Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-07-25


erect for that purpose, under the guns of the
same fortifcatjon. n proceeding unheard of
before, and never to be repeated hereafter,
bombarded it, too, because the flag of the
/ Union which your fathers and yourselves
| had fought under with us the battles of the
| Constitutional flag which n few days pre-
yiously, you had hailed with prido-because
the stars and stripes, the Joy ofevery Amer
lean heart, full of glowing histories and lofty
recollections, was floating over it according
to the custom of every nation and people
under Heaven, was hateful in your sight
Tie Atheuaus were tired of hearing their
great leader called the just, and consigned
him to Punishment. You were annoyed at
the sight of the nObest national emblem
which floats under the sun, when unfurled,
where by our consent and for considera-
ton, too the Government OF the United
States held exclusive jurisdiction. and where
lit properly belonged, and for this you COM
menced war promising to be moro tero-
cious and exterininating throughout the Re-
public, than was the atrocous decree of He
rod in single village. Sumter was not
erected for the exclusive defense Of the har-
boz OF Charleston but for the purpose of
preventing foreign enemy from making
Ifodgment there, and from that point levy
ing successful maratime war upon New York,
Boston, Phlalelphia, Baltimore, New Or
lleans, and other towns and cities And the
unfriendy relations which sprung up be-
tween the Southern States and the Govern
ment of the Union, made it. retention and
Occupation more necessary than before.
You will not consent that the General Gov
ernment, the Government of the whole
people. should march forces over the ''sa.
cred soifof State" ofthe Confederacy to
maintain its own dignity and authority, to
check rebellion and save the Capital ON
confederation and its archives from de struc-
Ition but you should stand almonishcd that
there is no soil sufficiently sacred under the
broad mgis OF the Constitution, to shelter
armed rebellion or secret treason. and that
the Government of the United States has
not only full right and lawful authority to
march its forces over every inch ofterritory
between the ST. Lawrence and the Pacific,
60 stop the progress of enemies. foreign or
ldomestic; to cut down rebellion, or TO arrest
Those who detpoil its property or resist the
lexncution of its laws; but that it is its first
land most solemn duty to do so. Should the
General Government enter State for the
; purpose of interference with its domestic
poilcy' II would De usurpatlon ana an unwar
rlntaDie ilVit'lon-h INV ohegiect 70 employ lts
P'" ~ - ,. T. T. 'N,,"S",
tlye woulu DC acuipaD!e disregard oil oil'iai
op,lgauon.
io9 propose TO defend your nome hearths'
your hreSide'', your PorcheS' your altarS'
+ your wives anu your chlluIeh, your mouse
lIoid Sou9, ana these resolves sonnd wen IN
dced, even IN the abstract practically the
ueiensew pe IN tune, wheh tney gre assall-
eu' or az least threatened. ANA you may
o rest with the assurance, mat when either oi
t theS9 sacred ana cherished interests shali pc
+. aesecra'ed or p'aced III danger, or inJeopardy
, ron any vahdal spirit upon the siooe,. you
= shall not defend them alonc' toran army ron
d the free states hlghtlerw ~ than that winch
). rose up 10 crush your reDeillon' aye grel
Q in'lltitnde' which no ihal, can hunper, VIII
q ueiehd thehh Ior you, Dut inc issue mus
not DC changed nor irlttered away sumter
" was your nome hearth, rlckehsEo hre
}. Side' harper ferry your porch' the Navy
d ~ = arus your i ali'rs, tno Custom house an'
@ foStohlces ana I.eyehne cutters your wVe,
# ana ch',ireh' nor tle MihtS your househol'
" gods' Inc government mas no flSht u
- desecrate your homes, nor nave you the