Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-03-06
TREASON INDEED!

We regret, exceedingly that the very fret
adumbrations of the incoming editor of the
Gazette are of such a nature as to require
our attenti5n-yet such are the facts. In
the course of long editorial in the last
Gasette, headed TREASON" the editor
labors hard to make out that SALMON p.
CHASE, and the entire Republican party, as
well as all sNho symputhize with the free
state men of Kansas, are traitors.
In the first place, there is a revival of the
stale charge against Gov. CHASE, that he Of
fersd resolution at Buffalo, whish was emf
1ently1 disunion in ssntim ent This we re-
gard as not only absurd, but unjust. Gov.
CHASE denied tho charge emphatically, and
so plain case did he make out that his
bi,terest foes srofessed themselves satisfied,
the 81. CLairsu,lle Gazette among the mum.
Der.
But the principal feature in the article is
the charge Of treason in relation to Kensas.
Speaker G Of Gov. CHAsr's course since he
was Governor, the Gazette says:--
"fn one short month after being inaaguratsd Cover.
nor Of the Sd State in the Union upon the pretext
Of having received communication from or
Individuals whom the record proves are noting less
than band Of outlaws, and whose communication,
as Governor ofthe State there was no more pro.
pristy in his receiving and making the subject mat
ter to the Legislature, than II 1t had been sent him
by Hotentot. sends to the Legislature what has
been termed his WAR MESSAGE"
Gen Lane, and Dr. Robinson are spoken
of as "nothng less than band of outlaws"
Well now for the sake Of the argument, sup
pose we grant that they are "nothing less
than band of outlaws"--and where will it
place some prominent members of the Demo.
cratic party! Let us see.
On the 9th Of Dee. 1865, Governor Wilson
Shannon, sent the following document to
DR.. Robinson:--
"Io c. Robinson, commander Of the enrolled
citizens of Laurence:
"You are hereby authorized and directed
"tO take such measures and use the enrolled
"eorces under your command in such manner
"for the preservation of the peace and the
"protection of the property Of the people Of
Lawrence and vicinity, IS in your judgment
"shaH best secure that end.
(Sgned) WILSON SHANNON"
The italics In the last line are our own.-
What should be done with a Governor who
places the forces of his territory under the
Of an outlaw, to use them as his
Judgment promptsi Yet according to the
showing of the Gosetts, Gov. SHANNON has
done SO. Yet he went even farther, and con-
descended 80 far as 30 treat with these same
outlaws. In the Gssette of January 10th,
1866, we find an article headed--"The treaty
between Gov. Shannon and the Free State
men Of Kansas" This document 10 sigued
BY WILSON SHANNON, G. ROBINSON, and
]. II. LANE; the last two being the men
hat the G'sette. now stigmatises as sn0thing
less than band o: outlsws. A pretty pass
/ Democratic Governor 10 coming to when
he deigns.to treat with ga band OF outlaws"
We think the above documents are amply
sufficient to exhibit the puerility Of the
charge of "outlaw" against Robinson and
Lane. Had they been really outlaws, Gov.
Shannon would never have delegated to them
The entire control Of the military forces Of
Lawrence and vicinity" Had they been
real ouila,ss, Shannon would never have been
confirmed after concluding . treaty with |
them. ~ Il
II then Gov Shannon had srough conf
dence in these men. no, only to conclude =
treaty with them, but to give them iiscrs-
tiouary pswsr over oil The enrolled forces in
Lawrence and vicinity, 10 not Gov. CHAsl
justified in resolving q communication non.
them with courtesy and rsspecti
In the same article, little further along
there occurs the following language.-"w,I
deeply regret 70 see in the lsa CArsnieie q !