OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [Chap.XII.
declare martial law, to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, or to convert barracks and every prison in the land into a bastille, is nothing but the claim which other tyrants have assumed to subjugate a free people. The Confederate States occupy Bowling Green as a defensive position. I renew the pledges of the commanders of other columns of Confederate troops to retire from the territory of Kentucky on the same conditions which will govern their movements. I further give you my own assurance that the force under my command will be used to aid the government of Kentucky in carrying out the strict neutrality desired by its people whenever they undertake to enforce it against the two belligerent alike.
S. B. BUCKNER, Brigadier-General, C. S. Army.
HEADQUARTERS CENTRAL DIVISION OF KENTUCKY, Bowling Green, Ky., September 18, 1861.
His Excellency B. MAGOFFIN, Frankfort, Ky.:
SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I this morning occupied this position as a defensive measure against the Federal forces, which have endeavored to possess themselves of the entire territory of Kentucky, as a means both of subverting the liberties of the State and of attacking the Confederate States. The attention of your excellency has heretofore been repeatedly called to the different acts of the Federal authorities which were a violation of the neutral position of Kentucky, and of such a character as to threaten the safety of the Confederate States. I have the honor further to inform your excellency that the Government of the Confederate States has no desire to violate the position of strict neutrality chosen by the people of the State of Kentucky; but, on the contrary, is ready to evacuate the military positions already occupied whenever the Federal authorities will agree to respect the neutrality of the State. I transmit to your excellency a proclamation which I published this morning.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your excellency's obedient servant,
S. B. BUCKNER, Brigadier-General, C. S. Army.
HEADQUARTERS CENTRAL DIVISION OF KENTUCKY, Bowling Green, Ky., September 18, 1861.
HonorableJAMES GUTHRIE, President of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company:
SIR: It is my purpose to reopen the traffic recently suspended by direction of the President of the United States on such portions of the Louisville and Nashville Railway as may be under the control of the forces under my command, and also to re-establish the running of the regular passenger trains. The counties through which this railway passes are largely interested in its stock, and are charged with heavy burdens to pay the interest on the debts which they have contracted in the construction of the road. The cessation of this traffic, under the orders of the President, was an act of injustice to the people, who were already sufficiently taxed, for it deprived the citizens of these counties
