The people of
Nashville recently held a meeting for the purpose of giving a public expression of sentiment in reference to the neutrality of
Kentucky.
Hon. Andrew Ewing, chairman of the
Committee on Resolutions, reported the following:
‘
The people of
Tennessee, deeply impressed with the suffering and distress likely to arise from a hostile collision between their forces and those of
Kentucky, earnestly desire in this hour of calmness to express their strong conviction that such a struggle should be avoided.
Born from the same ancestry, entering the Federal Union at the same time, fighting side by side against the Indians, the
British and the Mexicans, generally concurring in our Federal policy, and united geographically and socially by the closest connections and tier, it will be a deplorable result for us to sever our association by war and bloodshed.--We firmly believe that no reasonable ground exists for the production of such a calamity.
Tennessee deemed it her right and duty to dissolve her connection with the Federal Union and join her Southern sisters in resisting the outrages and despotic usurpations of the present.
Abolition Administration — her people have seen no cause to regret that determination, but on the contrary, feel that they have been cheered on in their course by the success of Southern arms, the bountiful productions of their soil, and the manufacturing skill and energy developed by reliance on our own powers.
Kentucky has not thought proper to abandon the
Union, or ally herself with the rest of the
South, but has strongly declared her neutrality in this contest; that she would not, as a State, furnish aid to either side, or permit the occupation of her soil by the armed troops of either of the belligerents, hoping that she might thus act as mediator, and, if this were impossible, at least save her people from the horrors of war.
We were deeply grieved that the people of
Kentucky did not go with us into the contest, but have never for one moment doubted or denied her right to decide upon her own proper position.
We have faithfully endeavored to aid her in maintaining her neutrality; we have restrained our troops from entering her territory; giving no countenance to any raids on her borders; kept up a friendly intercourse with her people, and used no harsh or menacing language as to her conduct or action.
We rejoice to believe that this course has been marked and appreciated by the masses of
Kentucky, and it is our firm determination, if the authorities of her State will adhere firmly and strictly to her neutrality, that we will continue this feeling and conduct to the and of this civil strife.
It is a matter of deep regret, however, that, within the last few weeks, the wicked Administration of
Mr. Lincoln appears determined to precipitate
Kentucky into a conflict with
Tennessee.
It has appointed a General in its service to proceed to
Kentucky and there organize a Federal army; it has avowed a determination, through Congress and the
Executive, to send men and arms to malcontents in
East Tennessee, and it has already organized and encamped forces on the soil of
Kentucky who seem willing to aid in arming East Tennessean to fight us, and even to fight by their side if necessary.
’
We deem it highly proper, amidst these threatening demonstrations, for us to deprecate the installation of war — to call loudly upon
Kentucky not thus to be driven from the ground she so solemnly occupied, and not rashly to sever the cords that have so long united our people.
We know that the reputation of our State for courage will enable us to make this solemn appeal without any misunderstanding of the motive which impels us to action.
Therefore.
Resolved, That we desire that the authorities of our Government shall continue carefully to respect the neutrality of
Kentucky, unless her Government or people shall voluntarily abandon this position.
Resolved. That we earnestly deprecate an armed collision with the people of
Kentucky, and that we earnestly hope and trust they will not permit the formation of Federal camps on their soil, the passage of Federal troops through their State, or the transportation of war material to
Tennessee with a view of arming discontented persons in our State.
if any such still remain amongst us.
Resolved. That if war should be inaugurated between our two States it must originate from the action of
Kentucky, and then we shall sadly, but firmly abide the result, trusting to our courage, our resources and the favor of
Providence for a successful issue to the contest.
The above resolutions were adopted unanimously.
Hon. H. S. Foote, on behalf of the committee, offered the following rather as supplementary to the original report, some delay having occurred in preparing the same:
Resolved, That we deem it matter of sincere and hearty gratulation that the people of the
State of Tennessee have at last become almost unanimous in their determination to sustain, with all their energies, the
Confederate States of the
South in the war now pending; and we do especially rejoice over the fact now most manifest, that our brethren of
East Tennessee are at this time equally resolved as ourselves to defend our inestimable rights and liberties against the bloody and ferocious despotism now existing in
Washington city; and we do confidently hope that the day is not far distant when the patriotic citizens of the renowned Volunteer State shall, throughout our confines, exhibit once more those feelings of general good-fellowship and fraternal kindness which have heretofore uniformly prevailed amongst them, thus effectually and fully removing the only pretext which has heretofore existed for the organization of military forces in
Kentucky for the invasion of our State.
Gov. Foote accompanied the resolution with some remarks touching the state of the public mind in
East Tennessee--spoke of the apprehensions, which all had felt at one time, of trouble there, and the happy disappearance, at this time, in his opinion, of all grounds for such apprehensions.
In this connection be paid a high and deserved compliment to the distinguished ability exhibited by
General Zollicoffer in the discharge of his military duties in
East Tennessee, and concluded by reading liberal extracts from the late address to the people of
East Tennessee by
Hon. T. A. R. Nelson.
Gov. Foote highly applauded the recent course of
Mr. Nelson, and expressed the opinion, from his knowledge of
East Tennessee, that his example would be followed by the people generally, and that all division may be considered as happily at an end.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.