Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-01-03
From ihe Spirit of Democracy

N'shh'lIe NePuO4tcRH, lhe hnOV NetnlnS
organ oi Belmont couaty, says there is
report That Gov. shannon, now Of Kansas
10 a Know Nothing, (which hi, friends l.
Belmont 'strenn,usly contradict.' The edi.
tor says it is a family quarrel, fer ga prornin.
ent democrat Of Monroe county was the
first to give publicity to the charge, and
another member Of the same party, ia Bel.
mont--lsaac 4. Eaton, ESQ. was given as
authority for the statement" The above
fnd in the last Moaros Journal, and its
editor stems anxious TO know the name o.
"that prominent democrat OF Monroe coun-
ty."
] have not the vanity to suppose that |
AIN the "democrat" referred to, but, during
the late election canvass, the charge was
made against Gov. Shannon, at many of
our public meetings, that he declared hiu-
sell 10 favor of slavery in Kansas that he
represented the views of the adininistrslion
on that question, and that the Dsmocrstic
psy were responsible for the actsand say
ings OF President Pierce and Gov shannon
because they were elevated to power by
that party
In reply to this, denied that the party
were in any way responsible for the views
of Gov. Shannon on the slavery question.
further said that it had been charged that
Gov Shannon, ;as well as Atchisoa and
Stringfellow, was Know Nothing was
careful to say tAt whether tie Charge
was true or false, heither knewncr cared;
l would give the pe6c+e the facts and they
might judge for themNelves. said that it
was known at St. Ctairsviile that Gov.
Shannon was in faver bf Gen. Houston Il
Know Nothing, for presideut; that the Is-
dependent Republican, the Know Nothing
orgsn OF Belmont COUNT, was, at tho, ti,,s
Co Shannon's mbutb-p piGce, end tefsoIeJ
his acts; that prominent member Of The
Republican party, of st. FIlair;yiile, and
one who had been know NOTHING. said
IN my hearing that if Gov Shannon did
not get something from the administration,
he wsnld, in all probability, be- the Know
Nothing candidate for Common Heas Judge
in this District, next fall; and hhat Gov.
Shannon had voted, ia Congress, against
granting leave to Mr.. Witte, of Pa, to
introduce resolutions denouncing Know
Nothingism, when the vote on grari,iuc
'eave was regarded as a test vote by me.,,
bers. These were the fscts | gave, in al
my speeches, and told the people to draw
their own cenclu 'ions from them.
Months before Gov. Shannon received
his appointment, as Governor Of Kansas, ]
had heard il intinated that he was Know
Nothing; and when in Washington .City, ,on
the Attn OF July last, and utter it was rumor-
ed that he would be appointed, l remarke
| 20 tLs. r
true that the Governor was a Know Moth
ing, and that there was any probability oil
his getting the appointment, l would, Oh
my return home, make myself acquas,ed
with the facts, and get up petitions re-
monstrating against his appointment on the
ground of his Know Nothngism. | neuer
gaze Mr.. Eaton "s authority that the Gov
ernOr was Know Nothing; but simply
gave my conversation with him. Not think.
appointment, took 10 steps in the matter
| did not then, nor do | now, entertain tbs
belief that all might have done would
have prevented the appointment, but should
have made myself acquainted with the facts
as lar as l conveniently could, and ther
have placed myself right on the record,
which, az one of Gov. Shannon's constitu-
ents and warm supporters. in 1852, l would
have ielt it my privilege to do.
T | should not have noticed this matter but
for tne fact o. my having used Mr.. Eaton's
name, as above detailed. Lest rhc article
OF the Independsm Republican might have
reference 20 me, and which, if left uncon-
tradicted, would do Mr., Eaton injustice, |
have thought it proper to make this expla-
nation. ] desire to shrink from no respon-
sibiIiy in the matter.
While upon thus subject it may be pro-
per 70 say that the correspondent OF the
belmont Chronicle, in noticing the Bealls-
vile meeting, was incorrect in several par
ticulars, in his repor, OF my remarks, which
intended to notice nj the time, but mis-.
laid the paper. The Chronicle, however, il
do not forget. made the charge of the
Governors beng Know Nothing in te rms
strong enough to have shifted the respon,-
bility from the shoulders OF any democrat
in Momoe.
There was another mstfcr referred TO by
the Chronicles correspondent that ! had
INTENDED Eptlce, but ! cannot caii to mind
the language used, One thing hsye to
say. pnS that iE tat at not one OF the
meetines held in this county did take
any positon conflicting with the principles
Of the Democratic party, a. a national
party.
As the journal editor is fond OF maxi ng
inquiries, would msrsly ask il he is sat
istied with my explsr1ennl Can he tell,
with the lights belore whether Goy,
Shannon is or'is not q her Of the Me-
tropolitun council Of Kt9* NothiEgs Of
Washington City! "a.
Had not the Journal and Republican used
lhe words prominent dsnosrat,' Z might
have supposed they referred to met as it is
have thought il dussts myself 10 make
the foregoing stutementsef what connection
| have had with the charge made against
Coy Shannon. Ifhe is not a Know Moth
ing very nfAny R.eple n this Congresslon
al District are under an erroneous imPre-
slon.
| regret, Mr. Editor, that could not
very well adop, any other style of express
sion in making this statement. I believe,
however, that in "personal explanations" a
frequent use OF the / 10 allowable.
JAS. r MORRIS.
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ELECTION MOB
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