Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-08-12

excited by them may be an overniatch for
the dictates Of prudence, and favor the pro-
ject of Southern Convention, insidiously
revived as promising oy its councils the
best securities against grievances of every
sort from the North
every thing which NJ. Nadisof
foresaw in 1888. we have all seen since
the unceasing attempt 20 alarm the slave
States; its success in reviving the 'insidious'
convention; its effect on the pride and re.
sentiment of the Southern people, and the
mastery which the Nulhfers have acquired
in gaining control in all he slave States;
and bringing them to act as a unit against
the North in the federal election and Iegis-
lation. His letter and that Mr. Clay, are
cardinal to the history of these t;aes, and
cannot be overlooked or discredited BY zny
one who seeks either To teach truth or learn
it on this eventful period of American his
tory. They mark the origin of the slavery
sgitation. They show its locality, and fr
At IN the Sonthj they show It's pretext and
expose its want of truth, they point to its
designs and probable success, aud in that
they were prophetic
"But am now writing the history of the
present slavery agitation-a history which
the young have not learned, and the old
have forgotten, and which every Americas
ought to understand. only Indicate car
dinal points to show its character; and of
these main one remains TO be stated. Up
to MIR. Pierce's administration the plan had
been defensive. that is to say. to make the
secession of the South a measure of self
defense against the abolition encroachments,
aggress;ons and crussdes of the North. In
the time of Dir. Pierce the plan became of.
fensive, that is TO say to commence the ex-
pansion Of slavery, and the acquisition Of
territory to spread it over, so as to over
power the North with new slave States,
and drive them out of the Union," Zap
pendix, PIP. l79-lS5.
The giant of Jefferson Republicanisr1,
by these last strokes of his pen, has left
memorial as lasting as the history of his
country to bear testimony that he was no
friend to Buchanan-had no faith in his
honesty-did not acquiesce in the policy of
his Administrstion-wasn not "too much ab-
affairs to be excited on temporary topics,"
and was not "too much inclined to good
will to say anything that would wound or
irritate," OF simply an invidious sectional
distinction, at the expense of the Presi-
dents allies, or rather his mssreIs, the Null
li6ers; and thus. though dead, Benton vim
dicates himself and veriies the sentiments
imputed to him BY your correspondent and
denied by Jones.
The official organ of the Administration,
in accepting Mr.. Junes's offerings lin the
service of the Administration, renders it
his accessory. would be hattered at the
Importance given me in being denounced
by this great power if aid not perceive /
was not the object aimed at. am called
the l5eler Of Col. Benton, and ne is affect
etly defended, only az pretext 70 secure
the Poslhumous homage of man whose
influence Is as potent as when he lived
Benton IS the real sacrifice, in having his
opinions perverted to assure Mr. Jones
favor at the shrine OF executive patronage.
But if his abusing me can add anything to
the Precipitation and constitute mite toward
obtaining another rowing commission for
him, shall not regret that he made me slso
a victim 1t may add to the comfort of
some to whom | wish well. do MT sp-
prehend that shall suffer much in reputs-
lion. His own character will defeat his at
.emPts at detraclion, il have not establish.
I'd one to defy it; and Can easih muster
Up patience to withstand abortige malice.
F. P. BLAIR.