Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-10-09
Drlmnnt Chronicle.
S'r. CLAI WILL
- -
THURSDAY, OCT. ., 1902.
To the Union Men of Belmont
County.


published an appeal to the Democratic Cen
trail Committee, and the 23d of August Con-
vention, calling on them, in the name of
their bleeding country, not to force upon
the people Of this County political contest
this Fall but to adjourn that Convention
without making any nomination, and unite
with the Union men Of the County in call
ing Convention, without regard to party,
to nominate ticket Of good Union men, who
were known by their past actions to be such,
pledging ourselves and the people of the
County to tie support of such ticket, no
matter if every man on it should be life
long Democrat.
From the constant professions Of loyalty
made by some of the leaders of that party,
as at present organized, and the expressions
of devotion to the cause Of the country
made by gentlemen of their committee, some
of our friends thought there was reason to
hope that some attention would be paid to
the appeal, although we must confess that,
with the knowledge we had acquired of
these men by past experience, we were of
different opinion. We thought, however,
there could be no harm in making the ap-
peal, and we done so We did it honestly,
intending, in the event of its acceptance, to
live up to every promise made in it; and we
now believe, as we believed then, that if the
proposition had been accepted by that Com
mittee, and endorsed by that Convention,
that the Union voters of the County would
have fulfilled every pledge we made in their
name.
That Convention met, however, and treat
ed the appeal with contempt. That Con-
vention met at the time, and for the pur.
pose specified in the call, and nominated a
ticket-a Democratic Ticket land the
organ Of that party is now appealing to the
voters of the County in the name of the
old Democratic party" to sustain it.
We. shall not stop now to discuss the DEM
ocrucy of that ticket, or the character of
the mon who cnmnose it, although the re-
cent conversion of some Of the candidates,
and the public record of others, would sup
ply some rich arguments against both. We
shall content ourselves with looking after
the principles at issue, the bearing of the
movement upon the condition Of the coun-
try, and the character of the men with
reference to their loyalty to the Government
who have inaugurated it.
Is there an intelligent man in the County
who does not believe That it would have
been much better for the peace of our coun
try, and the welfa,e Of the Government, il
there had beep but one ticket in the field
this Fall? And, if so, was it not the i'm
perative duty Of that Convention, assembled
under a partisan call, to adjourn without
making nomination.? Who did not wish
from the bottom of his heart that, at timt
when so many households in our County
were in mourning, and so many hearts wert
bleeding for the loss of brave husbands o.
sous, whose lives had been offered upon thu
altar Of their country, there should be moth
ing done that would have tendency t,
arouse the bitter feelings OF party that wer,
sumbering-almost buried--beneath tn
weight of sorrow that overshadowed us a
a nation, and the anxiety for the safety o
our country that filled the hearts of all VIII
loved their country more than their party
In that reasonable wish we have been dis
appointed. Disappointed by whom? Me-
who have always been loyal to their countr
since the commencement Of this Rebellion
Men who have been doing all that was il
their power to sustain the Government ?
Men who have been welding their infuenc
in getting recruits for the Army Of the Re
public? No, verify, no; but that Conven
ton was called and managed by such me
as j. H. Heaton, who pronounced the wa
against the treason that seeks the destrut
ton of your country "a dan,nable oar,
and who advised "aN good Democrats
hare nothing to do aoith IL" by such me
as VIM. Kennon, Jr., who, in speech
the Court House, urged the propriety {
letting the South go, rather than fight; b
dUu DWdHCyi
who, year ago, canvassed the COUNTY
abusing the President in unmeasured teru
for violating the Constitution by calling o,
a three hundred thousand volunteers, and fl
suspending the writ of habeas corpus, an
pitched into Congress FOR passing the ia
law, to raise money to pay the volunteer
!, 1t wus these men, and a number of othe
of ike principles that we could name, who
past history, since the commencement
this war, is record Of uncompromisir
hostility to the Government in its eve
movement for the suppression of the K
beIlion; who have forced, by their inord
. nate love of party and the spoils of offic
| upon the Democracy of the County this p
litical contest, and disappointed the reaso
able expectation Of the people that the
would be no party fight this Fall.
7 These men have not had the brazen ha
TO dihood to nominate a ticket com posed Q
10 sirels Of noa Of avSSea A9sgEeA % .