which your labors have made

fruitful, and which is consecrated by your homes."

Thus, though Missouri had authoritatively and overwhelmingly refused to leave the Union, her Governor made war upon it, and, mustering all the forces of Slavery and treason, proceeded openly to cast in his and their lot with the fortunes of the Great Rebellion.

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KENTUCKY, despite the secret affiliation of her leading politicians with the traitors, whom many of them ultimately joined, refused from the outset, through the authentic action of her people, to unite her fortunes with those of the Rebellion. Though she had, for some years, been a 'Democratic' State-casting her Presidential vote for Buchanan and Breckinridge, in 1856, by some seven thousand majority 3 the cloven foot of treason had no sooner been exhibited, by the disruption of the Democratic party at Charleston, than her people gave unmistakable notice that they would acquiesce in no such purpose. Her State Election occurred not long afterward," when Leslie Combs, 'Union' candidate for Clerk of her highest Court (the only office filled at this election by the general vote of the State), was chosen by the magnificent majority of 23,223 over his leading

35 Buchanan 74,642; Fillmore 67,416; Fremont 314. 36 August 6, 1860.

37 Combs 68,165; M'Clarty (Breckinridge) 44,942; Bolling (Douglas) 10,971; Hopkins (Lincoln) 829.

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"We, the people of the United States, are no longer one people, united and friendly. The ties of fraternal love and concord, which once bound us together, are sundered. Though the Union of the States may, by the abstract reasoning of a class, be construed still to exist, it is really and practically-to an extent, at least-fatally impaired. The confederacy is rapidly resolving itself into its original integral parts, and its loyal members are intent upon contracting wholly new relations. Reluctant as we may be to realize the dread calamity, the great fact of revolution stares us in the face, rized away. Nor is the worst yet told. demands recognition, and will not be theoWe are not yet encouraged to hope that this revolution will be bloodless. A collision of

arms has even occurred between the Federal Government and the authorities of a late member of the Union, and the issue threatens to involve the whole country in fratricidal war. It is under these circumstances of peculiar gloom that you have been summoned. *** In view of the partial disruption of the Union, the secession of eight or ten States, the establishment of a Southern Confederated Republic, and the adminis

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KENTUCKY'S PECULIAR LOYALTY.

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tration of this Government upon the princi- | His call was issued April 18th; and,

ples of the Chicago Platform—a condition of our country, most likely, near at hand-what attitude will Kentucky hold, and by virtue of what authority shall her external relations It

be determined? Herein are involved issues

of momentous consequence to the people. is of vital importance to our own safety and domestic peace that these questions be solved in accordance with the will of a majority of our people. ***The ordinary departments of the Government are vested with no power to conduct the State through such a revolution. Any attempt, by either of these departments, to change our present external relations, would involve a usurpation of power, and might not command that confidence and secure the unanimity so essential to our internal safety."

The Legislature heard him patiently, but refused to follow him. It declined to call a State Convention, but proposed instead a National Convention to revise the Federal pact, and a 'Peace Conference' at Washington; which latter was duly held, as we have already seen. No action looking to Disunion could be extracted from that Legislature, which adjourned soon afterward. And, though the Secessionists sought to atone for their paucity of numbers by preternatural activity, especially through their secret organizations, as 'Knights of the Golden Circle,' etc., and called a 'State Rights' Convention, to meet at Frankfort on the 22d of March, by a secret circular, wherein they assumed that Disunion was an accomplished fact, nothing of importance had been effected by them when the roar of the batteries encircling Fort Sumter called the nation to arms.

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on the evening of that day, an immense Union meeting was held at Louisville, whereof James Guthrie, Archibald Dixon, and other servatives,' were the master-spirits. This meeting resolved against Secession, and against any forcible resist ance thereto-in favor of arming the State, and against using her arms to put down the rampant treason at that moment ruling in Baltimore as well as in Richmond, and ostentatiously preparing for a speedy rush upon Washington. Two of its resolves will sufficiently exhibit the inconsequence and unreason of this species. of conservatism: viz:

"Resolved, First: That, as the Confederate States have, by overt acts, commenced war against the United States, without consultation with Kentucky and their sister Southern States, Kentucky reserves to herself the right to choose her own position; and that, while her natural sympathies are the protection of Slavery, she still acknowledges her loyalty and fealty to the Government of the United States, which she will cheerfully render until that Government becomes aggressive, tyrannical, and regardless of our rights in slave property.

with those who have a common interest in

"Second: That the National Government

should be tried by its acts; and that the several States, as its peers in their appropriability, and require that its acts should be ate spheres, will hold it to a rigid accountfraternal in their efforts to bring back the seceded States, and not sanguinary or coërcive."

The red-hot balls fired into Sumter by the traitors had hardly cooled, when Kentucky Unionism insulted the common-sense and nauseated the loyal stomach of the Nation by this astounding drivel. The consequences may well be imagined. Not a single Rebel in all the State was induced by it to relax his efforts in behalf of slaveholding treason; and men, mu

Gov. Magoffin, having refused, with insult, to respond to the President's call for Militia to maintain the Union, summoned the Legislature to meet once more, in extra session, assigning, as one reason therefor, the necessity of promptly putting the State in a complete position for defense. | nitions, and supplies were openly, and

almost daily, dispatched to the mus- | tering Rebel hosts in the South and Southeast; while, for months, nothing was done by that State for the cause of the Union. The first regiment of Kentuckians raised for the Union armies was encamped on the free side of the river, in deference to urgent representations from professed Unionists and to Kentucky's proclaimed neutrality.

