12



to me, that any person, who will acquaint himself
with them, could entertain the slightest doubt for
one single moment that this law is not in full ac-
cord with the constitution of the State.
  It is claimed as an objection to the law that the
Confederate soldier has rendered no public service to
the State of Kentucky. Tell me not that these gal-
lant sons of the men who followed Washington at
Valley Forge went out as a lawless band and fought
and marched, half-clothed and hungry, suffered and
endured hardships and privations without parallel
in modern war-fare and laid down their lives on the
field of battle, and filled the rudest trenches as graves,
far away from home and friends, for a cause or a
reason entirely removed from every interest of the
people and land that gave them birth. Services to
Kentucky Yes, and of the grandest and worthiest
sort. Since Daniel Boone stood on the mountain
at the point where Kentucky and Virginia joins,
and looked down on this wonderful land of Ken-
tucky, to the present hour, Kentucky has produced
no body of men who have rendered such noble,
patriotic, unselfish, sacrificial, service to the State as
have the men who enlisted and served in the Confed-
erate Army. Shall I call the roll If I could call
the roll of all who were soldiers from Kentucky in
the Confederate Army, how many hearts would be
made sad as they thought of the great sacrifice these
men had made, but whose faces would shine with
joyful gladness in the next moment because these
same names are on the roll of those who were brave
enough to do and die for a great principle of human
government. Let me call a few names to refresh
your memory: Albert Sidney Johnson, John C.