Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-08-21
Republicanism in Virginia.

To the Editor of the Belmont Chronicle:
Your readers have been already informed
that Republican Association has been or
ganized in this city. and it may be subject
of interest and profit to them to know how
the people of this State regard the great
question that now agitates the whole ma
tion. Our Press faithfully proclaim the
sentiments of the Democratic and American
parties of this State to be firmly welded to
Slavery. The great point of variance be-
tween them is, which shall show the most
devotion to the "pecu'iar institution" The
American Press are reiterating the senti-
ments of Mr.. Fillmore's Albany Speech,
that if Col. Fremont be elected the South
should not submit; while the Democratic
press catch up the more emphatic words of
Toombs, Mead, and others and boldly assert
that they wiH not submit. / speak of these
parties only as they are represented by their
leaders, and any one who reads Virginia
papers will know that / write the truth
The issue is laid down that the majority
shall not rule; Slavery must be made na-
tional or away goes our glorious Union
Far be it from me to say that The Union is
not cherished by our politicians. l only
assert that they love Slavery more.
The press and the politicians of Virginia
are in the hands of the Slave power which
arrogates to itself supreme authority not
only in the councils Of State but also over the
thoughts and utterances of the people; and
if sentiments be spoken contrary to tie pre-
scribed form, the victim suffers as the tyrant
may dictate. But it is we'll known that,
though tyranny may rule with a rod of
iron. yet SO long as it is tyranny it can
not represent its subjects. And it is also
as true that there is a free people in this
State not represented by the ruling power
of the State. The bringing forth of the
oppressed to the public gaze spoils the tyr
amy of its beauty, therefore the press of
Virginia industriOusly strives to hide from
the world the fact that there is free peo-
pie among them who heartily oppose the as
sumPtions of the Slave power, and are not
permitted openly to express such thoughts
Ithank God there is such a people in
Virginia. Letters have been received here
from all parts cf the State, which assure US
of sympathy almes; in every county. speak
within bounds where say that there are
more voters in Virginia who consider Slay-
cry an evil than there are in Ohio who con-
slider it Divine institution. And there are
more in Virginia who are opposed to the
extension of Slavery than there are in Ohio
that are in favor of it. The election of Fre-
mont and Dayton will be hailed with ioy in
many places where it is not known that a
Republican sen.INent was ever cherished.
In the greater portion of tie State it would
De dangerous Tor any one to make it known
to his immediate neighbors that he viewed
Slavery as JEFFERSON viewed it. Within
the last few months it has frequently hap
pened that few neighbors discover each
other to be Republican in sentiment, who
have lived long years together each one
thinking that he alone held such views.
Western Virginia is comparatively free
and in this city, vote as they may, a large
and respectable majority of the people are
[int favor Of FreeIlabor, Free Speech, and
Free men. Yet even here il has been de-
mOnstrated that it is not safe to express SEN
timents at variance with the assumptions of
the Slave power. And the disturbance we
had here is of course but a feeble demon.
stration of what it would be in other parts
of the state.
Concerning the late mob here, We would
fain throw oyer it the mantle of Oblivion
for to publish it would be to publish the dis
grace Of Wheeling. Without desiring to
injure the character of those who used
violence towards US, we would have the
world believe that they did not represent the
more respectable portion of our citizens
There has not been word spoken by one
of Us in any way conflicting with the laws
of our stale. Nor have We ever spoken a.
ganst slavery extension in language halt as
strong as has been uttered by JEFFERSON.
Mcdowell land many other of Virginia's
sons whose names live in many hearts where
their sentiments are dead. We are loyal
citizens of Virginia and we brave the dang.
ers of our position for what We conceive to
be the good Of our state. With this assur.
ance on our part We let our Cause 70 to the
public. Our enemies give their own version
Of it. We desire to make no excitement,
nor would we have any aid or comfort from
our friends in Ohio. Therefore we will say
nothing about it. As Republicans we re.
pudiate the doctrine of one state interfer.
ing with the Domestic institutions of an
other state. We are determined to dis.
charge our duty and maintain our own law
ful rights, SO long az we are able, and when
we are no longer able to exercise the priv
ileges of other freemen / suppose we will
have to stop. But We are not vet put down.
Forty-six members belong to our Club and
believe every man of us has "back bone,"
and we have perhaps five times furty-six in
the city who will unite with us and vote for
Fremont. We will raise no disturbance
but will continue peaceably to assemble our
selves together. We will rely for succor
not in the strength of our muscles, but in
the power of truth and right.
We hho" thot slavery is an evil, tndt u
opposes free labor and all enterprise; that
it put down free speech and free men. We
know this not as an idle speculation but as
a painful reality; and knowing it we would
be false to our country and to our sense OF
right did we not use our influence to pre-
vent by all lawful means its extension into
territory heretofore lree
We deprecate all excitement on the slav-
cry question, and desire to use all our in
6uence to put it down. But how must this
be donei The most successful means Of
an evil is to eradicate the cause of
it. The efforts made to extend the area of
slavery, is the cause of all our trouble. Had
there never been any slavery extension.-l
Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri would
have been now free, and there would be |
peace and tranquility throughout the land.
We desire to restore peace by removing the
cause of all our troubles, by establishing the