Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-10-09
Address of the Loyal Governors


Address of the Loyal Governors
5ddress TO The President of he United
States, adapted at n meeting If Gdrcrnors
nj he toyat States, held 10 take measures
for the more ocijre suppoyt of The Gop-
erap,ept. at Aitoonn, Pennsylvania, on The
24M day of September, 1862.
After nearly one year and half spent in
contest with an armed and gigantic Rebel
lion against tho National Government of the
United States. the duty and purpose of the
loyal States and people continue, and must
always remain, as they were at its origin,
namely. to restore and perpetuate the au-
thority Of this Government, and the life OF
the nation. no matter what consequences are
involved in our fidelity Nevertheless. this
the institutions of democratic liberty, and
iustifyinr the hopes and tolls of our fathers,
shall not fail to be- performed, and we pledge
without hesitation to the President OF the
United States the most loyal and cordial
support, hereafter. as heretofore, in the ex-
ercise Of the functions of his great office -
Magistrate Of the Nation the Commander
United States, their responsible and con
and power, as well as the constitutional
powers Of Congress, must be vigorously and
religiousy guarded and preserved MS the
condition on which alone our form of Gov
ernmcnt and the constitutional rights and
saved from the wreck Of anarchy, or from
al. Ill ,.r
the laws which may have been or which
may ne duly enacted, and to the lawful
orders of the President. co operating always
in our own spheres in the National Govern
ment, we mean to continue in the most Wig
orous exercise of all our lawful and proper
powers, contending against treason, rebel
lion, and the public enemies, and, whether
in public lie or in tho private station sup
porting the arms ofthc Union until its cause
shall conquer until final history shall perch
upon its standard, or the Rebel foe shall
yield a dutiful, rishtful, and unconditional
submission.
Impressed with the conviction that an
army Of reserve ought, until the war shall
end, to be constantly kept on foot, to be
raised, armed, equipped and trained at
home, aud ready for emergencies we re
spectfull ask the President to call for such
a force of volunteers for one years service
of not less than one hundred thousand il
the aggregate, the quota ofeach State to be
raised after il shall have filled its quotas o
the acquisitions already made for volunteers
and for militia. We believe that this woult
be a measure Of military prudence,t e,twhile il
would greatly promote the military educa
tion Of the people.
U., L.,;l ,,;.L Lo.,.c,l.
couraged hope the Proclamation Of the
President issued on the 22d inst. declarine
emancipatcd, lrom their bondage all person.
held to service or labor as slaves in the
Rebel States whose Rebellion shah last unit
the first day Of January ensuing. The righI
OF any persons to retain authority to compe
any portion Of tho subjects of the Nationa
Government to rebel against it, or to maln,
tain its enemies, implies, in those who are
allowed the possession of such authority,
the right to rebel themselves; and, there.
fore, tho right to establish martial law OF
military government in State or Territory
in rebellion implies tho right and the duty
OF the Government to liberate the minds OF
all men living therein by appropriate pro.
clamations, and assurances of protection, in
order that all who are capable, intellectual,
and morally, of loyalty and obedience, may
not be forced into treason, as the willing
tools Of rebellious traitors, To have con
tnued indefinitely the most efficient cause
support, and stay of the rebellion, would
have been, in our judgment, unjust to the
loyal people whose treasure and lives are
made willing sacrifice on he altar of pa
triotism, would have Disseminated against
the vito who is compelled to surrender hel
husband, against the parent who surrenders
his child to the hardships of the camp and
perils of battle, and in favor of Retel mas
lers thus permitted to retain their slaves. -
1t would have been final decision alike
against humanity, justice, tho rights and
dignity OF, the Government, and against d
sound and wise national policy. The deci.
sion of the President to strike at the root OF
the Rebellion will lend new vigor to the
efforts, and new life aud hope to the hearts
Of tho people. Cordially rendering to the
President our respectful assurances Of per,
sona and official confidence, we trust and
believe that the policy now inaugurated will
be crowned with success, will give speedy
and triumphant victories over our enemies
and secure to this nation and this people the
blessing and favor Of Almighty God We
believe that the blood of the heroes who
have already fallen and those who may vel
give up their lives to the country, will no,
have been shed in vain. .,
The splendid valor Of our soldiers, their
patient endurance, their manly patriotism,
and their devotion to duty, demand from
us and from all their countrymen the HON
age Oft the sincerest gratitude, and the pie ige
OF our constant reinforcement aud support.
A just regard for these brave men, whom
we have contributed to place in the field,
and for tho Importance Of the duties which
may lawfully pertain to us hereafter, has
called us into friendly conference.
Aud now, presenting to our National
Chief Magistrate this conclusion of our de.
liberations, We devote ourselves to our coun.
try's service, and we will surround the
President with our constant SUI port, trust.
ing that the fidelity and zeal OF the loyal
States and people will always assure him
that he will be constantly maintained iu
pursuing with vigor this war for the pres.
eryation Of the national life and the hopes
OF humanity.
A. G. CURTIN, Penn.
JNo. A. ANDaEw, Mass.
RIcHARp YATES, III, s
ISRAEL WAsHBURNE, iJR., Me.
/ EDWARD SALoMoN, Wis.
SAMUEL j. KIRKwooD, Iowa.
u, II, MORTON. Ind bv