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

of arms the officer, when dragging him TO
the prison, the penitentiary, or the gallows,
he is thereby fighting for the independence
he has thus declared and advocated; and
such is the condition OF the conspirators OF
the South at this moment It's no longer a
question of Southern rights, which have
never been violated, nor OF security ofSouth-
ern institutions, which we know perfectly
well have never been interfered with by the
General Government, but it is purely with
US a question Of national existence. In
meeting this terrible issue which rebellion
has made up with the loyal men Of the coun-
try, we stand upon ground infinitely above
all party lines and party platforms--ground
as sublime as that on which our fathers
stood when they fought the battles of the
Revolution. l am for tkroving into this
contest thus forced upon US all the material
and moral resources and energies Of the ma
ton in order that the struggle may be brief
and as little sanguinary as possible. 1t is
hoped that we shall soon see in the field hall
a million of patriotic volunteers, marching
in columns which will be perfectly irresisti-
Bile, and, borne in their hands-for no pur-
pose Of conquest or subjugation, but of pro-
lection only-we may expect within nine
months to see the stars and stripes floating
in every Southern breeze, and hear going
up, wild as the storm, the exultant shout OF
that emancipated people over their deliver
ance from the revolutionary terror and des-
potism by which they are now tormented
and oppressed. The war, conducted on such
a scale will not cost exceeding four hundred
millions of dollars; and we should not be
startled at the vastness of this expenditure.
The debt thus created will press but slight.
ly upon us; it will be paid and gladly paid
by posterity, who will make the best
bargain which has been made since the world
began if they can secure to themselves, in
its integrity and blessings, suchtrgoveinment
us this, atsuch cost. But if in this antici-
patton We are doomed to disappointment
if the people Of the United States have al
rea ly become SO degenerate-may not say
so ctaven-in the presence of their foes a:
to surrender up this Republic to be dismem III.
bered and subverted by the traitors who
have reared the standard ofrevolt against it.
then trust the volume of American histo
ry will be closed and sealed up forever and
that those who shall survive this nationa
humiliation will take unto themselves somt
other name-some name having no relation
to the past, no relation to our great ahces
tors, no relation to those monuments ant
battle-felds which commemorate alike thei
heroism, their loyalty and their glory.
But with the curled lip of scorn we arr
told by the disunionistst that in thus support
ing Republican Administration in its en-
deavors to uphold the constitution and laws
we are 'submissionists, and when the,
have pronounced this word they suppos
they have imputed to us the sum Of all hu
man abasement. Well, let it be confessed
we are "submissionists, and weak anC
|, spiritless as it may be deemed by some, w
glory in the position we occupy. For ex
, ample, the law says, Thou shalt not steal;
we submit to this law, and would not, 70
the world worth, rob our neighbor of hi
forts his arsenals, his arms, his munition
of war, his hospital stores, or anything tina
is his. Indeed, so impressed are we wit
the obligations of this law, that we would II
-. more think of plundering from our neighbo
half million of dollars because found i
one of his unprotected mints than we woul
, think Of filching purse from his pocket i
crowded thoroughfare. Write us down
, therefore, ''submissionists. Again: Th
) law says, Thou shalt not swear falsely !;
; we submit to this law, and while in the civ
or military service of the country, with Il
oath to support the Constitution of tn
S United States resting upon our conscience
: we would not for any earthly consideration
4 engage in the formation or execution of
| con ,piracy to subscrt that very Constitution
s and with it the Government which it h,
|, given birth. Write us down therefore agai
l. "submissionists Yet again When
: President has been elected in strict accor,
ance with the forms and spirit Of the Coz
= stitution, and has been regularly installe
| g, 10
is charge his duty by snatching the republ
;, from the jaws of a gigantic treason whic
n threatens to crush it; We care not what h
e name may be or what the designation of h
l. political party, or what the platform on whi(
5, he stood during the Presidential canvas
10 We believe we fulfill in sight Of earth al
b heaven our highest obligations to our cou
d try, in giving him an earnest and loyal su
t. port in the struggle in which he is engage
I, Nor are we at all disturbed by the flippa
y taunt, that in thus submitting to the autho
st ty of our Government we are necessar
o. towards. We know whence this taunt CONT
lie and we estimate it at its true value.
j. hold that there is higher. courage in t
lie performance of duty than in the commissi
u of crime. The tiger of the jungle and t
ne cannibal of the South Sea Islands have tl
tn courage in which the revolutionists OF t
on day make their especial boast The ang
of God and the spirits Of just men made p
en- feet have had, and have that courage whi
n submits to the laws Lucifer was non-sl
"a missionist, and the first Secessionist Of whit
all history has given us any account; and
to chains which he wears titly express the Fl
ID, due to all who openly defy the laws of tn
70 Creator and of their country. He rebel
le- because the Almighty would not yield
on him the throne OF heaven. The princ
cts of the Southern rebellion is the same.
we deed, in this submission to the laws is fou
ud the chief distinction between good men a
zen devils A good man obeys the laws of tru
he of honesty, of morality, and all those Ia
of which have been enacted by competent
ON thority for the government and protect
nd of the country in which he lives; a de
en- obeys only his own ferocious and protlig
,us passions. The principle on which this
- bellion proceeds, that laws have in themsel
&c no sanctions, no binding force upon the c
of science, and that every man, under
i'd promptings of interest or passion, or capri
on may at will, and honorably too, strike at
to Government that shelters him, is one Of
in ter decentralization, and should be trod
snt out as you would tread out spark that
ors fallen on the roof of your dwelling Its
=. checked prevalence would resolve soc
gh- into chaos, and leave you. without
eby slightest guarantee for life, liberty or