Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-10-03
.Iiht GhrunitGt.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE:
Thursday Morning, oct. 3.
TO THE UNION DEMOCRATS OF
r9. BELMONT COUNTY.


TO THE UNION DEMOCRATS OF
''a BELMONT COUNTY.
The country of our fathers is threatened
with destruction. The public mind is agita-
ted with fears for the future Of this mighty
Republic; and in the midst of the great
crisis through which we are passing all eyes
are eagerly turned toward the unrolling page
Of History, to ascertain, if possible, from
its daily notipgs what the issue of this great
contest will be; whether Constitutional Lib
erty is able to Withstand the assaults of the
madly ambitious and this terrible onslaught
of reasonable revolution. and come out of
the ordeal as gold tried in the fire: Or
whether the Government established by the
wisdom and patriotism of WASHINGTON and
the heroes Of the Revolution, and baptized
in the tears and blood of our fathers
whether this great experiment of sclf-gov-
ernment, upon the successful issue of which
the oppressed of all land, have looked as the
hope of the world whether the institutions
Of Freedom. from which we have obtained all
our greatness at home and abroad, and
through the influence of which we have en-
joyed all our blessings, are about to prove
failures. and this grand and glorious heritage
OF our fathers, through our infdelity and
want Of patriotism, about to 60 down
forever .s. ..........
In such a contest as this, in which all our
social, religious and political enjoyments are
threatened, is it possible that there are men
| in our midst SO lost to every sense of patri-
otism that they would, even at the risk of
losing all these blessings, seek to distract
the people of this country by forcing upon
them the discussion of party issues for the
purpose OF dividing them, in orderthat their
destruction may be the more certain and fear
ful. Unreasonable as this proposition may
appear, we think it is susceptible of proof
and we usk you, as honest men. as lovers
oflibcrty, as patriots-for We have no doubt
of the loyalty and patriotism of the great
body of the Democratic party--to divest
yourselves, rs fur rs possible, of the party
prejudice that, to some extent, influence
the action of most men, and let US reason
together upon this subject. .... I.... ...
Why was it that your leaders went into
the Charleston Convention resolved not tc
compromise the differences of opinion thai
existed amongst them? Why was it that
the radical men Of your party, in that con
vention. would agree to no settlement Of the
questions upon which that convention divi
ded? Ponder these questions WELL for by
reason Of the facts they contain. the result,
that grow out of the division indicated by
them, these men have been supplied will
the arguments, however fallacious, they ar,
using to show the causes of our presen
difficulties IafH
We would call your attention, however
to events Of a more recent date, as our OBJ
ject is to ascertain the more recent an,
present position of the nien who assume tt
be the leaders of what they are pleased t.
call the Democratic Union party" and t.
show the relation they sustain to the pres
ent contest, and the influence they are WELD
ing at home and abroad, in the issu
through which we are passing. And W
ask you to say, afteryou have gone CAREFUL
through them, whether these men love thei
country or their party most, and upon whicl
side Of this great question they are wieldin
. the greatest influence.
r In the month OF January last, after sever
I al States had seeded and conventions ha
been called in every Southern State for tn
avowed purpose Of withdrawing from III
Union these would be leaders held conven
ton at Columbus, over which their prese,
candidate for Governor, HUGH j. JEwETl
was called to preside, who, on taking tn
chair, is reported in the Gazette as havin
J.. spoken with great effect ION the wILDNEs
and wICKEDNEss of adopting warlike urea
+ ures to keep the Union together, in prefe
:. ence to cementing and preserving it b
peaceful concessions" &C.; and that CONVEX
: tion passed the following:
Rcsolred, That the Two Hundred Thou
7 and Democrats ofOhio send, to the people
the United States, both North and Soutl
greeting: that when the people of the Mort
shall have fulfilled their duty to the const
tuition and the South-then, and not ii
$. then, will il be proper for them to take il
la to consideration the question of the rigl
s. and propriety Of coercion. '''
Powerful addresses were made in suppo
ofthe resolution ny itanney, Medary, Cart
= and Thurman and, in the language of ii
y Gazette, ut was finally passed by an av
z lanche Of voices in its favor and but thr,
solitary votas in the negative And Il
Gazette said in relation TO this conventic
that it "def'aes the position Of the t,oo hl
dred thousand Democrats Of Ohio on d
subject of COERCION ~
These proceedings were published in 1
the disunion papers Of the South, and VIII
must have been their infuence7 b
b About the same time the 'sympathisers
oi with the South metin the city Of New Yor
'ai and, in the name of the Democratic part
nj passed the tollowiDg:
ii Rsso[red, That we are frulu and ,f,ae