Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-11
The Republican Legislature and the
Democratic Press.
To the Editor of the Belmont Chronicle:


upc n that single point found their aver ion
or appreciation. Instead OF taking their
whole course OF life and action as the basIs
of Judgment, and comparing one act with
another. weighing the whole properly in
the scale of impartial justice, and thus
place in review the whole tenor and scope
of their lives and acts, we adopt the selfish
and narrow mode Uf judging of the whole
in the light in which we view single prom
inent act II the indis iduals are our per-
sona and intimate friends, or if we are in
any wise interested in their success and
we II. being, we will endeavor to take hold
OF their best doings and exhibit them to the
world, and sdroitly keep their evil doings
out Of sight. On The other hand, if the in
dividuals are our enemies, or act in any
way IN opposition TO what we deem right
and proper, we seize upon their uort fes-
lures as the object of our criticism and CEN
sure, and conceal whatever is good or praise
worthy. And it is the case with many in
dividuals. that if they cannot find some
salient point Of esi tc attack, they will en-
deayor to create one. Now, we hold it to
be truth that i, in.cntroveriible that there
never mas beer an Individual person, much
less a corporate budy, whose every act and
motive vas pure, consistent, and in accord
rnce with the CHEST principles of equity
and wisdom. And we need never expect
this to be the case until prejudice and fan
atic,sm shall be driven fIom our word, nd
all mankind enabled to see things in the
same light. But. there might be much less
of b.ckerings and fault.fndings even in our
present slate of society, il all men would
have he manliness aud honesty boldly to
assert their convictions ue truth, and in the
face Of the world, and regardless of the
siavish claims OF pariizrn organizations,
would stand up in defence of the right, come
from what source il may.
We have been led to make the above re-
marks from seeing the very partial manner
in which the Gazette and Ciiisen and other
Democratic orgiIs re er TO The doings OF
the Legislature of our Saie. Passing by
the vast number of excellent snd murh
needed laws that have been enacted. and
never once reierr ng to them in a manner
to cal attention to them, they seem dis
posed to run On xotic tilt, and vase all
the heroic valur oi their press upon one
single act, ;he Military Law. Now we
know very little about This, and as an indi-
vidual we care ess, as we are not fighting
character, and never took any great delight
in deeds ui bloody heroism, but if we must
keep up the sys EN- of warfare, and aci al
Ways according 10 the sdvice OF the father
Of our country, lin lines OF peace prepare
for war;" why hen we expect that cur pr, s.
enL law is JUS as sufficient to do all this As
any law we have ever had. But, sir, we
uplne the fault is not inherent in the act IT,
self. The wish in this case, as we'll as in
many others, has been father 10 the thought.
They want 10 find something out of which
to make little capital for their especial
benefit 6t-some point Oil which they may file
plea against the growing popularity oil
Republican principles. Being aware that
a great number OF those that belong to and
make up the party in power in this State,
are conscientioasly opposed 20 anything OF
warlike nature. They therefore urge
their feeble objections against this law, not
because Of its inherent want of excellence,
but thereby 10 endeayor to arouse the pre-
judice OF this class Of individuals sg ainst the
party, merely irom the iacl that one law
has been passed not aliogether in accord
ance With their pre- recUnceIved opinions, and
one, too, that in all probability will never
have to be enforced.
And while they thus endeavor to sustain
their sinking cause by their hypocritca
thrusts. and feigned horror at The provisions
of this act, as we before remarked, they pass
by in utter silence everything that is hu-
name, altogether practical, and which would
be at all likely to lie popular with a II classes
and parties. They say nothing about the
Game Law, which ihey know will find a
steatfast lodgment in the breast of every
lover of nature, or whose bosom is touched
with kindly emotions Of humanity, or evrs
practical usefulness. They ever call the
attention of their readers 10 he prov :sions
OF tha act that makes those actions hereto
fore denominsted treepass, how punishab Die
with fine ans imprisonment. Neither do
we find any admirers amongst them oI the
best and most important OF all the laws en-
acted the past Winter, the amendments tol
the School Law To all that have had any,
thing TO do with the subject of education
since the passage Of the late law. these
amendments come laden with the higes
practical wisdum, and will do more to per-
feet and sustain the great and public inter-
est of free schools to all, than anything
that has ever yet been attempted TO be done.
We may now challenge the world to snow
more democratic, perfect, and liberal pro-
vision for the education of the rising gene
ration. Thus we might point out many
others Of the ensclmenis o. this Republican
Legislature that are OF great and pratlic;l
importance, and which ii faithfully enforced
uld cause our great State to advance, in
al. tina, has hitherto been admirable in her
cause. with greatly accelerated speed
The ann aud Intention OF the Legislature
set ms TO ha t been altogether of the prac-
tical and useful kind. No great schemes
whose failure brings ruin, and whose suc-
cess brings no good, were either enacted
or contemplated by them. And wa believe
those that find fault with the Legislators or
their acts, taken as u whule, do So in viola
ton of their honest convictions. Two.
BARsEsvILLE, June lst, 1857.
Henry Ward Beecher, Gov. Noble