Chap.XII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. - CONFEDERATE.

State and meet the invasion upon the best line for military operations; And whereas it is proper that the motives of the Government of the Confederate States in taking this step should be fully known to the world: Now, therefore, I, Albert Sidney Johnston, general, and commander of the Western Department of the Army of the Confederate States of America, do proclaim that these States have thus marches their troops into Kentucky with no hostile intention towards its people, nor do they desire or seek to control their choice in regard to their union with either of the Confederacies or to subjugate their State, or hold its soil against their wishes. On the contrary, they deem it to be the right of the people of Kentucky to determine their own position in regard to the belligerent. It is for them to say whether they will join either Confederacy or maintain a separate existence as an independent and sovereign State. The armed occupation of their soil, both as to its extent and duration, will therefore be strictly limited by the exigencies of self-defense on the part of the Confederate States. These States intend to conform to all the requirements of public law and international amity as between themselves and Kentucky, and accordingly I hereby command all who are subject to my orders to pay entire respect to the rights of property and the legal authorities within that State so far as the same may be compatible with the necessity of self-defense.

If it be the desire of the people of Kentucky to maintain a strict and impartial neutrality, then the effort to drive out the lawless intruders who seek to make their State the theater of war will aid them in the attainment of their wishes. If, as it may not be unreasonable to suppose, those people desire to unite their fortunes with the Confederate States, to whom they are already bound by so many ties of interest, then the appearance and aid of Confederate troops will assist them to make an opportunity for the free and unbiased expression of their will upon the subject. But if it be true, which is not to be presumed, that a majority of those people desire to adhere to the United States and become parties to the war, then none can doubt the right of the other belligerent to meet that war whenever and wherever it may be waged. But harboring no such suspicion, I now declare, in the name of the Government which I serve, that its army shall be withdrawn from Kentucky so soon as there shall be satisfactory evidence of the existence and execution of a like intention on the part of the United States.

By order of the President of the Confederate States of America:

A. S. JOHNSTON, General of the Western Department of the Army of the Confederate States of America.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT Numbers 2, Columbus, Ky., September 22, 1861.

Governor PETTUS, of Mississippi:

GOVERNOR: I have the honor to inform your excellency that, under date of September 10, 1861, I was authorized by the President of the Confederate States to call upon the governor of Mississippi for troops for the defense of the Mississippi River and the States included in this military department.

The defenseless condition of this department was patent from the moment I arrived and had a hasty view of the field. The necessity for a strong and efficient army is present and pressing.