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Gov. Magoffin's Message.--
Gov. Magoffin, in his message to the
Kentucky Legislature, says the semi-official announcement of a pacific policy on the part of the
Federal Government has been broken, and has involved the country in civil war, and if not successfully resisted, will prove fatal to the liberties of the people.
He charges the
President with usurpation of power in creating a standing army, mad with sectional hate, to subjugate or exterminate ten or more States.
He says that seven States have established a Confederacy, which seems to receive the cordial and undivided allegiance of their entire population, and thinks that
North Carolina,
Tennessee and
Arkansas will soon join it, while
Missouri,
Maryland and
Delaware, where public sentiment favors a like step, are considering the propriety of joining the
Confederacy.
He declares the American Union dissolved, and war exists.
He asks whether
Kentucky shall continue with and assume her portion of the enormous war debt being incurred by the
Federal Government — whether
Kentucky shall declare her own independence, and, single-handed, prepare to maintain it, or make common cause with the slaveholding States.
He does not propose to discuss the subject, but refers it to the people.
As the Legislature was elected two years ago, he thinks they had better pass a law calling a Convention and the election of delegates.--He regrets that his proposition to arm the
State was not carried out by the last Legislature.
He complime?ts the
Commercial,
Louisville, and Southern
Banks; for tendering money to procure arms, but says he fears that, from the refusal of other
Banks, the opportunitles for obtaining large supplies, effective guns and munitions of war, have been lost.
He recommends the issue of $1,000 bonds to secure funds for obtaining arms.
The Governor compliments the milltia for their accomplishment of a State Guard, and speaks of the co-operation of the Executives of
Ohio and
Indiana for the preservation of amicable relations and trade, but says they cannot control their lawless citizens, and thinks that an armed collision will prevail along the whole border, unless effectual measures are taken to prevent it. He says his proposition to the
General Government to suspend hostilities till the meeting of Congress met with no success, and asks that all party feeling be extinguished, and that
Kentucky maintain the peace, honor and safety of her citizens.
