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The war which opened the vast area of Texas to the expansion of
slavery proved a costly but vain experiment, and the cry for " more
room " was soon heard as urgent as before. There was no expedient by
which the issue which was fast hurrying on could be evaded. The
tastes and habits of the people made national politics an absorbing
topic, and while nothing here contributed to disturb the unanimity
of sentiment, the popular sympathy was not wholly with either of the
pre-dominant political factions. Todd County was unanimously opposed
to emancipation, a firm supporter of the principles enunciated in
the famous " Resolutions of 1798," and remained to the last a
devoted supporter of the Whig school of politics. On the triumph of
the Republican party in the election of Lincoln, the general
sentiment accepted it as the inevitable result of popular elections,
and accepted the defeat in good faith. But the ominous mutterings of
the "Cotton States" could not fail to awaken the liveliest concern
in regard to the future. There were no elements of agitation here,
but the popular sympathy was strongly with the radical measures
adopted in certain communities to drive out the friends of
emancipation from the State, and with the legislative efforts to
entrench the "domestic institution." But with this was an
overwhelming loyalty to the Union, and a desire to avert the
threatening collision. In the celebrated " Peace Convention " which
met in Washington February 4, 1861, Todd County was represented in
the person of Hon. Francis M. Bristow. The attack on Fort Sumter and
its surrender dispelled the fond illusion that war could be averted,
and the Lexington speech of the Hon. John J. Crittenden, on April
17, voiced the popular feeling here. The sentiment was: "Kentucky
had done nothing to bring the war about; she had not invited it; it
was against her interests and she should do nothing to promote it,
but by all the moral force of her position, should bravely hold on
to the flag of the Union, and under its broad folds extend the hand
of conciliation to both." The position, however logical, was
impracticable, not only in Todd County but throughout the State. The
partisans of either side strove to turn the popular tide to their
own ad-vantage, and the " moral force " of neutrality proved "a
little more than kin and less than kind" to either faction. In Todd
County the prevailing sentiment stood firm for the Union for some
time, though intensely sensitive as to the final effect of the war
upon slavery. This proved the weak point in her armor of neutrality.
On every available occasion the great questions involved were
discussed with an earnest eloquence which bespoke sincerity on the
part of the participants. Although the old-time State-leaders of the
people continued to counsel the giving of aid and countenance to
neither the National nor rebellious cause, the nature and the
training of the people were opposed to it. The chivalrous blood of
the Kentuckian bounded through his veins at quicker speed, to think
of the promise of heroic action on one side or the other. Too
hot-blooded to be a cynic, he must act the partisan. Loyal to the
teaching of the "Resolutions of 1798," the action of the leading
State men was largely favor-able to the rebellious States. In an
address issued by the Union State Central Committee, composed of
Harney, Prentice, Bullock, Speed, etc., their position was defined
as follows: "What the future duty of Kentucky may be, we of course
cannot with certainty foresee; but if the enterprise announced by
the President should at any time hereafter assume the aspect of a
war for the overrunning and subjugation of the seceding
States-through the full assertion therein of the national
jurisdiction by a standing military force-we do not hesitate to say
that Kentucky should promptly unsheath her sword in behalf of what
will then have become the common cause." Such language was
unmistakably in favor of the rebelling States, and opposed to the
assertion of the national authority by force of arms. Todd County
was flanked on the west by the Union sentiment of Christian, and the
violent rebellious sentiment of Logan on the east, and soon began to
waver in its neutral position. Hon. James A. Russell gave the
influence of his eloquence to the Southern cause, and declared his
earnest convictions far and near with telling effect. In one of his
earliest efforts in the court house at Elkton, with almost prophetic
insight, he declared that if war ensued "the tramp of a Negro
soldiery will be heard in our streets, and the glint of their
bayonets in this hall of justice." The cause of the Union was
advocated with equal fervor by Hon. F. M. Bristow, his son, Benjamin
H., and Judge Ben. T. Perkins, Sr., who declared that the war was
waged solely for the maintenance of the National authority, and that
if any attempt was made to interfere with the " domestic
institutions " of a State, they too would be ready to take up arms
in defense of their rights.
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