Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-02-27
Parties.
IFrom the Mac-a.Che X preas |

Ifrom the Mac-a-Che * Press
We have now no we'll defined political or
CARNATIONS in the country. The rebellion
of the slaveholding States, and the union
Of the people of the free States in the sup
port ofthe Administration, and in the pros
ecution Of the war, left the leaders Of the
Democratic party no rank and file to sus-
tain them in their reasonable assaults on
the Government And the fact hat a few
such men. as Bright and Vallandigham,
backed up by o few country newspapers, still
make war upon the Administration, and
give aid and comfort to the rebels, no more
makes Q Democratic party than one swallow
makes q summer. The great mass of the
people Of the loyal States are now giving to
the Administration a cordial aud hearty
support in the prosecution Of the war.
There is nd 6eII,deincd or organized op-
position tq{ 3 administration. in either
House Of Co6krsss, or in the Legislature of
this State. The measures of Administra-
ton recommended to Congress by the Ex-
%ecutive, for the support of the Government,
met with no factious opposition, but are
discussed and$cted upon by members &C
cording to their convictions Of their wisdom
and e~xpediency.
But this is a state of things which cannot
be long continued.
The natural Ind ordinary division of par.
ties is, into supporters and opponents OF
the Adminisration-Ins and Outs. That
such development Of parties will be brought
about during the present Administration
can hardly bsdoubted. 1t is, at present,
difficult to dStermine precisely where the
opposition is ID como from, or what shape
it is to ASSUME. Whether the elements of
which the oldlD Democratic party was COM
posed, are to combine and form a Peace
Party, and urge a disgraceful compromise"
with the rebels and traitors who are in arms
against the Government, or whether the
ultra anti-slavery men are to organize and
demapd tbs W0secNtion Of the war for the
abolition ofslavery in the States, is yet un-
certain. Butthat al opposition party will
arise upon one side or the other, before the
next Presidential election we consider abso-
lutely certain.
Up to the present time, we believe, no.
body questions the patriotism and honesty
Of the President. Whatever differences of
opinion may exist, or whatever complaints
may be made about the delays in the move
ments of our armies, the responsibility is
charged the War Department, or the
Generals in command, and not upon the
President. So in regard to corrupt and ex-
trayagant expenditures. While the Heads
Of Departments have been arraigned with
great severity, we believe the President is
not charged with ~countenancing any of the
vile and wicked frauds that have been per-
If the President shall las we believe he
will) succeed in Kidding the Government OF
the thieves and plunderers that have been
preying upon it, they will constitute no in
considerable atlerpent in any opposition party
thee 1nssy A43k S3hi2ed,s-
To them 1t will not be a matter Of the
slightest consequence, whether the opposi-
ton is radical or conservative-whetheI
they plumber under the banner of peace, OF
universal emancipation. To our mind, the
indications ut present are, that the most
formidable and dangerous opposition which
the Administration is likely to encounter, is
to come from,the advocates of immediate,
unconditional and universal emancipation.
The columns of the New York Tribune
furnish unmistakable evidence OF its settled
purpose to demand the abolition of slavery
in all the States, as the only terms on which
peace is to DO made with the rebels. The
President is determined to protect the re-
bellious States in all their constitutional
rights whenever they shall return to their
allegiance and acknowledge the authority OF
the Government.
Such an opposition as this will be far
more formidable than any opposition based
upon any temporising policy, looking to any
concessions or compromises with traitors.
,le Ws %s M s1ss an sYe ss upon sn ,hs ASSAULT. sSp.
nnnp fha "A administrator M u,atkar from,
ing this, we do not mean to surrender our
private Judgment, and pledge ourselves to
support whatever i may do, whether right
in the honesty, patriotism and good sense
ofthe President that we have no doubt but
we shall be able to support most cordially
the general policy of his Administration.