Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-07
" oRCE S t f r
Rousseau and "the NvIckIifes."

rangements for protecting Kentucky and the
Ohio river, makes statement which we dis
like to credit. We hope it is not true. After
mentioning that a uew military district, to
consist of Ohio, Indiana, aud Kentucky, is to
be organized, with separate commanding
general, he says -
Gen Rosseau of kentucky was talked of
for this command, but the fact that he has
spoken his mind freely upon the slavery ques-
ton is a bar to any such promotion. This
may seem to be strange under a republican
administration, but the Crittendens and Wick
lilfes distrust and dislike Rousseau, and the
administration will not risk their displeasure
in these critical times. Rousseau would have
been major general to-day but for his sent-
ments on the slavery question. His name
was urged upon the president, and he was IA
vorable to the proposition, but Kentucky, in
the person of her shareholders, intcrfered,
and the honors were not bestowed upon the
gallant general
Ii is likely that Wickliffe's speech in Indi-
ana will considerably modify the presidents
estimate of his loyalty; but it is incredible
that the president should at any time be in
fuenced by his counsel TO do a wrong to the
gallant Gen. Rousseau. The story seems
every way improbable, although told by one
who is ordinarily correct in his statements.
Gen. Rousseau is not only Kentuckian and
Shareholder, but also a patriot. He began
to organize troops to fight the rebels at a time
when it seemed very doubtful what course
Kentucky would take. The first encamp-
ment of his volunteers was established across
the river, near Louisville in Indiana. Pru-
dence seemed to require this, for at that time
the Wickliffes and all that sort were adyocat-
ing neutrality style of rebel-aiding 'pa-
triotism" for which Rousseau had no respect
whatever From that day to this he has been
true and brave. His command was one of
the most heroic and effective on the battle
field of Shiloh He is gallant and capable
soldier. and no other man in Kentucky has
done so much as he to raise troops there for
the federal armies.
1t is rowise likely that the ''Wickliffes and
Criuendens" Of Kentucky have much favor
for such men as Gen. Rousseau. He is too
much in earnest to suit them, too much the
enemy of halfway measures, too unequivo-
cal and downright in his patriotism. and,
above all, he says emphaticaly that the Union
is worth great deul more than the institution
of slavery. He is not polite to malignant reb-
els who come to bis camp slave-hunting, and
he fayors any measure against slavery that
may be found necessary to make the war
against rebellion efficient and successful.
Conditional Union men like Wicklihe, who
prefer slavery to the Union and whose chief
business as Union men has been to talk neu-
trality, threaten the government and do all
in their power to prevent vigorous warfare
against this rebels, cannot have much in COM
mon with such men as Gen Rousseau. As
commandant of the new department he would
not listen very eagerly to their counsels, nor
do much to support their policy. When he
first began TO raise troops in Kentucky, they
treated him as kind of hair-brained rash,
and radical Union man, who ought to be re-
strained, and impudently assumed that they,
in their semi-treason, were the wise and pru-
dent men of the state. Of course they do not
like him now, and will do everything in their
power to prevent his advancement; but we
are not willing to believe that the president
has at any time allowed their Vaccinations to
prevail
1t is true that Gen. Fremont and some 9TH
ers, who failed to show the usual Difference to
slavery, and who have sought to weaken the
enemy by exploding his magazine, have been
pursued by cabals, illuminated, and placed
'under cloud" but one would not suppose
it possible for such a crusade to be carried on
successfully against the foremost and bravest
of the Kentuckans in arms against the rebels,
who, being a slave-owner, is willing to
smite the institution wherever the safety
of the Union requires it. 1t is true
that half-heartcd, tault-fnding, neutral"
and conditional unionists, in Kentucky
and elsewhere, have been listened to by the
president and his advisers great deal more
than they deserves but we do not, cannot be-
lieve that these men have more influence with
the administration than such unconditional
and devoted patriots in Kentucky and Ten
nessee, as Gen. Rousseau, Andrew johnson,
and host of others like them. The presi-
dent aims sincerely to do what is best. He
may be over cautious, fearing sometimes
where he should dare, and giving too much
importance to the malignant clamor of such
men as Wickife; but he is honest and his
sympathies are where we hope and believe
his whole determination and action will be be-
fore the war proceeds much further.