Year: 1864

Ky-The sword PresentatIOn-HIs


Condemnation OF President Linz


coins PoIicy-Kentucky should tie


sist the Eniistmc"t of Negrocs-The


President Denounced rs a Usurper


and "A Tyrant-Gov BramIette GaiIcd


Upon 10 Protect Kentucky an Her


Constitutionai flights, &c.


TFrom the Lexington Observer and Rcporter1


Those of our citzens who failed to hear the
speech OF this distinguished Kentucky soldier. at
the MelOdeon in this city. on Thursday, have
lost a treasure which can never be regaued. The
time, the occasion, the circumstances and the
man, all conspired TO render t one of the most
significant and impor tant efforts that the present
terrible crisis of the nations history has called
forth. The occasion was the presentation 10 him
of splendid sword, sash, pistols and spurs suit
able TO his rank, by portion of our fellow cit-
zens: but instead of its being mere common
place acknowledgment of such compliment. it
proved to be one of the highest efforts of a pat
riot fully imbued with that devotion TO his eoun.
try which patriotism alone engenders-of a
statesman whose capacious mind grasps the mo
mentous questions of the hour-and of soldier
who has imperiled his life upon iunumerabse bat
tie fields in defense of that glorious Government
which was handed down to US by our ancestors
as a legacy of blood. Coming, too, from Frank
Wolford-a man no signalized his devotion to his
country upon the breaking out Of the rebellion. by
raising the first regiment in Kentucky 10 be
welded for its suppression; who has been unin
terruDtedly in service the last three years, and,
as before remarked, has risked his life almost
every day during that period-it was calculated
the more to command the respectful attention
and thoughtful consideration OF his fellow citi-
zens. The time, ,oo-just after the issuance of
an order for the enrolment of the negroes in
Kentucky to be drafted into the United States
Army, in utter violation OF her State sovereignty
and in derogatiOn of the clearest provisions ever
given The force OF law by Constitutional enact
meDt-made the views of this distinguished
Kenruckian deeply interesting. No puerile cry
Of "Copperhead" could be raised against such
man by chimnet-corner heroes. who fawn upon
the inflIlbiIty of the DEGREES of power; and yet,
we venture TO say. that no man in the nation has
ever arraigned the dominant party with more
manly boldneSs and more whitening invectve.
He chargee Mr.. Lincoln with wantonly lrampling
upon the Constitution and crushing under the
i'on heel of military power the rights of the peo
pie guaranteed by that instrument; he charged
him with violating his solemn pledge, as repeat
edly enunciated at the commencement of his ad-
ministration, as to the purposes of the war; he
charged him with violation Of the rules of civil
lied warfare in the indiscriminate, widespread
ruin which he was sowing broadcast throughout
the South; he charged him with the Inauguration
of policy for the prosecution of the war, which
net only unconstitutional and unwise, but
the inevitable result Of which would be to pro
long the war, if indeed it ever ended in peace,
and, if successful, would utterly destroy con-
sttutioual freedom as ii it had fallen under the
blows of armed rebellion. And not only did he
charge these things, but he cited the acts of the
the President AMI his party as proof to which
there could he offered no successful refutatioD.


The most vile and detestable of all the sms
with which the country has ever been afflicted
AbOlitlOniSm-receVedn no favor atthe bands of
this gallant Kentuckian. He DENOUNCED its ad
vocates as the enemies of the country; disturbers
OF the public peace and fomentors of strife; and
while he was in thought, word and deed, every
inch Union man. he did not hesitate TO say that
they were as dangerous to the repOse and perpe-
tuity of the Union the Secessionists them
selves. Their fanaIicism knew no limits to un-
constitutional aggresSons; aud to. acquire for
themselves power and pelf they scrupled not at
trampling upon the laws. overturning cOnstitu-
tious. and plunging the nation into irretrievable
anarchy aud ruin


He referred TO the remark that new issues had
arisen since the outbreak of the rebellion, and
gave il his emphatic contradiction. The issue
was the same to day that it was them The
question at that time was. "shall the rebellion be
put down, the Union maintained and the Consti
tuition preserved, with all ;he guaranteed rights
under il unImpaired. or shall the rebellion be
successful. the Union be dissolved and the Gov
ernment Gestroyed?" lt was not whether the
re.IellIon should be crushed and the Constitution
which is the bond of the Union at the same time
destroyed, as Mr Lincoln and his followers are
attempting. but whether this glorious fabric OS
our fathers with all it, clustering memories and
sacred guarantees OF constitutional freedO
should stand as an eternal monument of their
wisdom, courage ami patriotism. Tins was the
issue then; il is the issue now He acknowledged
no legitimate deviation from il. The purposes
of the the same to-day that they were
when Mr Lincoln iI' his inaugural and Congress
by resolution declared that thev were not for
conquestor subjugation, nor for interference with
the domestic institutions of the States, but simply
to preserve The honor and maintain the sup ema
cy of the Constitution. The effort TO pervert the
war from this legitimate purpose, and 10 make it
war upOn slavery was an issue which the DOM
inant party had no right 10 make-it was start
ling usurpation of poSer-aud, for one. he should
denOunce it without the color of right, justice.
or constitutional Justification.


He referred to the recent order for the enroll
ment o. negroes in Kentucky, and denounced t
as alike unconstitutional and unjust. Ii was but
another OF the series of startling usurpations OF
power which were being made, aud he said it was
the duty of the people of Kentucky to resist it as
a violation of their guaranteed rights, III they





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 Bramette occu-
pied position on the platform with the speaker,
having come up especially for the purpose of
hearing him. il he did not protect them in their
constitutional rights Ii when the people of
Kentucky appe iled to the law for protection from
this unconstitutional edict. Mr. Lincoln persisted
in enforcing il, he would himself be the rebel.
and not the people of Kentucky He would by
means offer resistance to this unconstitutional
order to the end OF throwing the State into seces
sion, but when keptucky had fulfilled all her du-
ties and obligation TO the Federal Government
was loyal to the Constitution and laws of the
land and intended SO to remain. she had right
to demand that her Constitution and the rights oi
people under it should be respected, aud he be-
lieved that Governor Bramlette would see that
they were respected He added at the same time
that while he bad no idea Of giving up his Gov
ernment quitting its service, by reason OF the
unconstitutional and imDoIitc enrolment of ne
groes. and that they should neither report TO
him would be to them, yet as kentucky J
freeman, he had clearopinion upon this subject
and did not hesitate to express it. The people oi
Kentucky did not want to keep step TO the ''mu-
sic of the Union." alongside of negro soldiers
it insult and degradation for which
their free aud manly spirits were not prepared
while il involved at the same time an infractior
of the rights OF the State which il was the duty
of the Governor, under his oath TO support the
Constitution, and see the laws faithfully execu
ted to resist with all the constitutional powers o.
the Commonwealth.


We do not pretend to report even the mos
meager synopsis of this great speech. for great i
was 10 all the essentials Of powerful oratory
running as it did through an hour and half