Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch
the cause of the South in Kentucky.
Hopkinsville, Ky. May 22, 1861.
The people of Kentucky have been blinded by the adhesion to the Administration of the Louisville Democrat and Journal. The Courier espouses boldly the cause of the South.
The two Ohio river organs (Democrat and Journal,) have created such a division in our State that we can do nothing at present.
We expect our Legislature to arm us soon.
The people, through the Legislature, have decided upon an armed neutrality, and Gov. Magoffin executes their views in a proclamation, that the belligerents must bold our soil as sacred.
We have been almost upon the verge of civil war here.
Lincoln has been putting arms into the hands of his abolition agents here.
The Union party--many of them true friends of the South--are prejudiced against the secession movement.
They say they can best serve the South by a neutral position, and I hope now our people will be united in this position.
We expect no invasion from the South, and if Lincoln despises our neutrality, and attempts to occupy our cities, I believe Kentucky will hoist the Confederate flag and drive the invader from our soil.
Revolutions are progressive.
Missouri and Maryland are overrun, but the fires of patriotism are smouldering in the breasts of her free sons, and at the proper time they'll break the bands of the usurper, and rally as one man to the cry of victory or death.
Though our river ports are blockaded, we'll pour the contents of our garners into the lap of the South.
Lincoln may attempt to put his padlocks upon our granaries; then will come the tug of war. Your cause is our cause, but we cannot disarm prejudices in a moment.
There was a growing alienation of feeling in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, which superficial observers called a growth of Unionism, because a pretended abandonment of coercion policy had allayed excitement.
Then came the Proclamation, and four States rise in their might, united as one man for resistance.
Let patience have her perfect work.
Kentucky has no love for her renegade son. Virginia and Kentucky will yet stand side by side in resisting the matricides, Scott and Lincoln.
If Virginia is disposed to complain of Kentucky, let her remember Blanton Duncan and his band of Spartans.
When they have poured out their blood in defence of the mother State, we'll send a hundred men to take the place of each of them.
We have no arms now, but we intend to have them.
Reason bids us stand until we are ‘"parati animisque opibus."’ Let us unite our people, and if the war is forced upon us, if we come in at the eleventh hour, we ask to be allowed the first place in the post of danger.
Armed neutrality is but another phase of revolution.
If resisted, it will culminate in secession.
‘"There is a divinity that shapes our ends."’ Festina Lente, (hasten slowly)--although not a Scriptural injunction, is, in our situation, the voice of inspiration, for it is the voice of reason.
I believe the common good of master and slave, a more humane treatment, a higher elevation of the latter will be advanced by our separation.
The philanthropic master can then carry out his own plans for the elevation of his subordinates, without having his efforts for their good turned to the common injury of master and slave.
Let all Christians pray for so desirable an end. The cause of the South is the cause of religion, of liberty, of African civilization and christianization.
Then let us confidently appeal to the God of Battles, and the issue cannot be doubtful.
Let our aim, and our whole aim, be our Country, God, and Truth. 