Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-09-11

held, IN common with yourselves, th
opinion that Slavery should not be disturb
Cd within its existing limits. When tn
Confederate States announced their exist
eence, their Executive proclaimed Slavery b
be the cornerstone Of the new power. II
Missouri, a year ago, az q war measure.
declared the slaves Of Rebels free-tim
mense applause and cries Of Good" ant
great cheeringI believing this to he the
most inclsive, searching and deadly blow
that could be aimed q the heart Of the Re
beliion. lApplause aud .'Good, good,
Bully for you,' and cheers. Judged i
! 10 be the qnekes1 mode - tlamage'snd dis
concert the enemy andsv gain great sd
vantages with the least cost Of life to tn,
good citizens who were acting with me il
maintaining the laws. A general in tht
heid, IN distant and rebelllous district, in
vested with pro-oonsular powers, did this
IN the exercise Of what ! believed 20 be my
legitimate authority. lCheers. Later, as
the, war went on, becape satisfied that
with Its successful termination must also
terminals Slavery in some form. Good
good, and cheers.
considered II then sufficient that some
measure should be adopted by which it
should Immediately cease as political pow
er, and begin to cease as social fact. But
as the contest was protracted, the condi-
tional opinions with which we all entered
upon 1t, ln my mind, gave place to the con-
viction that every advantage which the laws
OF war allowed to us should be employed,
and that to be effective as war measure
this act should be thorough and immediate.
1t became apparent that tho slower process
would be Intellectual. And 80 the events of
the year have brought me to the conviction
that there can be no lasttifg peace while
Slavery exists on our continent. [Great
applause. Therefore, all other considera-
tions apart, and regarding it only as a meas
ure for the effectual suppression of the Re.
bellion, am in favor Of the immediate
abolition of Slavery [great cheersl, and in
favor Of using every practicable means to
make that abolition effective fcheersl, and
SO deprive the enemy of their great element
of strength. Great applause.
Wherever our flag wa YES in Jurisdiction,
let it wave over free men. [Cheers. Let
it answer all questions, and give all pass
ports. Loud cheers.
1t is urged against summary measures
that the liberation of the slaves would be
an act Of great injustice to the loyal men Of
the South. But can such war as this be
carried on without sacrifices from the loyal
people in every section of the country. The
loyalists of the South would be required to
contribute portion of what is held to be
property, and for which they would doubt
lass ha -at.zsward ren,asspss. 4 "A s-;n..
this the loyal people of the North give not
only absolute property, but their own lives
and the lives Of those most dear to them.
lCheers. AT this point Gov. Andrew
came upon the platform, and was received
with loud cheers. 10 them their loss never
can be repaid. How then can such distinc-
tions be entertained? And how can we in
making war upon country protect its vital
interests ?-separate it into parts, and for
the sake of protecting the property of a
class forego our greatest advantages Such
policy would carry within itself the ele-
ments of sure defeat, and the real Unionists
OF the South are ready for the sacrifice :,
Nor do | share IN the belief that there is a
large body Of Unionists in the South.
In my individual experience have found
them few, and in the progress of the war
they have been fast decreasing. The danger
which has attended the avowal OF Union
sentiments, the uncertain protection which
we have been able to give them, the certain
seventies OF the Confederate Government,
the unexpected length tos&hich the Rebels
have been able to protract the struggle, to.
gether with neighborhood friendships and
interests, have carried away many who in
the beginning maintained their allegiance
to the Union. In the whole valley of Vir-
ginia do not remember to have met q
Union man. and certainly not one Union
woman. Laughter This element Of
their strength must not be underrated II
serves to show thoroughly the feelings Of
the South are in this contest, and leaves no
doubt as to what will be the training Of the
growing generation. Not only were the
people not desirous of returning into the
Union, but they did not entertain the idea
in any shape-their only conjectures were
as to the manner in which the separation
would finally be effected. l do not think
that our Nothern people realize how many
years the South has been preparing for this
struggle
The advent of the Natchez in Charleston
Harbor, with Jackson's proclamation and
her ready batteries checked it for time in
South Carolina, where there was then o
strong body of men with Union sentiments
strong enough to have the consistency Of
party and with its representative organs.
Then quite q young man, / was among the
Unionists enrolled, with view to service
under Mr.. Poinsett, then the acknowledged
head of the party in that State. Mr.. Cal