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The meeting further resolved:

Eighth That we look to the young men of the Kentucky State Guard as the bulwarks of the safety of our Commonwealth; and we conjure them to remember that they are pledged equally to fidelity to the United States and to Kentucky."

That 'State Guard,' organized by Gen. Simon B. Buckner, under the auspices of Gov. Magoffin, became a mere recruiting and drilling convenience of the Rebel chiefs-its members being dispatched southward so fast as ripened for their intended service. Ultimately, having corrupted all he could, Buckner followed them into the camp of open treason," and was captured at the head of a portion of them at the taking of

Fort Donelson.

The Legislature having reässembled," Magoffin read them another

lecture in the interest of the Re

bellion. The Union was gone-the Confederacy was a fixed fact-it would soon be composed of ten, and perhaps of thirteen, States; President Lincoln was a usurper, 66 mad with sectional hate," and bent on subjugating or exterminating the

43 The Louisville Journal of Sept. 27th denounced the treachery of Buckner in the following terms:

"Away with your pledges and assurances-with your protestations, apologies, and proclamations, at once and altogether! Away, parricide! Away, and do penance forever!

South. South. The Federal Government was rolling up a frightful debt, which Kentucky would not choose to help pay, etc., etc. Whereupon, he again urged the call of a Convention, with a view to State independence and self-protection.

The Legislature had been chosen in 1859, and had a Democratic majority in either House, but not a Disunion majority. It could not be induced to call a Convention, nor even to favor such neutrality as Magoffin proposed. Yet he presumed to issue" a Proclamation of Neutrality, denouncing the war as a "horrid, unnatural, lamentable strife," forbid

ding either the Union or the Confederate Government to invade the soil of Kentucky, and interdicting all "hostile demonstrations against either of the aforesaid sovereignties" by citizens of that State, "whether incorporated in the State Guard or otherwise." Had he been an autocrat, this might have proved effectual. But the Legislature refused to indorse his Proclamation; refused to vote him Three Millions wherewith to the State;" and so amended the Militia Law as to require the 'State Guard' to swear allegiance to the Union as well as to Kentucky. Senator Louis H. Rousseau," among others, spoke" decidedly, boldly, in opposition to all projects of Disunion or semi-Disunion; saying:

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FINAL 'PEACE EFFORT IN THE WEST.

longs. It is all your work, and whatever happens will be your work. We have more right to defend our Government than you have to overturn it. Many of us are sworn to support it. Let our good Union brethren at the South stand their ground. I know that many patriotic hearts in the seceded States still beat warmly for the old Union-the old flag. The time will come

when we shall all be together again. The politicians are having their day. The people will yet have theirs. I have an abiding confidence in the right, and I know this Secession movement is all wrong. There is, in fact, not a single substantial reason for it. If there is, I should be glad to hear of it;

our Government has never oppressed us with a feather's weight. The direst oppression alone could justify what has brought all our present suffering upon us. May God, in His mercy, save our glorious Republic!"

The Legislature adjourned on the 24th-the Senate having just resolved that

"Kentucky will not sever connection with the National Government, nor take up arms for either belligerent party; but arm herself for the preservation of peace within her borders;" and tendering their services as mediators to effect a just and honorable

peace.

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cause the behests of the slaveholding caste are habitually accepted and obeyed as law in every slaveholding community.

An election for delegates to the proposed "Peace Convention" was held May 4th, and resulted in an immense Union majority-7,000 in Louisville, and over 50,000 in the State. The Secessionists, ascertaining their numerical weakness, and unwilling to expose it, withdrew their tickets a few days previously, and took no part in the election.

The "Peace Convention" assem

bled May 27th; but Virginia, at whose instance it was called, sent no delegates, and none were present but from Kentucky, save four from Missouri and one from Tennessee. John J. Crittenden presided. Among the delegates were some who have since proved traitors; but the great majority were earnestly devoted to the Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge- Union. And yet, this Convention always a devoted Unionist, because failed to assert the imperative duty never a devotee of Slavery-in an of obedience to its constituted auaddress at Cincinnati, one year later, thority, without which the Union is declared that Kentucky was saved but a name for anarchy. It deprefrom the black abyss by her prox- cated civil war as abhorrent and imity to loyal Ohio, Indiana, and ruinous, and exhorted the people to Illinois, whose Governors, it was "hold fast to that sheet-anchor of known, stood pledged to send ten republican liberty, the principle that thousand men each to the aid of her the will of the majority, constitutionUnionists whenever the necessity for ally and legally expressed, must govtheir presence should be indicated. ern;" yet failed to charge those who, Had she been surrounded as Tennes- defying this principle, were plunging see and North Carolina were, she the whole land into confusion and must have fallen as they did. She carnage, with the full responsibility would have so fallen, not because a of their acts, or to call on the people majority of her people were disloyal, to put them down. It still harped but because the traitors were better on the wrongs of the South, though organized, more determined, more condemning her rebellion; exhorted belligerent, and bent on success at the North to "discard that sectional any cost. and unfriendly spirit, which has conThey would have succeeded, be- tributed so much to inflame the

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