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

stricted trade between the people of Kentucky and the Confederate States are too obvious to need illustration. The commercial interchange of the products of the two sections, composed, on the hand of provisions, clothing, horses, and mules, and on the other, of cotton, sugar, and rice, would tend obviously and greatly to the relief to both sections.

So far, then, as your occupation of this State is concerned, it would obviously embarrass the enemies and assist the friends of the Southern Confederacy to open, up, to the extent of your occupation, a free trade with the South. To prevent the smuggling North of the cotton, sugar, and rice, so much needed by the enemy, you could subject this true to such restrictions as would confine it to the open and stanch friends of the South. Licenses might be granted to all true friends of the Southern Confederacy, and thus all danger of smuggling to supply the enemy avoided.

2nd. The majority of the legislature have also subjected the people to taxation for the support of this war against the Southern Confederacy, and the sheriffs are now engaged in its collection. If they are permitted to collect and pay over this tax, the people will be forced to contribute to their own subjugation, and the enemy supplied with money for the prosecution of the war. It is within the conceded powers of belligerent to appropriate to themselves the revenues of each other; and it is therefore certainly within the scope of your powers, as commander of the Confederate armies, to seize and appropriate the Federal revenue or to prevent its collection altogether by the enemy's agents. It is the letter which we request you to do, and in this manner cut off the supplies of the enemy, and relieve our people from the payment of an unjust tax, intended to be used against the Southern Confederacy.

3rd. The legislature have also passed their edicts, subjecting every Kentuckian who takes part in this war on the side of the South, within this State, to imprisonment as a felon within the penitentiary, whilst they encourage the enlistment of Kentuckians into the armies of the North. This act, so atrocious in its object, and so well calculated to inflame the passions of the combatants, must lead to cruel acts of retaliation, and will crimson the very land with blood. The legislature have thus endeavored to use all the civil powers of the State in behalf of the North, and to array all the terrors of penal law against the Southern Confederacy. If the sheriffs and judges of this State be permitted by you to hunt down, arrest, try, condemn, and imprisons as felons all who serve or aid the Confederate States, then our citizens would have the protection of no government in aiding you, and could expect to escape prosecution and imprisonment only by submitting to or by aiding an supporting the enemy of your States. It is difficult to overestimate the moral power of such acts in paralyzing your friends and in encouraging your enemies. We venture therefore to hope that you will prohibit the arrest of citizens by the sheriffs and their trial and condemnation by the judges and courts under this atrocious act, aimed at the liberties of the people.

If you will thus grand to the people of this part of the State, now occupied and held by the arms of the Confederate States, the advantages of an unrestricted commerce with the South, and give employ protection to life, liberty, and property, if will furnisher a pound and noble contrast to the Northern despotism which now regiments supreme in the balance of the State.

With great respect, your obedient servant,

GEO. W. JOHNSON.