Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-03-15

the people Of Kentucky to resist it as vio-
lation of their guaranteed rights. If they
were overpowered by force in their refusal
to obey this order, then he advised them to
appeal to the law for protection, and he
was mistaken in the Governor of the State,
whom he had known long and intimately,
Governor Bramlette occupied position on
the platform with the speaker, having come
up especially for the purpose of hearing
him. If he did not protect them in their
constitutional rights. If when the people
of Kentucky appealed to the law for pro-
lection from this unconstitutional edict,
Mr.. Lincoln persisted in enforcing it, he
would himself be the rebel and not the peo-
pie of Kentucky. He would by no means
offer resistance to this unconstitutional or
der to the end of throwing the State into se-
cession, but when Kentucky had full
filled all her duties and obligations
to the Federal Government, was 10y
al to the Constitution. and laws
of the land and intended so to remain, she
had right to demand that her Constitution
and the rights of her people under it should
be respected, and he believed that Governor
Bramlette would see that they were respect
ed. He added at the same time that while
he had no idea of giving up his Government
or quitting its service, by reason of the un-
constitutional and impolitic enrolment of
negroes, and that they should neither report
to him nor would he to them, yet as q Ken
lucky freeman, he had q clear opinion upon
this subject, and did not hesitatetQ express
it. The people Of Kentucky didsAot want
to keep step to the s'music of the Union,"
alongside Of negro soldiers--it was an insult
and degradation for which their free and
w
involved,at the same time an infraction of
the rights of the State, which it was the
duty of the Governor, under his oath to
support the Constitution, and see the laws
faithfully executed, to resist with all the
constitutional power of the Commonwealth.
We do not pretend to report even the
most meager synopsis of this great speech,
for great it was in all the essentials of pow
erfill oratory, running as it did through an
hour and half. A verbatim report of it
would fail to do justice to the speaker. 1t
must have been heard to be fully apprecia-
ted; the manner as well as the matter would
be necessary to give tO'it its full effect. He
spoke with all the earnestness, warmth and
animation of man who felt strong in the
consciousness of the truth Of what he ut
tered, and was prepared to stand by what
he said regardless of personal consequent
harangue to catch the popular applause,
but who felt that his country was in the
midst of terrible ordeal, and that it re-
quired all the wisdom and patriotism of her
best citizens to carry her safely through the
perils which environ her.
In the notice of this intended presenta-
ton, we stated that mo officer in the United
States army had more justly entitled him
self to such a complimentary token of re-
spect and gratitude from the loyal people of
the State than Col. Frank Wolford, because
not one had proved himself more prompt,
dashing, brave and gallant" If such was,
our opinion in regard to the officer for whom
this compliment was designed one week ago,
our admiration has been immeasurably in
creased for the man by reason of this noble
effort in behalf of constitutional freedom
and we. may add now to what we then said,
that by his speech here on Thursday he has
entitled himself to the lasting gratitude of
every man in Kentucky who desires to see
the Union and the Constitution preserved
and the rights of the people under both
upheld and maintained against the assaults
of those, on the one hand, who are seek
ing to destroy them by armed rebellion,
and, on the other, of those who are
seeking to crush them under the iron
heel of military power. A soldier of
the Union army, he is bending all his ener-
gies to the extinction of the rebellion; but
his opposition to JEFF. Davis, who is endeav-
oring by arms to destroy that Union, does
not make him less sensitive to the rapid
strides which the Abolition party in charge
OF. the Government are making toward q
military despotism; and while he was ready
In the future, as he had been in the past, to
fight the one with the weapons he had
chosen, he stood equally prepared, as free
man, to denounce the policy of the other as
IL deserved to be denounced by every true
loyal Kentuckian. And he used the very
strongest terms in which to characterize the
startling usurpations of power by the domi-
nant party. Hewas not Afraid of the hack
neyed cry of 'giving aid and comfort to the
enemy" when he denounced these usurpa-
tions, and he warned the people that if they
did not, stand up for their constitutional
rights, which had been gradually encroach
ed upon from the commencement of the
the day was not distant when
they would be slaves.
Colonel Wolford closed his speech by
stating that he was aware that there were
always in every public assembly now
days "pimps and informers," who made it
their business to report to the fountains of
power and patronage what was said in OPP
position to them. Hecalled upon them to
report what he said faithfully, and among
other things they might inform Mr.. Lin
coin, If he desired to know what those in
the army whom he considered his minions
thought of his official course, that ''their
opinion was that he was a tyrant and
a usurper,n who was seeking, by overriding
all constitutional barriers and limitations,
to trample upon the liberties of his coun-
try. van stftsE
But we shall follow Col. wolford no fur
ther and will conclude this very imperfect
notice of his address by remarking that 1t |
was one of the boldest and most manly
speeches that has ever been made to our
people. 1t is. needless to add that it was
received with the most rapturous applause
by the large audience assembled on the oc-
casion.
Rev. w. C.Dandy was the organ of those
who presented the sword and 'accompani-
ments to Col. Wolford on Thursday.
At night complimentary supper was |
given to the etwo distinguished gentlemen by |
mine host" of the Phenix, Col. G. Il. Wor- |
ey, at which number of our citizens were |
present. The occasion was one full of ra-
,ional Interest and physical enjoyment. The |
;wo gentlemen have left our city, the Gov
,rnor returning TO Frankfort and the Colo
lel to his command at Mt. Sterling.
[From the Metropolitan Record.l
A Resolution Against n Revolution
gCongress AboIisles the Rebel
lion. sH0s.s s1aser '1lr 4sla Tt L
j Occasionally the House Of Representa-
Ia