Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-06-12
A Word TO the President.
Lffom the NashviIle Union, ist i

Would that our feeble voice were poten
enough to drown for moment the din which
nils the Presidential mansion, that we nigh
make few truthful and serious words rims
IN the ears OF him in whose hands il placed
the mighty charge Of ruling this republic.
Ihe words which we shall speak will be re.
echoed from the lips OF every thorough, en-.
crgetic, unconditional Union ma n in Tennes.
see and Kentucky. We tell the Presidcn,
then that in regard to the measures " be
employed to crush out this unholy rebellion
speedily and utterly, the people are far in
advance Of most of their rulers. Plain men
who pay no attention to the ambagcs, quib-
bles and hair-splitting arguments on con.
stitutIoDal powers, OF u special pleader, and
who don't vains all the fine rhetoric in the
world a straw, unless il arrives at a valuable
practical result, wonder why Il IS that no
torious traitors whose hands are black with
robbery, and red with murder, are let looss
ON parole Of honor By our Government, and
that other traitors who are now, all through
the Border Slave States, holding midnight
meetings in the Lodges of the Knights OF
the Golden Circle, 10 aid guerrilla chiefs in
ravaging the country, and to point out to
them their Union neighbors who are active.
" loyal, as object of vengeance, are allowed
by the Government to live unmoested.
Yes, Incredible as it may appear TO sem
sible men abroad, it il nevertheless true that
In Louisville, in Nashville, and in other
Southern cities now held by the Federal
Government, traitors boldly proclaim their
insulting and outrageous sentiments, express
their hope Of speedy return of the rebel
army, pray for a guerrilla invasion. and
exult like devils at tidings of reverse TO
the loyal arms, and the butchery of our
wounded soldiers in the streets of a perfidi-
Gus town. 1t is so We have heard it
We know it. You cannot auench the fire
OF rebellion BY pouring oil upon its flames.
Whenever its flames burst out or even ia
glowing embers still sparkle with i'll lrepress-
ed rage beneath the gray ashes of seeming
acqulescence but real opposition, the fire
must be quenched-in blood if need. be. or
else We all shall perish in a general contia-
grafton. Are the lives of the rebels to be
put in the balance against the lives of the
loyal? Is the existence of traitor to be
tolerated when it imperils that of loyal.
upright cltlzenI Are we TO submit TO the
impudence of rebels lest we infract some
ambiguous article of our Constitution
Must we be so scrupulous about the sanctity
OF one clause that we must suffer the whole
to perish IN order to save the part? What
would be thought of man who valued
tooth so highly that he would not let it be
drawn, though by not doing so he would
certainly forfeit his life?
Why in many counties of Kentucky,
as we were informed yesterday, by u gentle
man holding high civil office under the
Federal Government, and as we know to be
true IN some counties, notorious rebels are
coming out as candidates for Office, and while
breathing treason express their intention to
take the oath OF allegiance to the Federal
Government! Loyal men look at such in.
science and contemplated perjury with
amazement, and ask will the Government
tolerate this? Are we to have band of
traitors returned to Frankfort to sit in the
Legislative Halls? 1t is fact that the
word has been sent out secretly by the lead
ers Of the rebel Home Guard, which now
infests that State, to their clansmen, the
minions Of George Bickly: ''The Federal
Government feels that it dare not molest
those who have not taken up arms. twill
be next to impossible ever to convict any of
us of treason, because the crime must con-
sist of an overt act, and that act must be
proved by two witnesses So we can talk
treason and run for office, and snap our
fingers in the face of the Union men,
Bonds and oaths and paroles of honor are
prescribed by our tender hearted rulers for
such cases. Bonds and oaths, forsooth =
Place skulking, cowardly, ferocious hyena
under bonds to keep the peace, and theu
turn your back on him for pleasant sleep
or administer the oath to rattlesnake, as he
prepares to
Dart his deadly length,
And hurl al once his venom and his strength"
And then, if these merciful measures
prove successful, employ like means to sub
due the incendiary spirits who fire neighbor-
hoods with false reports, and aid guerrilla
chiefs in their depredations. 1t will not do
to rely on bullets alone. Hemp must follow
in the wake Of bullets and bayonets. If
the Government does not change its policy
we stall witness scenes ere long whose
atrocity will shock the stoutest heart The
people, as we have already said, are ahead
OF the Government. We have heard their
deep and hardly suppressed murmurs for
weeks and weeks. II the Government
dallies much longer they will break over the
restraints OF law, and then woe to the rebels!
Look at Baltimore the other day, MIR.
President. 1t is wonder that the Union
men were as forbeariug as they were.--
Louisville will witness scene yet more ter
rible before long, we apprehend, and her
rebels will be licked up by popular rage like
dry grass before the fire. We are for peace
and lenity, and the only way under Heaven
to get at it, unless Providence blesses us
with special miracle, is to make turbulent
aud insolent rebels expiate their offenses
with their blood, and to take such measures
as will effectually prevent any rebel from
polluting solitary office within the author
ity of the Federal lines, with his presence.
1t must be done. If there is no provision
in the Constitution to. meet the case, we
must make one Immediately. And then, if
they can be kept out no other way, we know
they can By he bayonct. We mean exactly
what we say. We heartily indorse the de-
claration of Gov. Johnson "that IN no ereat
must the offices of the Government be suffer
ed 10 pass into the hands Of the traitors. =.
The Government and this great republic
belongs to the loyal. They were given to
us by patriots, and the priceless legacy must
be kept for the use and benefits OF patriots
forever.
GEN. MCCLELLAN has paid his respects
II Il. -. - .I.lI