Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-06-13

W iuqulTe WhdJ his pOllllcdi Nle"s MSio upVh
any other question.
TIE Editor of the CHRONICLE has re-
peatedly Tor weeks passed charged us with
being disunionist-with having spoken
reasonable sentiments, and with opposing
the Government. These charges we have
as often denied, and in our paper of the 29d
ult we felt it our duty to ourselves and to
the community in which we live, to pro-
nounce the man who gave uttcrance 10 these
charges, u base and unprincipled scoundrel
"a wilfiul and malicious calumniator, and a
liar of the most infamous character.
The Editor in his last paper, to sustain
his charges of disunion, treason and disloy
atty to our government, says that we are
opposed to the war brought on for the pre-
servation Of the government. This state
mcnt raises the exact point in dispute be-
tween the CHRONICLE and ourself, and we
accept the issue and are willing we shall both
be tried before an enlightened community
upon it. Gazette.
We have charged you, sir, with being a
disunionst, and think we have very salts
factorily proven it, and, for the want Of
better argument to answer the charge, you
have resorted to the last argument of the
blackguard-low personal slang and abuse.
We have no taste for, we have no wish to
meet you with this kind of argument. We
might find in your history plenty of materi-
al for a glowing personal picture, but we
have other work to attend to and would
simply refer any who desires knowledge of
your personal character to your biography,
as writtena few years ago in the Independent
Republican, by those who were much better
acquainted with you than we are. We pro-
pose to run the disunion question Il little
farther, and press the matter upon you until
you shall "seo yourself as others see you" I"
You, sir, have held the opinion that the
election Of Republican President would
be n sufficient cause for dissolution of the
Government. You, sir, when the men of the
South, after the election of the last Presi-
dent, commenced to carry out their purposes
to break up the Government, published en-
comiums of their speeches in favor of seces-
sion and abusing the Government, and pub
lished long articles declaring the Govern
ment finally dismcmbered, and urging the
propriety of letting the South peaceably go.
You, sir, when these men were engaged in
arming and drilling the South, robbing the
Treasury Of the Government, taking the
forts, firing into the flag, and treating with
contempt every effort of the Government to
adjust the claimed difficulties that existed,
were continually crying, no coercion, no civil
war; and when the public feeling become so
intensified at the insult offered by the at
tack upon Fort Sumter as to demand of the
Government vindication of her national
honor, by calling out for its protection and
the suppression Of rebellion the volunteer
forces of the loyal Statos, you, sir, raised a
howl against the President, and demanded
OF Congress his impeachment. You, sir
pronounced the war thus begun for the pre-
servation Of the Union, "damnable war,
and advised, at the time the traitors were
letting out the very life-blood of the Repub
lie, all over whom you had any influence t.
have nothing to do with that war; And
after oil these things, as if determined tt
leave no room for doubt upon this point
after your neighbors and somo of your friend
have gone into that war under the firm con
viction that they arc engaged ina gloriou
contest for the preservation of the best form
Of Government the world ever beheld, you
sir, in your last issue insult them by dcclar
ing that the war they are engaged in ''I
NOT A WAR FOR TIE PRESERVATION Ol
THE GOVERNMENT, BUT ONE FOR ITS DE
sTRUcToN. You may appcase your con
science in this matter by crying liar, scoun
drel, &C., and with predictions of the estab
lishment ofmilitary dospotism, but you vii
not so easily convince this community tha
you are guiltless of tho charge we hav,
made against you. And we will leave you
for the present. with the assurance, how
ever, that we will be ready and willing, wher
the proper time shall come, to discuss the
question of who is responsible for the pres
ent difficulties.