Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-06-26

t1On OI DIliVIiS'1hNtN eNDtNS~*Nf " tiS-'ShNSN
to the meeting In the. absence Of any
thing of the kind coming from that meeting,
may we not uopclude that the speech of the
Hon. Benjamin Wood, which was publish
cd in both of the organs Of that party the
same week, Oh The State Of the Union,
expresses the views of the leaders Of that
1 marty Il, Belmont couuty2 We shall venture
Iio sasuus tha. those leaders are willing to
bo considered as agreeing with MIR. Wood
on the leading political topic of the day.
/ Mr.. Wood seems to enjoy the cchscious-
ness that he has discovered the cause and
the cure for the great evil that aff1icts the
country; and, as If he expected much from
4 tho faith ana little from the intelligence of
the people, he proceeds to state his conclu
sions, rather than to give his reasons tor
them. III. Ia, .g,,.i.3si., hns st 1850 gsIt,t
lie deals principally in railing at Congress,
Abolitionists, and the Federal Goyerpment,
and words Of brotherly Kindness for the
rebels. His theory is that the Abolitionists,
by writing aud talking against slavery, by
agitating the slavery question, caused this
evil war; and that Congress, BY anti s!av-
r cry talk and measures, are perpetuatiDg It,
and the Executive is too severe on the rebels.
: MIR. Wood thinks, il he could have his
D own way, he could bring the war to speedy
! close. . This. we think, is not improbable.
, There are many in the rebel army who could
say tile same thing truthiully. But how is
Mr.. Wood to stop the effusion Of blood
: and the waste Of money! What would he
, have done2 In the FIRST place, he woult
. have suspension of hostilities- SHAVE fight
= ing stopped. That, we presume, would jus
y = at this time, suit the rebels exactly. Blu
;" what next2 Appoint negotiators to bear u
his brethren the rebels--the ''oliv,
y branch" And what are these peace mes
'e sengers TO say or do2 They are to oconciliate
y And how? This, as it seems to us, verl
:, important, question, he docs not answer
~ He says he is sure that It would soon brinI
y peace to the country OF course, then,
~ would be by agreeing to do by the rebels a
u they would have US do by them. The rebel
~ know what our Government demands. The
20 know thatit Is isrequired Of them to lay dow
70 their arms, and submit to and abide by tn
u Constitution and laws of the country
y When they do these things, everybod
. knows that we shall have peace. This the
~ can do without a negotiator, a conciliatol
up Have we any reason to believe tlrat the
AK are willing to do this2 Has Mr.. Wood an
reason to believe it? If he has, he cart
- fully conceals it. ''.'l. stl..l r.
~, 1t Is not difficult to understand what Nj
ru Wood would have our Government do. h
W ooncliation and negotiation he means con
ne promise and concession. He would ha,
,e us send Ministers to, the leaders Of this rsbe
"' lion, and, after assuring them of our big
consideration and most 'brotherly affectio
~ and our very great solicitude for theperp
w. tuity of their ancient and pstriarchal ins
-" tuition of slavery, and our aversion for 81
heresy of emancipation, as recommended
leu Washington, Jefferson, and all the dist
~, guished men of the revolutionary perioC
''' after telling them that we have becor
convinced by our Woods and our Vala
''o,s dighams that this war was not brought
'i'o the country by any fault Of theirs, but
''' the speeches and essays and romances OF
fanatical Abolitionists, most respectfully q
y'e v them what they would have us do 7 WI
VI" w, will conciliate them? Ell
Veu This idea might be carried further.
~ -, some Of the States they have provided