Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-04-23
Address OF the Union Members
OF the senate And House OF
Representatives. of the state of
Ohio to the Soldiers Of Ohio.
.soLnIERs OF nu1nl


respond to your patriotic and thrilling ap4
peals. Men who nave dedicated their lives
to their country, and shown their devotion
by tolls and sacrifices, have the right to ad
dress us, reposing in peace and prosperity at
our quiet homes. Ohio owes you debt of
gratitude which money cannot discharge nor
words express You have achieved, by
your gallant deeds, distinction which will
brightly mark the page Of history, and i'm
part to the annals OF our State an imperish-
able lustre; and you may be assured that
our loy al people gratefully appreciate their
obligations TO your valor and patriotism.
We acknowledge the justice and propri.
ETY. OF your rebuke Of the ''ignoble conten.
tions Of home poitics and wild, shameless
party strife" which unhappily prevail
amongst us. We cordially deplore dissen.
sion. No cause which has ever command
ed human energy 80 fully merits union Of
purpose, Of voice, and of action, as that
which has called you from the cndcaTments
OF home to the perils ofthc battle field, and
which summons us to the noblest duties
aud sacf ifces which freemen can render
Whilst we regret that many have preferred
the badge and success of party to the old
banner Of beauty aud Of glory, and the tri-
umph OF freedom, we may refer with patri.
otic pride to the Union Movement of 1861,
in Ohio, in which you participated, as a
bright illustration of the loyalty Of our peo-
pie.
Then men Of every variety of party ante.
cedents met around the altar of their coun.
try-laid upon 1t as willing sacrifice Of all
past political prejudccs, and unitedly
pledged fidelity and cooperation until the
rebellion should be crushed and our flag
fiuat again over all the States OF our once
unbroken Union. Nothing aided more to
| CONSOLIDATE that patriotic movement than
these memorable words in the last speech Of
the laIneuted Douglas:
"We have solemn duty-to maintain'the
Government. The greater our unanimity
the speedier the day Of peace. We have
prcjudices to overcome, from the few short
months since of fierce party contest Yet
these must be laid aside. Let us lay aside
all ordinations and recriminations as to the
origin of these difficulties. When we shall
again have country, with the United
States flag floating over it, and respected on
every inch of American soil, it will then be
| time enough to ask who and what brought
this upon US. Whoever is not prepared to
sacrifice party organizations and platforms
on the altar of his country does not deserve
the support and confidence of honest people.
There are only two sides to this question. -
Ere,y man must be far tie Uniied .Shttes on
ogatnsta. There cnn be no neutrak IN this
,odr, only pdtriJts ar traitors. These sen
timents became the rallying cry of Ohio
patriots, and multitude of our best and
most prominent fellow citizens, gladly for
getful Of all past political differences and
antipathes, rallied as became American
| frcemen, to the common standard of oul
country. Ohio never witnessed /. more i'm
pressve spectacle than that of the C0nven
tion Of September, 1867. The President oI
the Baltimore Convention was chosen as
the standard bearer of the Union hosts -
He generously yielded to his country's call
end bravely, during the canvass, exhibited
his devotion to the great cause to which he
had committed his heart and treasures. -
Those who fought with him under this samt
banner shared in the spirit and devotion o.
his deeds, and the people Of Ohio signal
ized their appreciation Of the Union move
ment by giving more than Sc 900 majority
to tho candidates of this convention The
power of that enthusiastic and united move
ment caused disloyalty to seek concealment
and aroused the patriotic into generous
competition for noble deeds and sacrifices
The voice OF 1861 would probably have beer
re echoed in 1862 but for tho signifcan
facts that more than SO, 900 voters had gon,
to the battle field, and the strength and en-
| ergies Of our people were concentrated upor
vigorous efforts to recruit men to fill tn,
places of the brave who had fallen by dis
ease, or in the armed conflict, and to re
spOnd to call for an increase of our army
Those now sympathizing with the rebellior
did not then reveal any treacherous designs
Their appeals to the brave to come to tn,
rescue OF the country, were not tainted will
words OF dishonor or reproach. There wero ;
few shameless political bankrupts who, il
their hiding places, uttered words of dis
loyalty, but even these were rebuked by DO
litcal; associates who disowned their here
sizes. The majority Of our prominent men
We'd with one another both by words anc
deeds, 10 enkinde in the hearts OF the poo
pie II deeper devotion to tho Union, and
deadlier hatred of the rebellion. Unde
these circumstances our last annual election
occurred. The result is well known to you
Whilst the loyal men of Ohio were volun
teeIing and laboring with untirng vigilanc,
to ill up your columns, INSCRIPTIONS anC
iaithless men were toiling 10 secure part,
triumph. Many of those who wore tn,
cloak Of loyalty, and 'paltered with tn
people in double sense, have thrown OF
their Disguise and now shamefuly claim tn,
result as a victory for party and rebuke t,
our Government. They are welcome to tn,
unenviable distinction ofglorying in tri
umph, which has given fresh animation t
the dropping hopes Of traitors.
Such men have no genuine sympathy will
the soldiers, and be assured the loyal men Of
Ohio have none with them. We disowr
them They have forfeited the confidence
Of our people. The great heart of Ohio
throws with emotions of pride and sympa
thy for her brave soldiers who have not
counted their lives dear" that they nigh
save our country and its free institutions. :
Your fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters
aud friends of patriotic faith, who may b.
counted by multitudes, cherish your name,
aud deeds with iondest remembrance. The,
hail you us the guardian of the homes and
and ssnctaaries of freedom, and they
will count it u precious privilege, whilst you
imperil your lives Tor US and our country, tc
check and control these Northern allies
OF the rebels who dare tarnish your good
name, or attempt to sacrifice the glorious
principles which you have gone forth to
defend.
We congratulate you upon your high re.
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