The Kingwood chronicle. [volume] (Kingwood, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861, 1861-07-27

are 'submisssonists' and when they have
pronounced this word, they suppose they
have imputed to us the sum of all human
abasement. Well let it be confessed, We are
submissionists, and weak and spiritless as it
may be deemed BY some, we glory in the po-
sition We occupy. For example: the law says
Thou shalt not steal, We submit to this
law, and would not for the world ) worth rob
our neighbor Of his forts, his arsenals. his
arms, his munitions Of war, his hospital stores,
or anything that is his Indeed SO impressed
are we with the obligations of this law, that
We would no more think Of plundering from
our reighbor half i million Of dollars because
found in his unprotected mints than we
would think of filching purse from his
pocket III crowded thoroughfare Write US
i down therefore, submissionists. " Again:
The law says thou shalt not swear falsely
We submit to this law, and while in the civil Or
military seiyiee Of the country, with an oath
to support the Constitution of the United
| States resting upon our conscences we would
not for any consideration engage in the for
nation or execution of conspiracy to subvert
that very constitution and with it the govern
to which It mas given birth Write Us down
therefore, again 'submisslonists 4 ct again.
I When President has been elected in strict
accordance With the form and spirit Of the
Constitution, and has been regularly installed
into Office, and is honestly striving to dis
charge his duty BY snatching the Republic
from the jaws of gigantic treason which
threatens to crush it, we care not what his
name may or may not be, Of what the desig
nation Of political party, or what the platform
on which he stood during the Presidential
canvass; We believe We fulfill III the sight Of
earth and heaven our highest obligations to
our country, in giving to him all earnest and
loyal support ID the struggle in which he Is
engaged.
Nor are we at all disturbed BY the fippant
taunt that in thus submitting to the authority
Of our Government We are necessarily COW
ards We know whence this taunt comes
and we estimate it at its true value. We
hold that there is higher courage in the per
formance Of duty than in the commission Of
crime. The tiger Of the jungle and the can
nibal Of the South Sea Islands have that
courage in which the revolotionlsts Of the day
make their especial boast, the angels ofGod
and the spirits Of just men made perfect have
had, and have that courage which submits
/ to the laws Lucifer was a nOn-submission-
ist and the first Sccessionlst Of whom history
has given rs any account, and the chains
which he wears fifty express the fate due to
all who openly defy the laws Of their Creator
and their country He rebelled because the
Almighty would not yield to him the throne
Of Heaven The principle Of the Southern
rebellion Is the same Indeed, in this sub
mission to the laws IS found the chief dIstnc
ton between good men and devils A good
man obeys the laws Of truth, Of honesty, Of
morality, and all those laws which have been
enacted By competent authority for the GOV
ernlnent and protection of the country in
which H. lives. i devil obevs only Iii own
ferociouS and proaigate passions The prin
ciple On which this rebellion proceeds that
laws have ii themselves no sanctions no
i binding force upon the conscience, and that
every man, under the promptings Of interest
o. passion or caprice, may ~ viii, and hon
orahly, too, stike at the Government that
shelters him. Is one Of utter decentralization
and should be trolllen out ~ you would tread
+ on q spark that has fallen On the roof of your
Y dwelling 1t unchecked prevalence would
7 resolve society tochaps. and leave You with
out the slightest guarantee for life, liberty or
property 1t is time that. in their majesty
] the people Of the United States should make
/ known to the world that this Government in
its dignity and power, is something more
Y than moot court, and that the citizen who
makes war upon it i a traitor. not only in
theory but in fact, and should have meted
ont to him i traitors doom. The country
wants no blood sacrifices. but it must and
will have peace, cost what It may
! Mr. Holt then discusses the question Of
neutrality, as assumed be Kentucky In the
course Of his remarks on this point, he saws
There i not and cannot Be any neutral
ground for loyal people between their own
I Government, and those who at the head Of
armies, are menacing its destruction Your
inaetion is not neutrality, though you may
delude yourselves with the belief that il is %.
With this rebellion confronting you, when
/ you refuse TO cooperate actively with your
Government in subduing it, yon thereby con
| demn the Government and assume towards it
al attitude Of antagonism Your inaction is
..,de.-ao.,,ox,f &C fho rohollinn aud if