Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-06-18

gentlemen, look at another faott When we
have asked that more territory should bs
added, that we might spread the institution
Of slavery, have they not yielded to our
demands In giving us Louisiana, Florida
and Texas, out OF which four States have
been carved, and ample territory for four
more to he added in due time, if you, BY
this unwise aud impolitc act, do not de.
stroy this hope, and, perhaps, by IL lose all,
and have your last slave wrenched from yeu
by stern military rule, as South America
and Mexico were, or by the vindctive
decree OF o UNIVERSAL emancipation, which
may reasonably be expected TO follow. But,
again, gentlemen, what have we TO gain by
this proposed change OF our relation to the
general Government? We have always
had the control Of It, and can yet, If we
remainin it, aud are united as we have been.
We have had a majority Of the Presidents
chosen from the South, Us well as the con-
troll and management of most Of those
chosen from the North. We have had
sixty years of Southern Presidents to their
twenty four, thus controlling the Executive
department. So Of the Judges of the
Supreme Court--we have had eighteen
from the South, and but eleven from the
North although nearly four.f .ffths Of the
judicial business has arisen in the free
States yet majority of the Court has al.
ways been from the South. This we have
required 20 as to guard against any inter.
probation of the Constitution unfavorable
to us. In like manner we have been equal
ly wstchful to guard our interests in the
Legislative branch OF Government. In
choosing the presiding Presidents pro
tenn, Of the Senate, we have had twenty
tour to their eleven. Speakers of the House
we have had twenty three, and they twelve.
While the majority Of the representatives,
from their greater population, have al
ways boen from the North, yet we have
SO generally secured the Speaker, be:
cause he, to great extent, shapes and
controls the legislation OF the county
Nor have we had less control in every other
departmental the general government
Attorney Generals we have bad fourteen,
while the North have had but five. For.
eign ministers we have had eighty. six, and
they but fity.four. While three.fourths
ofthe business which demands diplomatic
agents abroad is clearly from the free States,
from their greater commercial interests, so
as to secure the worlds markets for our
cotton, tobacco and sugar on the best posi-.
bic terms We have had vast majority of
the higher Offices Of both army and navy,
while larger proportion of the soldiers
andsailors were drawn from the NORTH
Equally SO Of clerks, auditors and comp
troers filling the Executive department,
the record shows for the last fifty years that
Of 1900 thus employed, We have had more
than two thirds Of the same, while we have
but one-third of the white population OF the
republic Again, look at another item,
ba - ksak
great and vital interest; it is that Of reve-
nue., or means Of supporting government.
From official documents we learn that
fraction over three fourths of the revenue
collected for the support of government has
Pause now while you can gentlemen, and
contemplate carefully and candidy these
important items. Leaving out of view, for
the present, the countless millions Of dollars
you must expend in war with the North;
with tens Of thousands of your sons and
brothers slain in battle, and offered up as
sacrifices upon the altar your ambition
and for what, we ask again? Is it for the
overthrow of the American government, es.
tablished by our common ancestry, cement
ed and built up by their sweat and blood,
and founded on the broad principles OF
right, justice and humanity! Aud, as such,
| must declare here, as have often done
before, and which has been repeated by the
greatest and wisest of statesmen and patri-
OTIS in this and other lands, and is the best
and freest government. tho most equal in
its rights, the most just in its decisions, the
most lenient in its measures, and the most
inspiring in its principles to elevate the race
Of men, that the sun Of Heaven ever shone
upon. Now, for you to attonpt to over
throw such government as this, under
which we have lived for more than three
quarters of century-in which we have
gained our wealth, our standing as ma
ton, our domestic safety while the elements
Of peril are around US, with peace and tran
guilty, accompanied with unbounded pros
perity and rights unassailed-is the height
Of madness, folly and wickedness to which
| can neither lend my sanction nor my vote.