Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-05-03
The Rights of the North and
South-The Union of the Or
sition in Ohio.

We have no desire to keep up Il con
versy with either the Commercial or the
quirer, and we do not intend to reply to
long rigmaroles which appeared yestcr
in those pupcrs, and which were devoted
clusively to the demolition of the argumd
which have appeared in this paper. We
only say that we still survive the comb
attack. The only noticeable part in eli
article, is the crawti,h attempt on the p
Of the Commercial to mix up the GGeette "
what ii terms Abolifi0nism. We have f0t
il difficult to define the term. 1t assur
many forms, and is something like n
nose or turtles egg--it can be thrown m.
to many shapes. II We understand the term
as commonly applied, Aboli,ionism means
tho interference on the part Of men living IN
the free Ststes with the domestic institution
and rights Of the Southern States. II such
be the Interpretation, then We are not Ii able
to the charge. II, on the other hand, it
means those who believe tn at freedom is bet.
ter Than slavery; that he free States have
equal rights with the Southern States in tho
administration of the Territories belonging
to the General Government, then we do not
deny the imputa,on. For while we would
defend the South in every just right which it
may possess, we would submit to no ussump-
,iun OF prerogativc which it might claim over
us.
Oar position is based upon tho Const,u
ton. We acknowledge no other guide, and
We acknowledge tc the fullest extent the
rights OF the Southerh States, AS defined by
n "a a,
acknowledge the wisdom of that instrume mt
and the duty which it imposes upon every
true friend Of the American Union and Of
American nationality to cultivate friendly re-
lutions with the citizens of different States,
We have no sympathy whatever with North
ern men who lny hold ofihe anii-slave-
ry element, and use it az a lever to divide
and distract national sc n timeht' and to ele-
vate themselves into places of power and
trust. We have us little respect for MOI tn
crn men who will plhy the doughisce, and
attempt to curry favor with the South by
malisnng our own people, and bartering
away our Jwn lights. We would hold the
balance lnirly poised upon the letter aad spi-
rit oi the Constitution, and would not per.
mitiI to be changed, either by III weight o
nn,i-slnvery or pro-slavery ia aticism--fol
there are both kinds. Fanatcsm may be
regretted, md it may be overcome but it can.
not altogether be dispersed. The true North
ern doughface is the object for true man ,c
Scscise. lie is the meanest thing that moves
among men.
When we look abroad upo, our wide ant
extended country. its various interests, anC
its complex, and in some degree, its conflict
ing instllutlons,we hold that our highest duty
asa good citizen is TO so guide our action
that their various tterests may be blended in
one harmonious combination, and their inst
lntions SO regulated that they may not jar
The solidlty ofout governmental arrangement
In pursuing such u course, it sometimes il
necessary TO condemn the course of one sec.
tion, aud sometimes that Of the other. Sucl
has been our experience. We have at tim, 8
been accused Of abolitionism, and at times
OF being pro-slavcry. Neither accusation
was just--we are neither one nor the other
We are for the American Union, as it was
originally designed. We go for the whole
country, ard the rights OF al. the States, for
the rights Of the North and the rights of the
.I | e'Hb 'p'hiHk tHut 10 HOt ElSUt
and submitting to nothing that is wrong.
Holding these views, we have been and
still arr in :avor Of uniting thoroughly the
people OF Ohio, who are opposed to the pres.
ent State and National governmen I, upon one
I'ckst for State officers aud members of the
legislature and we shall continue to press
the Importance oi this union upon the peo.
ple' We never did expect that the whole
people would be Of one mind in every il =
stance neither as regards men or policy and
yet we see no reason why there should not
exist perfect union. With the fundamen- n-
tai principles of the American party, as we
understand them, we most fully accord. To
certain portions of their creed we object, and
our case we suppose to be the case with u
majority OF the people Of Ohio; yet We see
no reasoh why we should not act harmoni.
ously together, to achieve one Of the most ab.