Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-03-17
gallg empire.
L0NEL RD'sSPEECn
All LEN1NGTON. kENTUCKE.
THE SWORD PRESENTATION.
Kentucky should Resist the
Enlistment Of Negroes.
GOVERNOR BRtNLETT CALLED UPON
10 PROFkCT kSNTUUKT IN hRR
(ONsTiTUTlDNAL RIGH1S.
Irrom lIe LesInal.n l6.er,er ana R.porls !

Those OF our citizens who failed TO hear the
speech oil this distinguished Kentucky soldier,
at the Melodeon in this city, on Thursday,
have ldsl a treasure which eau never be re.
gained. The time, the occasion, the circuni-
tances and the man, all conspirei to render
it one OF the most significant and impuriant
efforts thu the presen, terrible crisis OF thr
n4tiOn history has eAiled forth The occn-
SiJu was the presentation to him of splendid
sword, sash, pistols and spurs suilab'e TO his
rank by portion of our fellow citizens; but
iustend OF lts being mere .ommou-place ac
knowledEement OF such compliment, it prov
ed to be one OF the highest Efforts Of pntriot
fully lmbued with that devotion to his conn
ry which patriotism alone eugeuders-of n
statesman whose cRpacious mind grasps the
m0nlentous question OF the hour-and OF a
soldier who has mpered his lie upon in
Vulnerable batlle-heds in defense Of that elori.
Jus Government which wss handed down TO us
Dy our ancestors as legacy of blood Com.
ing, too, from Frank Wolford-a man who
signalzed his devotion to his country upon
the breaking ont OF the rebellion, by raising
The tirst regiment in Kentucky 10 be welded
ior its suppression; who has been uuinterrupt-
edly in the service for the last three wears,
and who, AS before remarked has risked bis
lie almost every day during that period--it
was calculated the more to command the re.
specilul intention and thoughtful considera-
ton of his fellow cltiZeus The time, too. -
ust after the issuance Of an order for the en-
rolneut OF tie negroes in Kentucky, TO be
drafted into the United States Army. in utter
vOlauon OF her a'e sovereignty, and IN der.
ogaliOn of the clehrest provisions ever given
the force OF law by Constitutional enactment
made the views OF this distinguished Ken
tuckian deeply interesting No puerile cry
OF "Copperhead' could be raised against such
man by chimney corner heroes, who fawn
upon the intallibihty Of the DEGREES of power
and yet, we venture to say, that no man ia the
nation has ever arraigned the dominant party
with more manly boldness ard more wither.
ing invecuve, He charged Me- Lincoln with
wantonly tramplng upon the Consultation,
and crushing under the iron heel OF military
power the rights Of the people guarant "a by
that instrument, he charged him with violating
his solemn pledge,as repeatedly enunciated at
| the commencement ofhis administration as
10 the purposes Of the war he charged him
with violation OF the rules Of civilized war
fore in the ndlscriminate wdesprsad ruin
which he was sowing broadcast throughout
the South he charged him With the inausura.
ton OF policy for the prosecution of the
war, which was not only unconstitutional and
unwise, but the inevitable result of which
would be To prolong the war, il indeed il ever
ended 10 peace, and, II successful, would as
utterly destroy constitutional freedom as If
il had fallen under the blows OF armed rebel
hon. And not only did he charge the.s
things but he cited the acts Of the President
and his party as proof to which there could
be offered no successful relutation.
| The most vile and delestable Of all the
isms with which the country has ever been
nfaieted-Ab Abolitiouism--teceiyed no fnvor RI
tbs hands OF this gallant Kentuckan lie
denounced its advocates as the enemies of
the country disulrhers OF the pubiic peace
and iomentors ol strife aud while h. was
in thought, word and deed, every inch Union
man, he dld not hesitate to say that they were
AS dsneeroos 10 the repose and perpetuity of
the Union SIS the Secessionisis themselves -
Their iansteisim knew no limits to uncousti.
tutional aggression; and 10 acquire for them
selves power aud peli they sorupled not AZ
trampilng upon the laws, overturning consii-
tuiions, and plunging the nation Into ire
trievabls anarchy and ruin
He referred TO the remark that new issues
had arisen since the outbreak ofthe rebellion.
and gave it his emphatic contradiction. The
issue was the same to-day that il was then
The question at that lime was Shall the
rebellion be put down, the Union be main.
tanned and the Constitution preserved, with
all tbs guaranteed rights under il uHimpair.
ed, or shall the rebellion be successful, the
Union be dissolved and the Government dss.
troyed3' Il was not whether the rebellion
should be crushed, aud the Constitution which
is the bond OF the Union It tho same time
destroyed as Mr. Lincoln and bis followers
are attempting, but whether this glorious "a.
brie Of our iathers, with all lis clustering metn-
oriea and sacred guarantees OF Constitutional
freedom, should stand as an eternal monu-
ment Of their wisdom, courage and patriotism.
This was the issue then; il ia the issue now
He acknowledged no deviation from IT, The
purposes OF the war were the same today that
they we're when Mr. Lincoln in his inaagursl
and Congress by resolution declared that thev
were not for conquest OF subjugAtion, nor for
interierenee without the domestic institutions
Of the States, bot simply to preserve the honor
and maintain the supremacy Of the Constitu.
ton. The effort 10 pervert The war from this
legitimate purpose, and to make it a war upon
slavery, was an issue which The dominant mar
" had no right TO make--it was A startling
usurpaliou Of power--and fov one he should
denounee il as with the color Of right. iustiee
or constitutional Justification he referred
10 the reeent order Tor lhe enrollment of ne.
groes in Kentucky, and denounced as alike
onconsliigiional and unjust Il vas but an.
n Al. a .fH