Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-01-17
WHO IS MORE GUILry,

passing events contemplating the dangers
that threaten the nation, its causes both re-
mote and immediate, we are all forced to
the conviction that much of our trouble is
consequent to mistrust on the part Of one
section and party toward another section and
party. We are also, forced to tho convic-
ton, that in great measure at least, this
mistrust is causeless. Under the benign in
Ausnce Of u common fraternity We might
for ages with ever yet increasing prosperity,
have sheltered beneath one flag, as one ma
ton, one people with but one interest but
SO desirable prospect is now clouded. Our
political horizon is darkened by the storm
cloud, which with increasing blaokness lpor-
tends but evil. Already the boom Of dis
tant cannon is heard echoing over the dis
NAL swamps Of Carolina The fires of civil
war are burning there. The uplifted dag
germ traitor hand, lie aimed at the nations
heart. Who sustains that dagger2 Who
holds up the hand Of the traitor? Is it only
him, who, with bitter hatred to all our insti
tutions wrankling in bis heart, seeks openly
the destruction Of the Government Who,
save him who stains his hands in his nation,
blood, deserves the ffown, yea, the curse Of
patriots2 Is it not him, who, with every
facility for information, and whose province
lis, to form and guide public opinion, and
who buries the patriot in the partisan so far.
as to sock every opportunity to add to the
distrust, and distroy the "fratemal feelings
which his lips professP Is itnot him, who
failing TO discourage, by the slightest insinu
alton the bold treason Of traitors, yet spend,
oil his strength to convince the public tha
they have just cause for rebeIlion2 L. it NO
him, who, would see all the laws Of the lane
trampled under foot, our Constitution spi
upon by traitors, aud our glorious Unior
scattered to fragments, rather than execut,
the law upon q partisan friend Then Capt
Heatoni '"Thou art the man" You neec
not shrink from the responsibility you hav,
taken upon yourself, you know your guilt
You publish the most violent abuse agains
your own section Of tho country, lmisstatinl
facts, and spreading the grossest falsehood
for partisan purposes alone. What othe
motive had you in publishing tho gross lii
about Gov. Dennison arming the negroes o
the Stato2 How come you 10 magnify ar
unarmed company of oolored Free Mason
(your brothers dear Captain) into band O.
abolitionsP What kind Of story will youl
Southern allies, the sooessionists, make oul
of that fabricatonP What splendid capita
to inaame the public mind and spread dis
trust? iN' hA -
-Whatothor, moro than the lowest par.
tisan motive, had you in publishing such
supreme exagerations Of tho Montgomery
raid In Kansas, scenes of blood, Of murder,
Of tho most inhuman and beastly licentious.
ness, sufficient to bring tho blush to the
savage cannibal Of tho South sea, :and then
coolly tell your readers that the great party
which has elected Lincoln sanctions tho deeds
Of Montgomery Is that what you call
"ro-ostablishing ffaternal feeling Are
you for the Union while you are yet making
wider tho breach dividing the different SEQ
tions2 Out upon such Unionsayersl You
stand with your party upon the brink Of tho
rubicon which separates you from power |;
you. see your party sinking before tho pop
ulaz will and your country, you strike,
that party and power may survive. b.ld
II Is such o. you who hold up the hands
Of the traitors who arc now plotting the
destruction Of this Government The peo-
plo in tho end viii hold all such to strict
account We may mijudgo your motives
in calling them partisan, but the results are
just As disastrous though you arc inooent,
and you, just Is dangerous 10 the public
good. Again we ask, who 10 morssuiltyf
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