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40. Senator Whitaker's resolutions, offered in the Kentucky Senate, Sept. 9, 1861.
Resolved, That
Kentucky's peace and neutrality have been wantonly violated, her soil has been invaded, the rights of her citizens have been grossly infringed by the so-called Southern Confederate forces.
This has been done without cause; therefore--
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, That the
Governor be requested to call out the military force of the
State to expel and drive out the invaders.
Resolved, That the
United States be invoked to give aid and assistance, that protection to invasion which is granted to each one of the States by the 4th section of the 4th article of the
Constitution of the United States.
Resolved, That
Gen. Robert Anderson be, and he is hereby, requested to enter immediately upon the active discharge of his duties in this military district.
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Resolved, That we appeal to the people of
Kentucky by the ties of patriotism and honor, by the ties of common interest and common defence, by the remembrances of the past, and by the hopes of future national existence, to assist in repelling and driving out the wanton violators of our peace and neutrality, the lawless invaders of our soil.
Executive Department, Franefort, Ky., Sept. 9, 1861.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives:
I have received the following despatches by telegraph from
General Leonidas Polk, which I deem proper to lay before you.
A military necessity having required me to occupy this town, I have taken possession of it by the forces under my command.
The circumstances leading to this act were reported promptly to the
President of the
Confederate States.
His reply was, the necessity justified the action.
A copy of my proclamation I have the honor to transmit you by mail.
Respectfully,
I should have despatched you immediately as the troops under my command took possession of this position, the very few words I addressed to the people here; but my duties since that time have so pressed me, that I have but now the first leisure time to communicate with you. It will be sufficient for me to inform you, which my short address here will do, that I had information, on which I could rely, that the
Federal forces intended and were preparing to seize
Columbus.
I need not describe the danger resulting to
West Tennessee from such success.
Realizing my responsibility, I could not permit them quietly to lose, through the command intrusted to me, so important a position.
In evidence of the information I possessed, I will state, as the Confederate forces occupied this place, the
Federal troops were formed in formidable numbers in position upon the opposite bank, with their cannon turned upon
Columbus; the citizens of the town had fled with terror, and not a word of assurance of safety or protection had been addressed to them.
Since I have taken possession of this place, I have been informed by highly responsible citizens of your State, that certain representatives of the
Federal Government are setting up complaints of my act of occupying it, and are making it a pretence for seizing other positions.
Upon this course of proceeding I have no comment to make, but I am prepared to say that I will agree to withdraw the
Confederate troops from
Kentucky provided she will agree that the troops of the
Federal Government be withdrawn simultaneously, with a guarantee, which I will give reciprocally for the Confederate Government, that the
Federals shall not be allowed to enter or occupy any point of
Kentucky in the future.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant, respectfully,
