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

theory butt in fact, and should have meted
out to him traitors doom. The country
wants no bloody sacrifices, but it must and
will have peace, cost what it may.
Before closing desire TO say few words
on the relations Of Kentucky to the pending
rebellion, and as we are all Kentuckians
here together tonight, and as this is purely
family matter, which concerns the honor Of
US all, hope we may be permitted 10 speak
TO each other upon it with entire freedom.
| shall not detain you with observations on
the hostile and defiant position assumed by
the Governor Of your State. In his reply
to the requisition made upon him for vol
unteers under the proclamation Of the Pres
ident, he has, in my judgment, written and
finished his own history, his epitaph inclu-
ded and it sprobable that in future the world
will little concern itself as to what his excel
lency may propose to do, or as to what he
may propose not to do. That response has
made for Kentuckya record that has already
brought a burning blush to the cheek of
many Of her sons, and is destined to bring
it to the cheek of many more in the years
which are to come. It's shame, indeed a
crying shame, that State with 50 illustrious
a past should have written for her by her
own chief magistrate, a page of history so
utterly humliating as this. But your Leg
islature have determined that during the
present unhappy war the attitude of the
State shall be that of strict neutrality, and
it is upon this determination that wish re-
spectfully, but frankly to comment. As the
motives which governed the Legislature were
doubtless patriotic and dconservative, the con-
clusion arrived at cannot be condemned as
dishonorable. still, in view of the manifest
duty of the State and of possible results,
cannot but regard it as mistaken and false,
and one which may have fatal consequences.
Strictly and legally speaking, Kentucky must
go out of the Union before she can be neu-
tral. Within it she is necessarily either
| faithful to the Government Of the United
States, or she is disloyal to it. If this crutch
Of neutrality upon which her well-meaning
but illjudging politicians are halting, can
find any middle ground on which to rest, il
has escaped my researches though | have
diligently soughtit. Neutrality, in the sense
of those who now use the term, however
patriotically designed il, in effect, but 6
snake in the grass of rebellion and those who
handle it, will sooner or later feel its fangs
Said one who spake as man neverspake, ''ht
who is not with us is against u.s." and o
none of the conflicts which have arisen be
IlIWeeH ilieil DelWtell ndtlOIls, COulu tHlS Dt
(more .truthfully said, than of that in which
1Nre now involved. Neutrality necessari
'ly implies Indifference. Is Kentucky indif
ferent to the issues of this contest? Has she
indeed nothing at stake? Has she no com
pact with her sister States to keep, no plight
ed faith to uphold. no renown to sustain, n
glory to win? Has she no horror of tha
crime of crimes now being cbmmittod againn
us by that stupendous rebellion which ha
arisen like n tempest cloud in the South ?
i We rejoice to know that she is still mem
ber of this Union, and as such she has tn
same interest in resisting this rebellion, tina
each limb of the body has in resisting
poignard whose point is aimed at the heart
\ 1t is her house that is on fire has she Il
interest in extinguishing the conhagration
) Will she stand aloof and announce hersel
neutral between the raging flames and tn
brave men who are periing their lives t
subdue them? Hundreds of thousands @
citizens of other Statesmen of culture an
character, of thought and of toll men VIII
have deep stake in life and an intense ar
probation of its duties and responsibilities
who know the worth of this blessed Gov
ernment of ours, and donot prize even thei
, own blood above it-l say, hundreds c
thousands of such men have left their homes
their workshops, their offices, their countin
houses, and their fields, and are now ralyin
about our flag, freely offering their all t
sustain it, and, 81 ce the days that crusadin
\ Europe threw its hosts upon the embattle
4 plains of Asia no deeper or more earnest {
grander sp rit has stirred the souls of mel
i than that which now sways those might
4 masses whose cleaning banners are destine
! ere long to make bright again the earth an
q sky of the distracted South. Can Kentuck
!, look upon this sublime spectacle of patriD
< ism unmoved, and then say to herself: .
x will spend neither blood nor treasure, but
h will shrink away while the battle RACES, ar
:. after it has been fought and won, will r
i turn to the camp, well assured that if | ca
\. not claim the laurels, will at least enjc
\. the blessings of the victory?" Is this
i that remains of her chivalry ?-of the chi
# airy of the land of the Shelbys, the job
i. sons, the Aliens, the Clays. the Adairs, al
" the Daviscs? Is there Kentuckian with
= the sound of my voice tonight, who C
~ hear the anguished cry of his country,
70 she wrestles and writhes in the folds of IL
m gigantic treason, and then lay himself doy
10 10 upon his pillow with this thought of neutr,
at ity, without feeling that he has something
m ,e his bosom which stings him worse tn
il would an adder? Have we, within the br
r. r. period of eighty years, descended so
ii from the mountain nights on which o
h. fathers stood, that already, in our degen
m acy, we proclaim our blood too precious, 0
ha treasure too valuable to be devoted TO t
re- preservation of such Government as thi
air They fought through a seven years war wi
ed the greatest power on earth for the hor
to for the bare hope OF being able to found d
,le Republic, and now that it is no lougera ho
n. nor an experiment but glorious real
nd which has excited the admiration and I
nd homage of the nations, and has covered
h with blessings as. the waters cover the chi
ws nels of the sea" have we, their children
N. years of toll, of sacrifice, and of battle ev'
on if need be, to give to save it Fl,
vii absolute destruction at the hands of N
'te who stepped in guilt, are perpetrati
re. against us and humanity crime, for whit
,es ,e | verify believe, the blackest page of ,
,n' history of the world $ darkest period T
be nshes no parallel? Can it be possible Il
az m in the history of the American people,
he have already reached point of degener'
nj. 80 low, that the work Of Washington .
% Isn Franklin, of Adams and Jefferson, of Fl
@ ,.s cock and Henry, is to be overthrown by
,n. m morally begrimed and pigmied conspirat
etv M who are now tugging at its foundations? :?
he would be the overturning of the Andes
ro. I the miserable reptiles that are crawling
n 81 . l.