Border State Sentiment

The following, from the Louisville Democrat, contains a stinging rebuke to those Northern Democrats who advocate leniency to treason through deference to the sentiment of the Border States. The truth is that really loyal men in those States desire to see operations against the rebels prosecuted vigorously.

It is time reasonable men, and even those not so reasonable, who expect to live in this Commonwealth, should reflect that the law ought to be supreme in Kentucky. We have forborne a great deal; we have given to treason a free run, as long as this rebellion approached revolution; but the fate of it is now sealed; it must die. It is not possible to divide this country by sword. We have therefore, had enough of the experiment, and those who burn houses, burn bridges, appropriate the [property] of others, and shoot or kill should not be held prisoners of war, but robbers and murderers, to answer for their crimes in the State prison or upon the gallows.

It will be seen that a gang of marauders have been in Clinton county, robbing and killing, and these infernal crimes are sanctified in the minds of many who enjoy the protection of Kentucky’s laws by the prejudice of party.

They are, in fact, only common robbers and cut throats, and should be treated as they are.

Right or wrong, we have allowed the assumption that these men were acting under the orders of a Government de facto, and their deeds have not been judged with that severity that all laws, human and divine, sanction. This de facto concern is a failure everywhere, and never had more than a shadow of existence in this State. It is, therefore, time this lawlessness in Kentucky were no longer tolerated. It is time robbery and murder were called by their right names, and punished as they deserve at all times.

It is just as well, too, that men should reflect whether that freedom of speech which rejoices in this rebellion had not as well be voluntarily dropped before it is forcibly suppressed. We can’t afford to live any longer in the midst of lawlessness, robbery and murder, under the pretext of Southern rights or any other sort of rights. Certainly it cannot be expected that this forbearance shall last always. There is a law of this State that consigns to the State Prison any one who left the State to take up arms against it. We had hopes that this law might be repealed, upon the ground that such offenses would cease and be atoned for by repentance. We apprehend it will be necessary for the peace of the State, to enforce this law.

At the same time, those who went into the Confederate army as soldiers are not more guilty than thousands at home, who have done by words much more against their country and their State than soldiers in arms.

We repeat, that it is time all aid and comfort to this rebellion, either in words or deeds, should stop in this State. We can’t afford to tolerate this lawlessness and these enormous crimes to accommodate a faction.

Those who are not willing to obey the laws of Kentucky, and who would foment disorder, or aid or sympathize with rebellion should not complain if they suffer the consequences.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 2