To render this neutrality more certain, on the 8th of June, General S. B. Buckner, then the acknowledged commander of the State militia, entered into negotiations with General McClellan, at Cincinnati, the terms of which stipulated that Kentucky should protect the United States property, and enforce all the United States laws within her limits—that her neutrality should be respected by the Federal army, _even though the Southern forces should occupy her soil_; “but in the latter case General McClellan should call upon the authorities of the State to remove the said Southern forces from her territory;” if the State were unable to accomplish this, then the Federal forces might be called in. This negative position was found, however, to be one of positive advantage and aid to the traitors. They desired to secure a “masterly inactivity” on the part of loyal men, of which they might avail themselves by secret organizations. Taking advantage of this confessed neutrality, large numbers of the young men of Kentucky were enticed into Buckner’s camp; while bodies of men from Tennessee were thrown into several localities in the southern and western portions of the State, and boldly avowed their determination to march on Frankfort, the capital, and revolutionize the State. Home Guards were organized by the loyal men, and it became apparent, that if the tide were not resisted by active measures, there was no security for Kentucky. The election for members of the Legislature, however, early in August, the result of which showed an overwhelming majority in favor of the Union, signed the death-warrant of neutrality, and thenceforth Kentucky was regarded as loyal to the Union. The Legislature assembled at Frankfort on the 5th of September, ordered the United States flag to be hoisted on the court-house, and proceeded to adopt various measures calculated to promote the Union cause in the State. [Illustration: SECTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. SHOWING THE DISTANCES FROM NEW ORLEANS. ] [Illustration: SECTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. SHOWING THE DISTANCES FROM NEW ORLEANS. ]