Your From the commencement of the unhappy hostilities now pending in the Un County the people ofKentucky have indicated an earnest desire and purpose as far as lay in their power towhile maintaining their original political status, to do nothing by which to involve themselves in the war. Up to this time they have succeeded in securing to themselves and to the State domestic peace and internal tranquility, as the fruits of the position assumed. My object now is to promote the continuance of those blessings to the people of this state.

Until within a brief period the people of this state were tranquil and calm, free from domestic strife and internal commotion. They have donenothing resisted no law, rebelled against no authority, engaged in no revolution or insurrection but constantly proclaimed their purpose quietly to pursue their peaceful avocations, earnestly hoping their own soil would be spared the presence of armed troops and the scene of conflict be kept removed from the

border of their state. By thus giving no occassion for the introduction of bodies of soldiers and furnishing offering no provocation or just cause for the presence of millitary force they have labored to preserve the [...] in this state the public peace and avoid the calamities of hostile blody hostilities. Irequestthat Recently a large body of soldiers has been enlisted in the United states Army and collected in a military camps in the central portion of the state. This movement was preceded by the intr introduction ^into the state^ of public arms and Munitions of war distributed exclusively to a class of the people, and the active organization of companies Regiments &c composedsisting of men sworn into the U. S. service under officers holding commissions from Yourself. Its ordnance and Munitions of war are being brought transported into the state and placed in their camps. In a word an Army is now being organized and quartered within this state supplied with all the arms & munitions of war, and that internal tranquility so earnestly sought to be maintained by the people of Kentucky, [...] and succcessfully

secured to this time is now imminently threatened. Vol Within Kentucky there has been no and is likely to be no necessity or plea for the presence of military force, and the people areinno feel not the slightest apprehension of any occasion arising to invoke the protection of the Federal arms. They have only asked that their soil be left free from Military camps and theirstates peace of ^their^ communities left unwounded by soldier, andtheirIn They do not desire that Kentucky be required to supply the battle ^ground fields ^for the contending armies^ or become the theatre of war. In the name therefore of this Inviewtherefore of the people, and with a single & earnest desire to [...] from their present peaceful fireside & tranquil homes the horrors of civil war I appeal to you to remove from the limits of Kentucky the forces now organized & in camp be within their state, and thatyou to arrest the introduction ^intothestate^ of munitions war, and troops, arms & munitions of war — A favorable response will as I firmly believe secure to this the people of Kentucky power& the blessings of peace and protect the state from the blo[...]ing conflicts now spreading ruin & [distruct] within other states —

Important Copy

616,6,83