Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-08-08
REUNION OF THE PATRIOTIC

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We have, during the last seven years, at
tended nearly every convention held in the
county. We have been present at some
large and enthusiastic meetings but we
have never before seen such glorious,
grand, soul-elevating and harmonious re-
union of the people as we were present at
on Saturday last at Belmont. Called to
meet in the heat of August, in the midst of
Oats harvest, without the issue of single
hand-bill, without standing calls in the pa
pers, without single newspaper appeal
urging the people to turn out, without n
single effort by anybody to secure full at
tendence, it was not expected that the con-
vention would be u large one but in this
we were disappointed, for it was one cf the
largest ever held in the county. But it was
not in the numbers present alone that this
convention was pre-eminently successful, -
it was in the oneness Of feeling, the harmony
Of sentiment, the unity of action that was
visible all through its proceedings. And, to
the lover Of country more than party, the
efforts to vie with each other in expression of
devotion to the Constitution and love for the
country, the willingness manifested by all
present to give aid and comfort to the Gov.
ernment in its effort to crush out the present
unjustifable rebellion were peculiarly crafty
ing and in this particular it was in beauti.
full contrast with the convention that met at
the same place on the 4th Of July. That
convention uttered no words of comfort to
the Government, no condemnation of the
action of the rebels m breaking up this
glorious Union, no expression Of devotion to
the ''libcrty wherewith we have been made
free" but the speakers occupied their time
in abusing the Administration and officers
Of the Government, whilst the committee
was out perpetrating frauds upon the unsus-
pecting part of the candidates, in order to
secure the nomination Of those among them
who were least habie to the imputation Of
loyalty to the Government. The great OBJ.
ject evidently being the securing of the
'loaves and fishes" for the pets of the scene
shutters, who were managing the performance,
and not to harmonize the discordant Gle.
ments of the political system, in order to
present a united front in support Of the
"heritage of our fathers" "
But here we had Democrats and Be-men,
Old Line Wings and Republicans, and men
who have never taken any part in political
affairs, all differing widely upon the political
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people into parties, willing to forget--in this
dark hour of their nations peril-the bit
terness of their past political contests and
unite as friends of freedom, and lovers Of
Constitutional liberty, in expressions of de-
votion to the Union.
There is no mistaking tho character of this
convention, lit has made record that "he
who runs may read" No silence to be in
terpreted to suit both sides of the question,
no equivocal resolutions, that mean any
thing, or nothing, as parties see proper to
construe them, but plain, straightforward
platform, that says what it means, and means
what it says, and addresses itselfto the com
mon sense of every intelligent man that is
not entirely blinded by political bigotry or
partisan subserviency. ..
1t not only made plain record and a clear
platform, but it nominated men who are
known to be devoted Union men to stand
upon that platform, without stopping to in
quire what had been the political views Of
the candidates. If ever there was conven-
ton of men assembled in this county in
which the love of party was overruled by a
love Of country this was one. If ever there
was body of men assembled in which a
devotion to liberty and Union triumphed
over the feelings of the politician, twas this
one; and ifthis conviction does not so fasten
itself upon the minds Of the people of Bel
mont county as to secure their cooperation
in the triumphant election Of the candidates
selected by it, We will be free to admit that
we have been very much mistaken as to
their character for intelligence and patriot
ism.