Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-02-26
Another Letter from Andrew Por-
terfield.


Another Letter from Andrew Por.
terfield.
EDITOR CHRONICLE In q communica
ton published ID the BELMONT CHRONICLE
Jan. 18th, stated few facts, which seen
to have been unpslatable to some of my
Democratic frieudk Hence, their attemp
through the modidm Of tie Gazette, O
Feb, 9th, to lift The responsibility of thi
war from the shoulders siaheir Southern
brethren and place it up6n those who viii
not worship the 'corper- stone (Slavery)
of Southern society. Or, thoss whom they
in common with Beauregard, are pleased t.
call Abolitionists. wish through thu
medium Of your paper to comment brief,
upon the communications in question. il
the FIRST place, in my former communication
| claimed to be Democrat. This, il Mr.
Irwin is to be believed, is not true. Hear
him. He says, 'tho moment / endorsed,
supported and voted for j Ohm A. Bingham
/ ceased to be Democrat, aud became al
AbolitioDist. Id. &c.. ..,.i.,.. $50.
Now | would ask Mr.. Irwin, what is re-
quired Of man under our republican form
of Government, to entitle him to the hon.
orable appelation of Democrat ? Is il
to belong to certain political organization
assuming that name, and to recognize that
party as supreme above morals in all the
affairs and institutions of government, and
to endorse, support, and vote at all time,
for candidates of that party for Office, re.
gardless of principle or moral fitness I? II
that is what it takes to make Democrat,
then may not be one in the sense in which
Mr.. Irwin is. But if it is to adhere to the
principles of our Republican, Government,
and to believe as Thomas Jefferson did
'That all men are created free and equal ;
that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalianable rights that among these
are life, liberty and the pursuit Of happi.
ness" and ''that to secure these rights
Governments are instituted amongst men,"
and to believe that Republican Govern
ment is that form Of Government in which
the sovereign power is vested in the people,
and to recognize at all times the principles
and moral fitness of candidates for Office
without respect to the political party which
put them in nomination., and then to sub
NIT peaceably to the decision of the people,
upon all political questions at, the bslot
box, is what it takes to make Democrat,
then ain one. niirn -i sv.a.
We will hear Mr. Irwin again. He says
'"The moment an individual takes up arm,
against the Constitution, the Union, and
the flag of his country, he cases to be q
Democrat, and becomes Rebel" This is
true. But would 60 a.little farther, and
say, that all those men, Of every party, who
sympathize with Rebels in arms against the
Government, and who seek to lift the re-
sponsiblity of this war from the shoulders
Of the Rebels, and place it upon loyaI
Democrats and Republicans whs are giving
their blood and treasure to support the Gov
ernment, have forfeited their right to the
name Of Democrat, because they are guilty
of nothing more nor less than moral trea
son. And all that is necessary to determine
who are the Democrats to-day, is TO de.
termine who commenced this war who are
the Rebels. The burden OF Mr.. Irwin.
argument has been to prove that Aboli
tinnists commenced this war. Now If Mr.
Twins position is tenabe, AMI if we to ds,
are fighting the battles commenced by thos,
whom Messrs. Irwin Foster, Beauregart
and others, are pleased TO call Abolitionists
then, they must .exhonorate their Southern
brethren from the dainning charge of trea
son. But if their position is not tena BILE
they will have to enjoy the benefits Of to,
position already intimated. We will ,aotic,
your argument. .ruiugGl hioL HDoas .
This war, you say, commenced notles
than thirty years ago. !" What you meal
by this it is hard to'tell. If you mean tha
opposition to the institution of slavery date
back thirty years, we can tell you that tn,
commencement Of this war dates back mqcl
farther than thirty years. It dates back in
the history of our country as far, atleast, a
the days Of Washington and Jefferson.
Hear the burning words Of Jefferson, ut
tered in view of Divine interference on ac
count Of the sin "of Slavery: sIndesd
tremble for my country when I remembe
that God is just; that his justice esnno
sleep forever. Tho Almighty, has no at
tribute which can take side with US in sucl
q contest. oti r,H0ir 1riaioaI ,
Hear him again: "When the measure o
their tears shall be full, when their groan
shall have involved Heaven itself in dark
mess doubtless God of justice will awak
to their distress. Nothing is more clear
writteaiip the Book of Fate, than that thi
people shall be free" Now we will hear ,wha
Washington had to say upon the subject @
slavery, in his letter to Robert Morris, date,
April 18th, 1885, ~ kes ooi,s. .5i
n"I can only say, that there Is not ma
living who wishes more sincerely than
do, TO See "a plan adopted fcrithe v abolition
Of it but there is only one proper. and ef
iective mode by which Il can be accomplish
ed, und that is BY Legislative iaataorityi
A ~, Anasa - a ~ ~