Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-09-25
Beslsyille. Ohio.

Beslsville, Ohio. gAE
To the Editor Of the Belmont Chronicle:
1t is not my intention st this time 20 en-
ter deeply into any political discussion, no
attempt to show 10 an elaborate manner tn,
merits or demerits of any of the three grea
political par ties of the present cam2nign.-
My oply object al this time is to recount tt
you and your readers some Of the politica
proceedings of the people OF our village pnt
neighborhood during the past fortnight
You have ALREADY been informed of the
meeting and proceedings of the Republican
meeting held on Tavlor's Hill on the 30tt
ult. Twill then begin with the commence
ment of the present month. We have in
our village two poliIica. clubs, one favoring
the election Of james Buchanan, the other
favoring the election of Col. Fremont
Fillmore stock is very low Just about here
Tnen, according to this arrangement, will
mention first the meeting Of the Republican
Club On the evening of the lst inst. This
meeting was addressed by DR.. Hamilton
in brief but pointed manner, demonstra-
ting that his political principle; were moi
noueI, although the party with which he is
now enrolled bears different name from
the one to which he formerly belonged; but
that the JoTmsr party, having degenerated
from the true Democrafsprinci7Ies, he was
left with those who'ha to guard the for
sGkcn landmarks. This " as done in SO log
ical a IN INNER that the lew su.callec Demo
Gratis who were present went away grum-
bling and mut;ering at the exposition oil
their traitOrism.
The Wednesday evening following the
Buchanan Club held their meeting, which
was addressed by r. S. Clark in an ego'istic
and bombaslic harangue, mrking some
"grand challenges" and msny democratic
assertions" as destitute .: proof as Cuba is
of snow, or Pierce's Cabinet Of principle
His manner oi chal enge was. "If any Re-
publican here has anything to say against
these assertions, let him now do so," and
then went on with this exhibition of Demo-
cratic gag law, Cor forever after hold your
peace" About the onIs proof he did pre-
sent was some quotations from The late
speech of George E. Pugh, the sentiments
of which he afterwards denied as being
Democratic. These quotation were intro
duced to prove that the doctrine OF Jeifer-
son, "the father OF Democracy was in favor
Of extending the area Of Slavery for the ANAL
oration of The slaus!H
On the next Monday the Republican Club
again convened. DIR. Schooley took the
stand, and in a deliberate and elaborate
speech replied TO some of The assertions and
arguments msde at the Buchanan Club
meeting above alluded to, proving from va
rious documents the assertions at that tim
made erroneous, and sho~ing The reasoning
to be illogical: and also the principles to
be in irect contravention TO The professed
doctrines OF the iormer Democrats of Ohio.
Alter this Thos. w. Fawcett. of Belmont,
took the stand, and in his peculiar and pleas
ing manner entertained the audience for
near two hours, showing the true position OF
the different parties, and the superiority OF
the Republican doctrines in a nationa point
of view. Before his close he gave us a
glowing description of "Border- Ruffian
Democracy" and "Squatter Sovereignty :"
The Buchanan Club held meeting few
evenings after, and were again addressed by
R. S. Clark IN kind of condemnatory reply
to the speech OF Fawcett, alluded to above.
But it was evident from his manner of
speaking that he "felt himself in bach :
ground" He wa, followed by s. w. Gas
ton anG VIM. Lawrence, (the nominee for
Congress) twisting things about in hor-
rid manner.
The next item is the address of Judge
Cowen to the Republicans, on the Friday
evening following. His audience was rather
small, owing to the fact that his coming
was not known as a certainty, and perhaps
somewhat to the fact that BrGxton and other
of the leading Democrats advised their
Buchanan brethren not to go, lest they might
have :heir Gm) morals tainted, and they
would thus be disqualified to swallow the
crab-legged and parched arguments they
were to have :he following day. The
Judges speech was brief but logical, expos.
ing some of the misrepresentation and de-
flaming assertions Of Buchanan demagogues.
Well, on the next day, Saturday. the ! 9th
inst, was held the "great mass meeting," at
which our Democratic friends expected TO
see thousands" They had quite drilling,
lead on by band irom your town, whose
instruments were two old drums and some
kind of squeaking whistle. They at last
succeeding in gathering around their stand,
erected in VIM. Eaton's yard, about one
hundred voters, one e-third OF whom, at least,
were of the opposition parties. They were
frs, addressed by VIM. Lawrence. His first
proposition was "to p; Que the unconstitution-
ality of Congress inter ttring pith the iasti-
tuition of Slavery in the Tsrriiories;' and aE
ter distorting the words Of the Constitution
and supplying others to snit his purpose, he
put forth second, which was "to prore The
Uoiid,ty and b,ndin9 force Of the Acts Of the
Kansas Legislature. Whether he did this
or not, ur whether any sane man would un-
dertake such thing in an enlightened CON-
munity or not, we leave for others to Judge.
He then spoke awhile of the "sectionality'
of the Republican party. their old silly
shriek. He then took up the Dissolution
question, but he soon took his seat, being
frightened, suppose. at the phamtom Of biz
OWE Imagination. Gen. Weir then took the