Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-04-02
Shall we Submit?

laws OF society, attempt to advance an
opinion or offer remark upon tha; anti
quated notion. promulgated by set OF Wis
ionary and brain-fevered philosophers, whom
We called Patriot Fathers, which begins
'All men ar born free and equal" | sup
pose will be answered with the cry of ''hum-
buggery." Or, if be attempts to vindica.e
the principles contained in another senti-
ment OF this same set OF world reformers,
which begins thus. "W hen in the course Of
human events" &c, the cry is Immediately
raised throughout the land, "neason! trea-
SOM" But, sir, regardless Of the maledc-
tions that We may bring upon ourselves, or
the threats that may be made to intimidate
US, the cause of suffering humanity demands
that every individual, who has not lost all
love for his species in the depths of partizsn
rancor, and servility to exploded dogmas of
right and duty, should endeavor by all the
means within his reach to devise, plan and
execute the most plausible scheme 10 avert
the dangers that are now upon US, and put a
6nal quietus upon that monster iniquily
that SO fearfully threatens our cherished
| liberties.
Step by step, have we seen the advances
Of the "sum of all villainies," gradually, yet
with no uncertain movements, have We seen
it lay its ruthless hand upon those rights
and privileges which, as citizens of this
great Commonwealth, we have ever been
taught 20 believe were sacred to liberty
alone. The most solemn compacts ever
entered into between men have been wan
tonly disregsrded, or in defiance OF every
principle of good faith violated, and then
cast aside. Gradually, too have its adyo-
Gates been increased by accessions from all
ranks and stations of lie, until at last the
place long looked upon by our citizens as
the stronghold, the sure defence and support
of our liberties, has been polluted by its
corruPiing presence; and the robes of JUS
tice-the ermine, that long has symbolized
our ideas of right and truth, has been be-
iouied ami polluted by the mire and filth of
corrupt political par,izaDship. No longer
the citadel of constitutional rights. and those
other, that have been called "ina ,ienaole"-
the upholder OF the equality of States, and
the impartial umpire over conflicting inter-
ests, our Supreme Justices have descended
to the debasing arena of political warfare.
and have become the advocates of The most
dabolical and degrading system of tyranny
that ever disgraceG our world. Though wise
men have faithfully warned US of our danger
Though these events. in signs too plain to
be mistaken, shave cast their shadows be-
fore," yet every effort to arouse the mind
and awaken the conscience of the nation to
a realizing sense of its du;y and danger, has
been met and in great measure overruled
by such whining sycophancy as, 'The Union
is in denger!" Don't disturb this glorious
Union!" ''Endesvor to quiet the agitation!'
&C., &c. Knowing that neither their mo-
tives nor deeds would be likely to obtain
great popularity by The public advocacy Of
the great questions before the nation. The
upho!ders of this Infamous institution have
ever endeavored TO administer opiates to the
agitated populace-al llay their excitements
by the soporfc effects OF a Union dissolved,
prosperity de- troyeo, and the renown and
national existence OF fifteen or twenty mil,
ons ui freemen forever annihilated by the
thrrate secession of a few thousands of
fire-ea,itg nrliifers,
Ii has ever been the province of Error
anC Crime to endeavor thus to allay excite
ment, and keep their movements anG aims
}bSdden from the eyes of ,hesmultituje. that
they may the more easily, a. last, accom-.
piish the ir nefariuus schemes. As early as
the days of the Apostles, at least, we heal
the cry raised by these myrmidons Ct dark
ness against the advocates of truth and right.
BUSINESS, "that they we're turning the world
upside down. Now, we hold it to be a
certain truth that no great good has evel
yet been or ever will be accomplished un
attended with more or less OF excitement
And alW avs when we hear an individual, OIL
the advocate o: any institution declaiming
against the agitation Of any subject con-
that there is something about that insti;u
tion that is not altogether right. Trutf
e.'r ,eks the light, while error gropes hel
way in darkness.
!. Therefore, when we hear the stereotyp ped
phrase, SO often repeated here of late, "Le,
agitation cease" again promulgated iron
the headquarters of iniquiIy, because, for
sooth, our infallible (D Supreme Court has
been pleased TO decide against the inalien-
able rights of our citizens, we ask the ques
ton we have placed at the head of this art
Gle, Shall we Submit! Shall we without
any further ado about the matter, sit still
and suffer our dearest rights to be surrep.
ttiously taken from us-all our privilege.
vilely trampled upon by the iron hoofs o.
this giant despotism! Shall those free in.
sti'utions, that have been the joy of enfran
chised millons-the terror of regal despots
and the envy of the hopelessly oppressed o
the earth--shal II they, we ask in the name
.: our common humanity, be blo;ted forever
from The annals of the world. Shall thai
! accurseu institution, the most abominabr
OF all abominatiJns, be permitted to WIND
its serpentine feils around our sacred Jaws
our dearest righis-Uur freeman's homes
end drag US at once TO the depths Ct ire
ttrievable ruin, and we make no agitation
no commot:on about it, In the name of al
tnat we hold sicred, let US answer, no. Let
there 60 up to the ears of the great rulers
of our land, a voice that will cause them t.
} emble in their fancied security. A voice
} that shall convince them that forbearanct
has ceased to be virtue-that resistance
/, to tyranny is obedience to God. A voice
, proclaiming to the four winds of Heaven
r that we love our country, our whole coun.
try, but we love our liberty more. No Ion.
ger is it the despairing cry oil three million:
Of our 'ellow beings. as they wrthe beneath
the lash, or groan beneath the CALLING chain:
of Christian Slavery, that alone call us to
aciIun, but our homes, our families, ou
chi dren will cry NJ against us il we keeE
) silent Not alone does the African slave
eli iur IT, but the voice of fl teen million.
oi ilc, man i borre un the wings OF ever,