Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-03-19
Gen. Kimball at Campbellsburg, In
diana,


There was large gathering Of the citi-
zens at Campbellsburg, Washington coun-
ty. Indiana, on the afternoon of the 5th, to
hear Gen. Kimball on the war. This is the
Generals old home, aud he did not feel at
liberty to refuse his whilom friends and
neighbors, who have regarded with feelings
Of pride his gallant conduct in the field.
The meeting was held in the Methodist
Church, which was crowded to its surmost
capacity, good proportion Of the audience
being ladies.
He disclaimed being politician. He was
only soldier, endeavOring to do what he
could for his country. Politicians are of
different stripe. Why was it found neces
sary to ask any man if he were loyal? Be-
cause politicians, for selfish purposes had
sought to blind the people by telling them
this was not war for the country, but to
free the negro. This war grew out of re
bcllion against the Constitution aud the
Government. Who commenced it? If
South Carolina, anl the other States that
followed her example, had not renounced
allegiance to the Constitution and Govern
ment, there would be no war to day. But
some claim that the nature of the contest
has changed, and they will make this an
excuse for clamoring for peace" and
compromise. The truth is the rebellion
is to day what it was at the beginning
permanent disruption of this Government.
The traitorsin in arms have set up Govern
ment for themselves and they swear they
will never re unite with the North. And
yet these peace men among US wish the
Government to stop the war to crush the re-
bcllion, because We have to suffer in blood
and treasure.
But demagogues, from sinister motives,
declared this "nlgger war; The man
who says it, tells lie. The war is for the
preservation of the rights Of citizens, both
North and South, under the Constitution.
But We are told that it is an Abolition war.
Practically it is. Who made it so? Not
the President, nor his Cabinet, nor Con-
gress, nor any part of the Government. -
The Proclamation has not freed one negro
to ten that the Army had before it was is
sued. Mr.. Lincoln might have saved the
paper it was written upon, and the result
would have been the same. The speaker
claimed to be Domocrat--had never voted
he voted for Tom Hendricks. Laughter.
He voted against Mr.. Lincoln and yet as an
honest, loyal citizen, it was his duty now to
support him in this contest with rebellion.
He explained the practical result of the
emancipation of the negro, in weakening
tho rebellion. One year ago the wheat was
ground into -four, to feed rebel soldiers
that was the product OF farms which do not
now yield them support. Why2 Because
the negro is not there to cultivate them. -
But complaint is mado about our taking the
blacks from their masters, because they be.
long to them. They never had any right to
them, except such as the Constitution and
laws secured them, and when they rebelled
they forfeited that right. The speaker was
in favor of taking from the rebels every
thing that can possibly be of service to them
in this contest. When he goes to take a
horse or mule from them he didn't stop to
ask whether it was white or black. [Cheer-
ing. He would take their slaves from them
whether white or black; where he had been
they were nearly all white. [Cheers and
laughter He was with Mr.. Lincoln, that
if it necessary to save the Government he
would enslave every African in il; and Fit
were necessary to save it, he would free
every slave in It. And yet the man who
said he was an "Abolitionist' was liar. =
He would strip the man who is fighting
against the Government Of everything f7
The man who sets up cry Of rights for
rebels, is the very meanest kind OF traitor
that God let's live. There are men who
profess to be loyal to the Government, and
yet do all in their power to weaken the Adj
mipistrati0u, SO that the rebellion may sue
ceed. He could admire tho man who had
courage to take up arms against his coun-
try much more readily than the man who