Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-07-11
TERMS OF ADvE RTIsINc.


70 prosecute those who violated the laws ~
the United States and of Tennessee against
treason. The Union men Of East Tennessee.
anxious to be peutral in the contest, were
content to enjoy their own opinions and 10
allow the utmost latitude Of opinion and ac-
ton to those who differed from them. Had
the same federation prevailed in other parts
Of the State, we have no doubt that n ma
jorlty OF our people would have voted 70 re.
main in the Union. But, if this view Is or.
roneous, we have the land. as Wa
think much better, right to remain IN ths
government Of the United States, than the
other division of Tennessee have to secede
from it. >Ns
We prefer TO remain attached to the Gov.
ernment Of our fathers. The Constitution
OF the United States has done us no wrong
The Congress ofthe United States has pass.
ed no law 70 oppress us. The President of
the United States has made no threat apa;nt
the law abiding people of Tennessee. Under
the Government Of the United States, we
have enjoyed as nation more of civil and
religious freedom than any other people nm.
der the whole heaven. We believe there
Is no cause for rebellion or secession on the
part OF the people of Tennessee. None was
assigned BY the Legislature in the miscalled
Declaration, OF Independence No adequate
cause can be assigned. The select com
mittee Of that body asserted a gross and in.
excusable talsehood in that address to the
people Of ofTennessee when tbev declared that
the Government of the United States bas
made war upon them. The secession cause
has thus far been sustained BY deception and
talsehood; by falsehoods as to the action OF
Congress; by false dispatches as to battles
that were never fought and victories that
where never won the false accounts as to
the President; by false representations as to
the views of the Union men, and BY false
gretenses as to the facility with which the
Secession troops would take possession of
the Capitol and capture the highest officers
Of the Government.
Ihe cause oil secession or rebellion has mn
charms for us, and It's progress has been
markell by the most alarming and dangerous
attacks upon the public liberty. In other
States, as well as our own, its whole course
threatens to annihilate the last vestige of
freedom. While peace and prosperity have
blessed US IN the Government of the United
states, the following may be enumerated as
some of the fruits of secession.
1t was urged forward by members Of Con-
gress who were sworn to support the Con-
stitution of the United States, and were
themselves supported by the government;
1t was effected without consultation with
all the States interested in the slavery oues-
ton, and without exhausting peaceabIe reme-
dies
1t has plunged our country into evil war,
para yzed our commerce, interfered with the
whole trade and business of our country,
lessened the value our property, destroyed
many of the pursuits Of life, and bids fair
to involve the whole countryiu irretrieyable
bankruptcy and ruin;
1t has changed the entire relations of
States and adopted constitutions without
submitting them to the vote of people, and
where such vote has been on the condition
prescribed by Senator Mason that those who
voted the Union ticket must leare the
.Stote."
1t has advocated a constitutional mon
archy, King and a Dictator, and is through
the Richmond press, at this moment, re-
commencing to the Convention in Virginia
restriction of the right of suffrage and sin
severng connection with the Yankees to-
abolish erery restige of resemblance to the t,-
Stitutions Of that detested race
Il has formed military leagues, passed
military bills and opened the door for op-
pressive taxation. without consulting the
people and then, in mockery of free elec.
ton, has required them by their votes to
sanction its usurpations under the penalties
OF moral prescription or at the point of the
! bayonet.
1t has offered premium for crime in di-
recting the discharge Of Volunteers from
criminal prosecutions and in recommending
the Judges not to hold their Courts;
1t has stained our statute books with the
rIepudiation Of Northern debts and has great
ly violated the Constitution by attempting,
through its unlawful extension, to destroy
the right of suffrage;
1t has called upon the people in the State
OfGeorgia, and may soon require the people
OF Tennessee, to contribute all their surplus
cotton corn, wheat, bacon, beef, &C., to the
support of pretended government alike des-
titute of money and credit;
II has attempted to destroy the account.
ability of public servants to the people by
secret legislation and has set the obligation
of an oath at defiance;
1t has passed laws declaring it treason to
say or do any thing in favor OF the Govern
ment Of the United States, or against Con
federate States, and such law is now be.
fore, and We apprehend will soon be pass
ed by the Legislature of Tennessee;
1t has attempted to destroy, and. we fea,
soon, utterly PROSTATE the freedom Of speech
and ofthe press;
1t has involved the Southern States in a
war whose success is hopeless, and which
must ultimately lead to the ruin of the
people,;
Its bigoted, overbearing and intoleran
spirit has already subjected the people Of
East Tennessee to many petty grievances
our peopl have been insulted; our flags have
been fired upon and torn down; our house
have been rudely entered, our families sub
jected to Insult; our peaceable meetings in
terrupted; our women and children shot a
> by a merciless sodiery; our towns pillaged
!, our citizens robbed and some Of them assas
: sinated and murdered
No effort has been spared to deter tn,
9 Union men of East Tennessee from the ex
preston of their free Thoughts. The penal
, ties of treason have been threatened agains
: them, and murderand assas .ination have beer
i openly encouraged by leading secession jour,
mails. As secession has been thus overbearine
|. and intolerant while in the minority in Eas
q Tennessee, nothing better can be expected
: of the pretended majority than wild, uncon
II stitutional and oppressive legislation; al
= utter contempt and disregard Of law; de
! i termination to force every Union man in tn,
= State to swear to the support of Constitu
Z ton he abhors, to yield his money and pro