Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-02-19

he cause to say that We are loyal.
Freedom of Speech and Press Their
Democratic Advocates.
No. |.
EDITOR CHRONICLE 1t is a remarkable
TACT, that since the inception of this Slave.
holders Rebellion the members of he Dem.
cratic party have all become Constitutional
Lawyers. From the great (copper) head
Of their church, Vallandigham, down to the
tyro in political science, they are all
ready on the shortest possible notice to de-
eide the greatest questions Of Constitution
al law. 9s s-.5sa
The friends Of Webster can no longer as.
sert his exclusive claims toithe epithet Of
the "Grcat Expounder" Indeed, Web
ster was an ignoramus, Story a ninny, and
Madison blockhead, when their attain
ments are compared with the higher en-
dowmcnts and enlarged views Of the dsci-
pies of this new light Democracy.
They discourse with wisdom approach
ing the inspired on all questions touching
the rights ofpersons and property, the free
dom Of speech and press. Without an ef
fort, they can demonstrate that it is in en-.
tire accordance with both the spirit and
letter of the Constitution TO talk treason,
to write treason, and to acttreason; and the
man who unites all these in one is the very
embodiment of all that is Constitutional
and superlatively friend of the Union.-
If intcrfered with, he forthwith becomes a
GLORIOUS martyr" and assumes the crown
accordingly.
For those in civil life to oppose this trea-
son is "Abolitionism;" for the constituted
authorities to do so is "Despotism
it is certainly gratifying, Mr.. Editor, to
feel that we have those among us who are
so wntcbful of our rights, and so jealous in
their defense, knowing as we do that "Eter
nal vigilance is the price Of Liberty" And
perhaps it may not be uninteresting to make
some inquiries as to the date of the first ap
pearance of the manifestations of this in
terest; for though, doubt not, they have
ever fclt deeply on the subject, yet they hat
permitted these feelings to remain dormant
in their bosoms.
And negatively: 1t was not when "oul
Southern brethren" through the agency Of
thoir State Governments enacted that Ger
tain institutions we've SO peculiarly sacred
that to express a doubt Of their righteous
ness subjected the person so offending tc
hospitable entertainment by the State au
thorities, in what is vulgarly denomlnatet
tn" '.jug;" but which, in the polite litera
ture of this day and age Of the world" i.
termed "bastilc.
1t was not when the knights of chivalr,
away, away down South in Dixie" gener
ously presented, suit of feathers and
to unfortunate offenders of the aforesaid
law OF "our Southern brethren,' and kind
ly advised them that it would be conducive
of their physical soun lness to visit more
Northern latitudes.
1t was not when certain radical" gen
tlomon attempted to preach Freedom
Freedom to the 'Niggers" in some of oul
Northern cities, and were interrupted by
rather irregular combinations of persons,
who, entertaining loose notions of the rights
of persons and property, endeavored to
break things generally.
1t was not when in, tho, Territory of Kan.
sas, Legislature notdriDnsly forced upon 4
people by invading rutlians from Missouri,
using the persuasive arguments of the
bowie knife and revolver, enacted that IF
any free person, by speaking or writing,
assert or maintain that persons have not the
right to hold slaves in this Territory, OF
shall introduce into this Territory, print,
publish, WRITE circulate or cause to bo in.
PRODUCED into this Territory, written, print.
ed, published or circulated in this Territory
any book, paper, magazine, pamphlet or
circular containing any denial of the rights
Of persons to hold slaves in this Territory,
such person shall be deemed guilty of felony,
and punished by imprisonment at hard la.
Dor for a term ofnot less than two years--in
a a"bastile," suppose.
1t was not when tho Herald of Freedom,
the organ OF the Free. State men of that
distracted Territory, WAS demolished, and
the press cast into the waters Of the muir
ky Missouri.
1t was not when in the United States
Senate, Charles Sumner, having in most
mastery and unanswerable effort exposed
and denounced the atrocious outragss com.
mitted there, ho was struck down on the
floor Of the Senate Chamber, in the pres
ence Of his fellow Senators by that High
Priest Of Southern Chivalry, Preston s,
Brooks.
Nor was It when at the South. men, OK
pressing the conviction that patriotism was
a duty wero exiled, incarcerated in slave.
pens or hanged.
True, these men who had thus been some
what obstruoted in the attempts to excise
the Freedom of Speech and Press were gen,
orally Radicals" who, having imbibed
from the teachings of Washington and JET
ferson certain ''fanatioal" doctrines, ex-
pressed them to the imminent danger of the
''Divine" institution Of human Slavery.
The others were that portion of 'our
Southern brethren" who, being strangely
perverse refused 10 shout hosannas to the
new god which has been set up in Dixie,
whose High Priest is JEFF. Davis.
These circumstances, it must be acknowl.
edged, mitigated verymuch, if they did no,
actually justify these rather irregular pro,
ceedings; and itn hbt to be wondered at,
that even the keen vision Of Constitutions
Lawyer discovered nothing in them to con,
demn; for though itwould have been des
potism to have treated traitors thus; yet il il
q we'll known maxim, that "circumstapcel