The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-10-10
The Case of Col. Wolford
HIS LETTER To THE PRESIDENT.


ON the 9th of last June Col. FRANK
WoIroRD, of Kentucky, was arrested, Dy
order Of President LINCOLN, and sent un'
der yuard to Washington. The charges
against him were "The public expression
Of disloyal sentiments" and "Discouraging
2enouucing and opposing the enlistment Of
oolored troops After the lapse ofaweek
during which he was confined by parole to
the limits of Washington City, he was per.
mittai to return TO Louisville under pa
role of honor to remain there until court
for bis trial should arrive, and to which he
should report. A speedy trial had been
Promised him by the President. but after
waiting about two weeks, in vain, for the
promised court he received letter from
the President proposing to him that ne
should he discharged from arrest upon sign
inc tn following parole: .f.,.
II hereby pledge my honor that l will
neither do nor say any thing which will di"
r.ctly or Indirectly tend to hinder, delay,
or embarrass the employment and use OF
cnlarcd persons as soldiers, seamen, or 9TH
srWisp IN the suppression of the existing
rebellion so long as the United States Gov,
arnment chooses to So employ and use
jblm
10 this proposition, Col, Wolford replied
IN tue following letter:
Louisville, (Ky.,) July 80, 1864.
To- Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States.
SIP: | have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter, proposing to me
.isrh rharye from an arrest in many ways
yryatious and inconveDient, upon my sign
inc d parole whereby | am to pledge my
honor that will neither do nor say any
thing which will either directly or indirect,
y send to hinder, delay, or embarrass the
erepioy mcut and use of colored persons as
soldiers, seamcn. or otherwise, In the sup
preston Of the rebellion, so long as the
United States Government chooses so to
emp0y aud use them.
In answer to tins proposal, have frank
~ ~ say tba; cannot bargain tor my nd
erly 1nd the exercise Of my right IS a
freeman on any such terms. | have com>
n,ttrd no crime. have broken no law OF
uy country or Of my State. | have not
violated aDy military order or any of the
nSases "i var. No act or word of mine has
ever gwen any encouragement to the enemy.
/ nave no sympathy with the rebellion.
All my svmpath,es are With, and all my
0oPe' are Tor my country,
ibe triumph Of the national arms, the pre-
Servatlon II tue Union, the maintenance of
the t"natitut,oD, the restoration of the su-
Etomacy of the law over all the States,
aud the perpe tuatIon of civil and religious
H1ery, ale the objects most dear to my
Ltsrt | may say without presumption
tuat have done more to enlist white men
In the army Of the Union than any other
tnan in the State of Kentucky. have done
u''h'"g TO hinder the enlistment even Of
negroes, because | did not associate with
torm, and have no influence over them.
ton, Mr. President, if you will excuse
Tue ointness Of soldier, by on exercise
OF arnltary power have caused me to be
arrested aud held in confinement contrary
I" iaw-nOt for the good OF our common
eonntry, but to increase the chances of your
election to the Presidency and otherwise
10 serve the purposes of the political party
whose candidate you are--and now you
ash me 10 stultliy myself, by signing 2
pledge whereby shall virtually admit your
nlh' to arrest me, and virtdally support
yea In deterrng other men from criticising
The policy of your administration. No, sir,
much as love liberty,I will tester in
Inson, or die on gbbet, before I will
agree to any terms that do not abandon all
charges against me and fully acknowledge
my Innocence Since you have takep my
case into your own hands, Mr.. President,
let ne appeal to your sense of Justice, and
Ask that You will give to what l have 70
say IN ny defence candid hearins and do
What you shall see At. And here / trus,