The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1864-03-23
Col. Wolford's Speech at Lex
ington, Ky.
mrs CONDEMNATION OF PRES
lDENT' LkNCOLN's POLICY.

| lngton, ny,
MS CONDEMNATION OF PRES
lDENT LINCOLN'S POLICY.
I The President Denounced as 4
Usurper and n Tyrant.
From the Lexington Observer and Reporter
Those of our citizens who failed to heal
the speech Of this distinguished Kentucky
soldier, at the Melodeon in this city, OF
Thursday, have lost . treasure which car
never be rcgained. The time, the occasion
the circumstances and the man, all sonspirec
to render it one Of the most significant ant
important efforts that the present terrible
crisis OF the nations history has called forth
| The occasion was the presentation to him o
splendid sword, sash, pistols and spurs
suitable to his rank by a PARTON Of our Eel
low citizens; but instead oil its being q mere
common place acknowledgment OF such {
compliment, proved to be one OF the high.
est efforts of patriot fully imbued with
that devotion to his country which patriot.
ism alone engehders-oi q statesman whose
cspacious mind grasps the momsntous ques-
| tions OF the hour-and OF soldier who has
inperiled his life upon innumerable battle,
| fields in d.iense of that glorious Govern
ment which was handed down to us by our
ancestors as legacy Of blood. Coming, too
from Frank Woliord. man who signaiized
his devotion to his country upon the break.
ing out OF the rebellion, by raising the first
regiment in Kentucky to be welded for its
suppression; who has been uninterruptedly
10 the Service for the last three years, and
who, as before remarked, has risked his life
almost every day during that period-ii
was calculated the more to command the
respectful attention and thoughtful consider
alton Of his fellow citizens. The time, too,
Just after the issuance of an order for the
enrolment of the negroes IN Kentucky, to
be drafted iuto the United States army, in
utter violation of her State sovereignty, and
in deroga,ion of the cesrest provisions ever
given the force OF law by constitutional en-
actment-made the views Of this distinguish.
ed Kentuckian deeply interesting. No
puerile cry OF "copperhead" could oe raised
against such a man by chimney corner be-
roes, who lawn upon the infallibility OF the
DEGREES of power; and yet, we venture to
say, that no man in the nation has ever ar
ranged the dominant party with more manly
boldness and more withering invective.-
He charged Mr.. Lincoln with wantonly
trampllng upon the Constitution, and crush
under the iron heel of military power the
rights OF the people guaranteed by that in
strument; he charged him with violating his
solemn pledge, as repeatedly enunciated at
the commencement of his administration, as
to the purposes of the war, be charged him
with violation Of the rules o { civilized war
fare in the indiscrimnate, wide spread ruin
which he was sowing broadcast throughout
the South; he charged him with the inaugu.
ration OF a policy for the prosecution Of the
war, which was not only unconstitutional
and unwi,e but the inevitable result ol
which would be to prolong the war, il in-
deed it ever ended IN peace, and, Il success
ful, would as utterly destroy constitutional
freedom as il it had fallen under the blows
OF armed rebellion. And not only did he
charge these thing, but he cited the acts Of
the President and bis party as proof to
which there could be offered no successful
relutation.
The most vile and detestable Of all the
tsms with which the country has ever been
afHicled-Abolitig nism- received no favor
at the hsnds Of this gallant Kentuckian.--
He denounced its advocates as the enemies
OF the country; dsturbers Of the public
peace and fomeniors OF strife; and while nc
was in thought, WORD and deed, every inch
Union man, he did not hesitate to say
that they they were as dangerous to the re
pose and perpetuity of the Union as the Sc.
aoeo;on;rtc Sha,ocatyoa Thar tanotin;u n,
knew no limits to unconstitutional agrees
sions; and to acquire Tor themselves power
and pelf they ecruple not at tramplirg upon
the laws, overturniDg constitutions, and
plunging the nation into irretrieyabe anar-
chy and ruin.
lie referred to the remark that neto tissues
had arisen since the outbreak Of the rebel
lion and gave it his emphatic contradiction.
The issue was the same to day that it was
then. The question at that time was "shali
the rebellion be put down. the Union man
tanned and the Constitution preserved, with
all the guaranteed rights under it unnpared,
or shall the rebellion be successful, the
Union be dissolved and the Governme ut de
stroyedP 1t was not whether the rebellion
should be crushed and the Constitution
which is the bond Of the Union OF the same
time destroyed, as Mr.. Lincoln ard his fol-
lowers are attempting, but whether this
glorious fabric OF our fathers, with all its
clustering memories and sacred guarantees
OF constitutional freedom. should stand as
an eternal monument OF their wisdom, cOur.
age and patriotism. This was the issu
then; it is the issue now. He acknowledged
no legitimate deviation from it. The pur.
poses OF the war we're the same to day that
they were when Mr.. Lincoln in his inaugu
raj and Congress by resolution declared that
they were not for conquest or suhiuga'ion,
nor for interference with the domestic in,
stitutions OF the States but to simply pres
serve the honor and maintain the supremacy
OF the constitution. The effort to prevert
the war from this legitimate purpose, aud TO
make it war upon slavery, was an issue
which the dominant party had no right to
make--it was startling usurpation Of pow.
er--and for one be should denouncs it as
without the color Of right, justice or consti-
tu.ional just; fcation.
He referred to the recent order Tor the
enrolment Of negroes in Kentucky, and de.
nounced it as ali Q unconstitutional and I'm
just. 1t was but another of the series OF
startling usurpations OF power which were
being made, and he said it was the duty OF
the people Of Kentucky Co resist it AZ a 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 be was
mistaken in the Governor oil the State,
whom be had known long and intimately.
Governor Bramlette occupied position on
the platform with the speaker, having come
up especially for the purpose ofheariDg him)
if he did not protect them in their consti>
tutional rights. II when the people OF Ken
lucky appealed to the law for protection
from this unconstitutional sdict, Mr.. Lin.
coin persisted in enforcing it. he would
himself be the rebel aud not the people Of