Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-10-03
AN ANTI.WAR PARTY.

down rebellion. An open and davowed inten-
ton of their designs, on the part of the
leaders, would prove fatal to their plans I;
yet, 20 great were the difficulties in organiz-
ipga disloyal party, that scarcely number
oftheir organ, the Gazette and Citizen, issued
from the press but it contained the mo,t un.
misiakablc evidence of their nefarious de-
signs. @ L. yallandigham, NJ G. from
the Dayton District, was to be their leader
the only disloyal member Of Congress from
Ohio. He was pu6od up by tho Gazette
as "the proudest man in America Since
the Extra Session of Congress Mr.. Vallan-
digbam has spent much of bis time in Ken
lucky, in company with Mr. John G. Breck.
inridge, trying to force that State out Of the
Union; and as a token Of regard for his
character and services in the Secession
cause, they named one of the 6rst Rebel
Camps established in Kentucky, Camp
Vallandigham. We are thus particular in
showing the character and position Of this
recreant son Of Ohio, that the people of
Belmont county may see at glance the true
position Of this anti-war movement in this
county. The lamented Douglas, the great
leader ofthe Democratic party in the Loyal
States, must be cast aside, and his name be
forgotten, on account Of his loyal position,
boldly taken, to stand up in support of the
Government in all its efforts to put down
rebellion and save the Union as, also, the
names Of Dix, Holt, Dickinson Hallett, Ev-
orett, Tod, and host of othcrs--all to be
cast aside to make room for Vallandgham
Secession n-sympathizing party in Belmont
county.
| The masses Of the Douglas party, as well
as those who supported Bell and Everett,
are loyal, and can only be entrapped by tho
most cunning device into this Secession
snare. This device is being resorted to, and,
no doubt, will be successful with some good
Union men. To make their success with
this class more certain, they claim to be
good Union men, and not opposed to a
Constitutional prosecution of this war
but the acts ofthe President, they say, are
unconstitutional, and they must oppose the
whole war policy Of the Administration, for
fear Of military despotism-for fear the
rights offrec speech and free press will be
invaded. The rights, for instance, of a
traitor to commit treason.
While the two papers which arc the or
Cans Of this anti-war party in this county
are dealing heavy blows against the "uncon-
stitutional war policy of the Government,
they arc equally active in throwing every
impeachment in the way of raising men or
money for the service. Let not this be de-
MED, for We find, over and over, in these
Secession sympathizing journals the declar-
ations that this is ''Lincoln's war;" San
Abolition war, "a war to free tho slaves"
&c, &C., copied, almost rerbotin,, from the
South Carolina and Mississippi Secession
papers. And witness, in tho last issues Of
those papers, the bitterness with which they
attack the late act of Congress making pro-
vision for tho collection of a direct tax of
$50, 900, 600 for the support of the war
How can war be prosecuted without men,
and how can men be obtained armed,
and supported without money? But these
sympathizers don't attack openly. They say
this is an abolition war and this tax is
unjust and unequal and that tho country
will be ruined if this war continues much
longer, real estate pays more than
its share of this One and Half Millions. =
They thus appeal to the cupidty the pro-
periy holder in order to clog the wheels of
the Government at every turn; and, to make
their assaults more fatal, they Intentionally
ervert the truth by Withholding from their
readers the most important part Of the Act
that part which authorizes tho State to fix
its own basis, and collect its quota sin its
own way and manner" and retain Is per
cent. for collecting and paying over. 1t
would not do to tell the truth. 1t would
destroy their power for deception, and force
them to an opeu avowal of their plans,-
which would be equivalent to defeat.
But, have we not further testimony as to
the doctrines and plans Of this anti.war par
ty? Leading Democrats, who arc loyal to
the Constitution and Union, and whose char.
acters arc above reproach, inform us that the
plans Of this anti-war party were detailed to
them by leading members Of the party, in
st. Clairsville, early in tho past summer,
which were these: The Federal forces should
be withdrawn from the field, and the Union
dissolved, That would bring peace; and,