Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-08-15
Unconditional Union Ticket
CHANGE OF SENTIMENT.

We have heard and read lately from
certain quarter great deal about change
in public sentiment upon the present war
question. Small meetings of disaffected
persons have been magnifed into great Mass
Meetings and peace conventions, and steady
efforts have been made by the opponents of
the war policy to convince the people that
the apparently universal sentiment in favor
Of coercion" manifested after the fall of
Sumter il fast giving way before an increas
ing desire for peace and compromise; and
these men may, because the wish is father
TO the thought, flatter themselves they are
succeeding in convincing the people that
such change Of sentiment is really taking
place. If they 80 think, they will find,
when they read Alright the actions, he feel
ings, that give evidence of the trle state of
public sentiment, they have mistaken the
change from talkative and clustering enun-
citation, to deep-seated purpose aud deter
niaation, that manifest themselves only in
action, for change of sentiment in favor of
peace.
There is change of sentiment constant
ly going on in the country on this question;
but it is not in the direction TINT these
"sympathisers" would have us believe. -
Themen who have been crying peace! peace
compromise compromise are fast learn
ing tho true character of this contest, and
are becoming convinced that there is, and
has been since it commenced but two ways
by which 1t can be settled division of the
Union, and the recognition of the South
ern Confederacy, or the suppression of thu
rebellion by the strong arm Of power. Either
method must result in war. Separate
the country and run an imaginary line be-
tween two Governments as. diverse in in
terest and institutions as the advocates of
Southern Confederacy would have you be-
liee the North and South are, and how
long would it be until along the whole divid-
ing Gne between the two Governments, the
armies Of tho two Republics would be ar.
rayed in deadly hostility against each other
To continue, not for o month, or year, or
five years; but until one or the other of the
two Governments should be ''su,h.SatnI. "
Peace, therefore, means war,--and compro.
mise means disunion, and perpetual conflict.
1t Is not to be wondered at, then, that in
choice OF evils the people should be in favor
OF that one that promises somo grand result.
In choice Of war they should be in favor
OF one tor the preservation of the Con-
stitution and the Union, rather than
one that will grow out of their subyer-
sion and destruction; and hence it is
that this change Of sentiment is going ON
among those who few months ago were
the most bitter in thcir opposition to tho
war. 1t is but short time since conven-
tion met in Columbus & passed resolutions in
which they represented the 200, 900 Demo-
Gratis Of Ohio as sending greeting to their
Southern brethren A convention of the
same party has met and Resolved,
sih Thai the volunteer soldiers who at the call of
their county promptly went forth do bue in defense
have been compelled 10 tight under In. Speriensed on,
cers ars enluvd hearty thanks the gallant man
ner in which they have discharged their duties
A praiseworthy change of public senti-
ment, if il is not what the Democratic
Standard, Of Delaware county, calls it-a
Masked Battery even if it is, the
passage Of that resolution, as matter of
policy, indicates clearly that change Of
sentiment has taken place, since the issue
of the above Greeting"
There are many other indications of
change Of sentiment that might be referred
to, to prove that, in spite of the great cry
made by the anti-war journals and men
about violations Of the Constitution"
"ihmense national debt, military despot-
ism" corruption Of the Administration,
crushing taxation, &C., the people are
fast arraying themselves on the side of the
Government, and taking strong position in
favor Of the vigorous prosecution of the
war; but we shall refer to but one other.
1t is a well known fact that the New York
Express, s,-the text book Of the anti,war
journals--has been one Of the most bitter in