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

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who have plotted the fatal measure create
disaffection in the loyal States by throwing
themselves into the breach to defend their
rights, and calling upon them for support
| The comfy shown by the patriotic Legs
latures and other official representatives of
the States of Kentucky and Tennessee to the
state of Ohio, by their visit to this Capital
last winter, and the frank, concilatory and
magnanimous temper they displayed, would
Justify the Legislature Of Ohio in invoking
the Free States TO repeal all laws, If any
such there be, contaavshing the. rights which
their fellow citizens of the south justly claim
under the Constitution, and rely on Future
Congress, if it be not done by the present
one, Tor the abrogation Of whatever Is OBJ
noxious in the Fugitive Slave Act, and for
such amendments of it as will fully protect
the liberties of the citizens Of the free slater.
A like conciliatory course would be expect
cd Of the southern states, by the repeating Of
such of their laws as .connavene the consti-
tutional rights, Of the citizens Of the free
states With less the citizens of the free
will insist upon all their constitutional rights
in every state and territory of the confede-
I racy. These they cheerfully accord to the
mined to do no wrong, they will not content
eddy submit to any wrong unawed by threats
lthey demand the employment of all the con-
stitutional powers of the Federal Govern
i ment to maintain and preserve the Union.--
tRcjecting the whole theory of State secession,
as in palpable violation of the Constitution,
they cannot consent to the exercise of any
power under sanction. The integrity of the
Union, its onenessand indivisibility, must be
preserved. In the Union they will be as
scrupulously careful to protect the rights Of
the Slave as OF the Free States. Nay, more
Conscious oft their power, and regarding the
Union-a peaceable and fraternal Union
as the noblest legacy they can bequeath to
their posterity, they will cheerfully yield
everything to their brethren of the South
/ that may not disturb the harmony of the
Constitution and that may be consistent with
fright, justice, humanity and the demands of
a Christian civilization. But with treason
, against the Federal Government.they have
t no terms of compromise to make, none to
accept Against that they demand the en-
= forcement of the laws -,.n i4r -r.., i,
purposely avoid attaching any import
ance to the only other threatening conflict,
that relating to the establishing Of Slavery
in the remaining territory Of the United
, States, as all must see that that is settled by
q decree more potent than legislative enact
ments or judicial decisions. The opinion
declared by the Supreme Court, as claimed
, Jby the South, opensthese territories to sla-
very, and Territorial legislatures invite it,
: but the laws Of nature which operate on
slave production, combined with its laws
, which regulate emigration, interdict the ex-
istence OF slave institutions in the elevated
, regions now to be settled. The Kansas expe.
riment, made under the most favorable cir.
cumstances for the South that can exist, i,
conclusive on this subject. If.this were mol
, enough, the Overwhelming pub liz opinion
! pronounced in the late Presidential election
, must produce the conviction that the slavery
|, question, as connected with the remaining
territory of the United States, is foreyel
settled, and that the slopes of the Rocky
, Mountains, east and west, are reserved ex.
, clusively for free institutions. I1 -.
, AS member of the Confederacv. Ohio
D has vital interest in its preservation. With
: her vast capacities for development-aher
D great extent Of territory-her soil of mex
, haustable fcrtility-her salubrious climate
, her most boundless subterranean wealth.
8 her large manufacturing resources, and heI
: numerous ,tacilitics fbrR prosperous com
4 merce, added to the moral qualities of he]
|, people and the purity Of her civil institution,
( she feels that under the protection and fos
T tering care Of the Union, her material anc
: moral destiny would secure to her forever
) an equal rank among the most prosperou,
: and powerful States. Nor is this all He,
: citizens coming from all the States of the
t Confederacy to share her blessings and par
0 take of her fortunes, and bound to each O.
: them by the closest commercial relations
, she is attached to the Union by the double
|, ties Of consanguinity and interest. Loyal AZ
I she always has been to the Constitution, sb,
) will maintain her loyalty come what may. -
Speaking the language Of that great defender
! of the Constitution, her people say to the
, misguided people of the south, who are med
itating the overthrow OF the Government
" Be assured, be assured, that among oui
political sentiments the love of Union IS still
{ uppennost We will stand fast by the Con.
D stitution and by those who defend it. We
! rely on no temporaiy expedients, on no po-
litieal combination but We rely on the true
, the people, and the imperative decision of
, the public voict, Disorder and confusion
, indeed may arise scenes of commotion and
, contest are threatened, and perhaps NAV
, come. With our whole hearts we pray for
, the c,nt'nuancs Of the domestic peace and
/ quiet Of the country, We desire, most ar
IDENTIFY, the restoration Of affection and har-
mony to all its parts. We desire that every
citizen of the whole country may look to this
Government with no other sentiments but
those OF grateful respect and attachment
But we cannot yield, even to kind feelings
the cause Of the Constitution, the true glory
OF the country, aud the great trust which we
hold in our hands for succeeding ages. If
the Constitution cannot be maintained with
out meeting these scenes of commotion and
contest, however unwelcome, they must
come. We cannot, we must not, we dare
not omit to do that which, in our Judgment,
the safety of the Union requires. Not re-
gardless OF consequences, we must yet meet
!, consequences; seeing the hazards which sur,
round the discharge of duty, it must vet be-
discharged. For ourselves We shun no res
possibility in attempting to maintain the
cause. We are tied TO It by indissoluble
bands Of affection and duty, and we shall
lcheerfnlly partake in its fortunes and fate,
We are ready to perform our own appropri-
ate part whenever the occasion may call on
us, and To- take our chance among those up-
on when blows may fall first and fan thick
est We shall exert every faculty we posscss
in aiding TO prevent the Consultation from
being nullifed, destroyed or impaired. and