Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-06-20
MI v,o,t,s Letter tConcluded.)

The priuc;ple referred to is thereby invaded.
A Lii uassed by Legislature, by the major
ity of a single vote only, though the constit-
uepts of all who voted against II should he
in fact, as they are held to be in theory, OPP
posed 10 its provisions. still it is not the less
operative as a law. and no right of self-gov-
ernment is thereby trampled upon. The
olamor alluded to assumes that the States
are separate and independent governments,
and that laws enacted under the authority
of all may he resisted and repealed at the
nleasure Of each. The people of the United
States, so far as the powers Of the General
Government are concerned arc unit, and
laws passed by a majority of all are binding
unon all. FThe law, and Constitution, how
ever. which the South now retists, have been
,dopted by her sanction, and the right she
now claims is that OF feeble minority to re-
neal what n majority has adopted. Moth
inc could bc more fal,acious.
civil war, under all circumstances, is a
tarrihlc calamity. and yet, from the selfish
ambition and wickedness Of men, the best
governments have not been able to escape
f In regarding that which has been forced
upop the Government of the United States,
Kentucky should not look so much at the
means which may be necessarily employed
in its prosecution a. the Vaccinations by
which this national tragedy has been brought
unon M. When look upon this bright land,
n few months since so prosperous, so tranquil,
and 40 free. aud now behold it desoated by
war, and the firesides of its thirty millions oil
peonle darkened, aud their bosoms wrunE
with anguish, and know, as L do, that all
this is the work of score or two OF men,
who, over all this national ruin and despair,
are preparing to carve with the sword their
,n,uar / aauunt
but feel that they are accumulating upon
their souls an amount of guilt hardly equaed
in all tho atrocities of treason and of homl-
eide that have degraded the annals Of our
race from the foundations ofthe world. Ken
tucky NAV rest well assured that this conflict,
which il one of self-deiense, will be pursued
on the mart of the Government in the pater-
nal spirit in which q father seeks TO reclaim
his erring offsIring. No conquest, no eflu-
sion of blood is sought. In sorrow, not in
anger. the PRAYER of all is that the end may
be reached without loss of life or waste Of
nronerty. Among the most powerful III
strumentalities. relied on for re-estabish
inc the authority of the Government, is that
Of the Union sentiment of the South, sus-
ta;ned bv liberated press. IL is now trod-
den to the earth under reign of terrorism,
which has no parale but in the worst days
of the French Revolution, The presence
Of the government will enable It to rebound,
and look its oppressors in the face AT pres
ent, we are assured that in the seeded
States, no man expresses an opinion opposed
TO the revolution, but ut the hazard OF his
life and property. The only light which is
admitted into political discussion, Is that
which flashes from the sword, or gleans from
glistening bayonets. A few days since one
II Il ak,,a tp, mis-
published manifesto, in which he announ-
ces, with oracular solemnity and severity,
that all citizens who would not vote Tor Sc
cession, but were in favor Of the union--no
should or ought--but MUST leave the
State" These words have in them deci
dedly the crack of the overseer 8 whip. Tht
Senator evidently treats Virginia as grea
negro quarter, in which the lash Is the ap
propriate emblem OF authority, ana the only
argument he Will condescend 10 use. TOW
ever the traemen OF other parts OF the STATE
may abase themselves under the exercise o
this ins0lent md dproscripnve tyranny, shonlf
the Senator, with this scourge o. slaves . en-
deavor to drive the people OF western VIZ
ginia from their homes, VIII oniy say, y
the language OF the narrative OF "hpih
ride:
"May be there to see
Ii would certainly prove deeply interesting
spectacle.
1t is true, that before this deliverence o
the popular mind of the South from th'
threatenings and alarms which have sub
dued il, can be accomplished, the remorse
less agtators who have made this revolution
and now hold its reins, must be discardec
alike from the public confidence and publ,
service. The country, in its agony, is feel
ing their power. and we will understand how
difficult will be the task of oyerthrowing tn,
ascendency they have secured But tn
Union men of the South-belieyed to be il
the majority in every seeded State, excep
perhaps, South Carolina-aided by the pres
ence of tho government, will be fully eqIa
to the emergency Let these agitatoTs per
ish, politically, il need be, by scores:
"A breath can unnnke them. as a breath was made
but DESTROY this Republc, and
"yh.re 1. ,ha, prometheaa heat,
Thai can il. light relancr
Once entombed, when will the Angel o.
the Resurrection descend to the portals o
its sepulchre? Thcrc is not voice whic
comes TO us from tho cemetery of nation
that does not answer: Never, neverl
Amid the torments of our porrurbed exis
ence, VIC may have glimpses of rest and o
freedom, as the maniac has glimpses of reaso
hatween tbe paroxysms of his madne,s. bl