Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-07-25

in support of the Government, in order that
the war may be terminated by prompt sup
preston Of the rebellion. The longer the
struggle continues, the fercer will be its
spirit, and the more fearful the waste of
1 life attending it. You, therefore, only ag-
gravate the calamity you deplore, by stand
ing aloof from the combat But again they
| say, I'VE cannot fight our brethren" In
deed But your brethren can fight you and
with good will, TOO Wickedly and wan
tonly have they commenced this war arainS
you and your institutions, and ferociously
are they prosecutingit it. They take no ac-
count of the fact that the massacre with
which they hope their swords will ere long
be clogged, must be the massacre of their
| brethren. However much we may bow our
heads at the confession, tits nevertheless true
that every free people that have existed.
have been obliged at one period or other of
their history to fight for their liberties
against traitors within their own bosoms, and
that people who have not the greatness of
soul thus to fight, cannot long continue to
be free, nor do they deserve 20 be 50.
! There is not and there cannot be any neu-
tral ground for loyal people between their
own Government and those who at the head
Of armies are menacing its destruction.
Your inaction is not neutrality, though you
may delude yourselves with the belief that
it is 30. With this rebellion confronting
you, when you refuse to cooperate actively
with your Government in subduing it, you
! thereby condemn the Government and as
sumo toward it an attitude of antagonism
Your inaction is virtual endorsement Of
the rebellion, and if you do not thereby give
to the rebels precisely that aid and comfort
spoken of in the Constitution, you certainly
afford them most powerful encouragement
and support. That they regard your pres
ent position as friendly to them, is proved
by the fact, that, in recent enactment Of
the Confederate Congress confscating the
debts due from their, own citizens to tho.e
OF loyal States, the debts due to the people
Of Kentucky are expressly excepted. Is not
this significant? Does it leave any room for
doubt that the Confederate Congress sup
, pose they have discovered under the guise
, OF your neutrality lurking sympathy fol-
r their cause which entities you to be treated
l as fr1ends, If not as active allies? Patriotic
, as was the purpose of her apprehensiye
statesmen In placing her in the anomalou;
, position she now occupies, it cannot be de-
f MED that kentucky, by her present attitude
: Is exerting potent influence in strengthen
e lng; the rebellion, and therefore false alike
4 to her loyalty and to her fame You ma!
: rest well assured that this estimate of you
neutrality is entertained by the true men o
}, the country in all the States which are ssus
: few weeks, how many Of those gallant vol
o unteers, who have left home and kindred ant
t all that Is dear to them, and are now unde
). SonthNrn sun, SsPo-ins thoon,ol-este to dcatl
S from disease ana 10 death from battle, an
: are accounting their Ives as morning IN th'
l. elfort Ihey are making lor the deliyerance
e your Govefnment ana thelfs now many o
It !hem nave nave saiu 10 me IN sSdness ana IN long
a ing, Mili h0I hentuGEy heip me hoV
. my soui woulu nave ieapeo could | nav
o answered prcIhRtiy; coHnuehtly, exultingiy
i? YES sne VIII Put when 1 thought
It thlS nee5rallty, my heart sank Within me
e anu oio NOT and coulu not IooK thes
o brave men IN the race. Anu yer could no
IT answer no. couiu u not crush myselI u
d the earth uhder the seil,aoasement OF such
o repiy therelprs saiq-ana my couhtr!
J. gustains me nope, trust; pray, nay
peneve' NentHcky VIII YET DO her duty.
= II TINS Government Is to De destroyed, asi
lr yourselves: are You Wiling IL shall De record
# ed IN history tha' hentucky stooa oy IN th'
J, greatness oi 1er strehgth ana Iiited not
g hand TO stay the cataS;trophe Ii 1t Is to o. o.
G sayedIas l verify believe It is|are You Will
o ing 1t snail be written that IN the lmmeasnre
g able glory which must attend the achieve
d ment kentucky had no part!
,r l Will only add, II hentucSy wishes tn
4, waters OF her beautiful Ohio to be dyed Il
~ blood II she wlsnes her harvest nelds nov
d waving lnthelr abundance; to be trample
ID under the feet OF hostile soldlery asa flower
" garden Is trampiedc beneath the threshlng
t OF the tempest II she wishes the home
4 where her Loved ones are now gathered !
| peace, INVADED by the proscrlptiye i1ry ~
ID military despotism, .sparing neither ilte n nc
e. property; II sre wishes the streets OF nc
n towns and cities grown with grass, and ti
oy steamboats, OF her rivers TO lie rotting at III
all wharves, then let her JON the Southei
" Contederacy. But II she would have Il
n bright waters OF that river How ON In the
nd gladness; If she would have her haryes
lin peacefully gathered to her garners; If 81
an would have the lullabies of her cradles az
as the songs OF her homes uninvaded by IL
lis cries and terrors otbattle; Il she would ha'
vn the streets OF her towns and cities again h
al ed with the hum and throngs OF busy trad
in and her rivers and their shores once mo
an vocal with the steamer whlstle--that a
ief them offreeand prosperous commerce-th
ar let her stand fast by the Stars and STRIPE
- and do her duty and her whole duty rs