Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-01-31
unien Meeting.

no people of Mbhroe county assembled 10
at the Court House, in Woods,
cid, on Saturday the 10th day Of January,
SOL, at 2 O'Clock p. M. An parts Of the
ounty, aud all parties, were fully represen-
ed, and the. house as soon, completely
lied. Jlt ! HtytMO Nv I 2
John w. 0key was appointed Chairman,
ind Warren Nolister Secretary. Rev,
J James Hedaen5 ,.king present, offered an
appropriate and earnest prayer. The Chair
man, after thanking the Convention for the
honor conferred ih calling him to preside,
addressed the Convention as follows:
am glad to see so many citizens ofmy
native country assembled in convention,
Great questions distract the country Wei
are in the midst of a Revolution. State af-
ter State has passed Ordinances of Secession,
Withdrawing from the Union; and although
it may not be admitted that they are thereby
out of the Confederhcy, yet all must admit
that the danger of dissolution is imminent.
Not one ofus, apprehend, ever believed
that it is in the power of the citizens of this
county, unaided, to stay this Revolution for
a moment. 70 We are far removed from the
busy marts there is not large town with
in our limits, nor one of great commercial
Importance in any adjoining county. The
Ohio skirts ouf <astern border, but our com
manicat;on si6s sis,ss imperfect, that il is
almost uselssste this section; and We have
not within our limits railroad, canal, turn
pike, nor any important line of travel
Our immediate interest in the great ques-
ton, whether the Union shall be preserved,
may, therefore, not be equal to that of more
exposed parts Of the county. Secluded, as
we are, our influence in effecting settlement
may indeed be small Butwe must remem
ber that this question has an Importance be
yond all others, and in that question oul
ultimate interest must be regarded equal t.
that of any other section. And while il
this contest between law and anarchy, ou
voice may be feeble, can any one doubt tina
we ought to exert it to our utmost for s.
great and glorious purpose as that of re
storing peace to the eeountry? t
1t has been said, I know, that by aieh
meeting VIC cannot effect anything. b
apathy like that MUST the Union fail, If "a!
it must. ! 3Ofcodfse nothing that can be don
here Observation-Disclosures anything thu
, will be done elsewhere can save the cour
try. But when. alawyer urges the comp,
tency oflan item Of evidence, he docs nc
feel it necessary to insist that it will prov
: his case he contents himself with shown
that Intends to prove the matter in ISSUE
! SO in this great trial, which must finally |
sent to tho country, the question with ,
0 ought not to be- Can We save the Union
|, but, Will our efforts tend in any degree
save it2 sopi tg ee B.. .fi i,r ID
4 1t would be out Of place, in these prelii
IS mary remarks, to enumerate the steps viii,
o have been taken towards Revolution, or
\ speak of the settlement that ought to
4 made, orto discuss,at length the effects u
q on the country, II NE fail to make q peacei
settlement - would be more appropl
ate after.ithe coming in of the report Of
!. committee But Twill not probably addre
the convention hereafter, and thereto
hope that may be INDUCED with one or t,
!, reflections. 4 t.U arfl ..lll
Much has been said about tho renditi
d of fugitive slaves,and fngitives from justic
s. slavery in the District of Columbia, and d
slave trade. But, plainly, there is no Sc
GUS difficulty on these subjects. They may
settled, in my qpinions satisfactorily to bo
! sections, at any thine. Again, feeling
, insecurity has been engendered at the Sou
n by reason ofthe election of Mr. Lincoln.
# But that, ! trust, will disappear when
! !, tells us, officially, how he will administ
q q the government The real difficulty is
regard to slavery in the Territories. IT
n people of the SQuthare nearly unanimous
!, the belief that -ns6yare entitled, under 4
% Constitution, to go with their slaves into
le the Territories, and hold them there as pre-
is erty. A large majority in the North,
4 would appear from the late election, belle
! that slavery Ia the creature of positive Ia
81 and that the Constitution does not lend
any support in the Territories. Unless
10 are prepared to say that there shall be
- - compromise on that question, unless,
e. are prepared to say that there shall be ma
10 between the two sections a fair comprom
ID with respect to slavery in the Territories,
y y Il is idle to talk Of settlement or Of Unit
= But what ought To- be done, or what
,tr ought to propose or recommend, will I
ne embarrass the actisn of the convention
- attempting to discuss. ear .no.e 81
is Gentlemen, Iurge upon you TO lay asid
ID forone day, al party ties. Some perst
rs present may tllik that all those troubles
~ ~ brought upon qSby the election Of Mr. L
hc coin. Others wiILattdbute them 10 the
no efficiency or erforsof tho present administ
i'll ton. In neither case can we remedy I
evil Let us not inquire, to-day, whetl
Of our action willbe consistent with the pl
to forms we have supported, but what will
q for the welfare Of thewhole country, and
~ ~ those who shakl come after us Let the
a. quiry De, What ought to be done in I
"A IL