Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-04
rnc prsmIssaI of coroner woIford.


The dismissal Of this gallant officer from the
service is creating quite sensation in Kentucky.
His bravery aud efficiency are beyond question,
and no officer has served the government more
faithfully But it turns out that he entertained
opinions of his own in regard 70 the purposes and
the manner in which the war should be proseeut-
ed, aud his only crime consists Of his bold and
manly expression of them It appears then that
a citizen of the Republic. who rallies to its de
Tense in the hour of danger and exposes life and
health. has right to express his thoughts
the obligations and duty Of those who administer
the government
When it was known that Col. WooLFoRD
relieved from his command. the Louisville Jour
nal published the following tribute to his gallantry
and valuable services:
Within the last week, three highly respectable
citizens from different parts of Kentucky, one of
them a rebel sympathizer and the other a Union
man, have told US that they heard John Morgan
say in. person that Col WOlford aud his com
mand were the only Federal force that he and his
men dreaded. And we publish to day letter
from a most worthy Chaplain of the Kentucky
cavalry, who strongly confirms, after having had
the very best opportunities of learning the truth,
/ the fact of the great rebel dread of Wolford.
| Perhaps Cincinnati. after knowing from what
/ danger she was saved by the terror imposed in
rebel breasts by Wolford and his men at a most
critical period of her life. when her hair was
standing on end like quilts upon the fretful por-
cupine," will feel Inundated and ashamed that
her organs have been pursuing and prosecuting
/ the old hero in the most malignant and vindic
| tive spirit for his bold and manly though probably
/ imprudent speech at Lexington. But. whatever
| Cincinnati may or may not feel. we trust that
the military authorities of the Southwest will have
| too much patriotism and too much sense to let
the eagle eve and lion hearted warrior be long
withheld from active service in the cause OF the
country. The radicals may rejoice that the bold
leader, who has made thousands of rebel hearts
falter and gasp and die is relieved from his COM
! mand, but let them not doubt for "a moment that
all the swarming bands Of rebel guerrilas re
joice even more heartily than they.
After these comments in type it was
announced that Colonel W. had not only been
relieved from his command, but dismissed from
the service on account of his Lexington speech,
thereupon the journal concludes its article with
the following indignant protest against the act.
1t says:
II President Lincoln had been governed by q
| high regard for the Union rather than by the
prOmptings of resentment. anger. and wounded
vanity. he would have scorned to do what he has
done His selfish and unpatriotc act will create
grief in the minds of thousands of Union soldiers
and tens Of thousands of Union citizens. whilst
it will set all the bands of rebel guerillas to
singing and shouting and dancing He has
struck hard blow at the Union cause and for
the cause of the COnfederacy. He has lifted Il
heavy weight from the rebel heart and laid it
upon the Union heart. He has. have no
doubt, Ey this one deed, rendered inevitable the
loss of many Union lives and millions of Union
property. But may God not suffer our people to
be punished for the folly and sel6shness of their
rulers.
Even the Presidents selfshuess. If it had been
a little more enlightened, would not have per
mitted him TO revoke the commission of the nC0le
old hero of half a hundred fights
So then il appears that the President of the
United States is unwilling that officer SOL
der, not by profession, but only in the service
during the exigences of the country, and that,
too from the highest sense of patriotism, shall
express his sentiments upon the difficulties of the
country and their remedy. Mr. LINCOLN by this
dismissal declares that a soldier is a mere ma
chine, that he has no right to think. but only to
obey. no matter whether the duty demanded OF
him is right or wrong. Such rule may be con
sistent with despotism. but it is not in a gov
eminent based upon the idea of the capacity and
right of the people to govern themselves.