Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-03-19


embracing portion Of the Crittenlen reso
luton; but it leaves out the head and front
Of the resolution.
The following Is the resolution referred
TO. with the proceedings had thereon in the
House OF Representatives iD Congress
Extra session, July 22d, 1861; Congresson.
al Globe, page 222.
Mr.. Crittenden called up bis resolution
which is as follows:
'Resoived by the House Of Representative. NJ the
Congress Of the United soir., That h. nresenl lepor.
able eva war has been Dfced upon the country b. the
disunionsts OF the Southern Stats now IN arm n4n n.i
the Constitutional Government, and ia arms afouid te
CAPITAL.
all ieengs Of passion or rssenuusn will reco-
lect only It's duty TO the whole country. that ths war /.
not waged OF their pan in any sdt of oppression. OF
OF ovrfihrpwnig or Interfering with the nts or estib-
sie1 institutions OF hose states Lsi defend aud
main ain the Of fie Constitution ard 10 frss
serve the unon with all the dignity equality aud rights
OF the several States unuparcd aud that a. soon a.
these objects are accomplished the oui to cease,
On which Mr.. Crittenden moved the pre-
vions question, which was sustained.
. MIR. Burnett, Of Kentucky, demanded a
division of the question, which was grant
ed, and the vote taken on the first clause
which afirms, that the present deplorable
civil war has been forced upon the country
by the dlsunionists OF the Southern States,
&C."
The vote resulted yeas 12l, nays .
Messrs. Burnett and Reid.
The question recurring On the second part
Of the resolution, the vote stood. yeas III.
nays Potter and Riddle. Mr.. Burnett
refusing to vote, although present, and
having demanded the yeas and nays. The
name Of Mr.. Vallandigham does not ap-
pear among the yeas OF nays on either vote,
yet the published proceedings show him to
have been present at the session of that day.
The Democratic party in its action Of July
4th leaves out the first clause of the resolu-
ton which charges the cause of the rebel
lion on the disunionists of the South; and
adopts the latter clause commencing with,
Congress, banishing all feelings Of mere
passion, &C."
The Convention incorporated the resolu-
tion in its platform after cutting off its
head. The Senator from Clermont has not
told US whether it is the genuine resolution,
or the mutllated one that is at present the
Shorter Catcchism of the Democratic
Church" | suppose it, however, to be the
latter. This leaves the subject entirely open
as to who was the cause of the war. 1t
makes no harsh charges against disunion.
lists of the South, or the rebellion, and
leaves every one at liberty to charge the
cause OF the war on the loyal people of the
North, and thus create division at home. =
This suppose was deemed expedient for
party purposes, as it would harmonize the
Democratic party, although it might de-
stroy the country.
But why should the Senator claim that
the Crittenden resolution Is the 'Shorter
Catechism Of the Democratic Church, -
when vifa part IL Intentionally left out,
the foundation stone upon which the whole
superstructure was built2 What would be
thought Of the Church leaving out of the
Shorter Catechism the most vital part?-
Expunging for instance the important doc
trine that there is but one only living and
true God" Infdels and Atheists would
approve ofthe change. But the harmony,
unity, and general prosperity of the Church
would hardly be promoted. The truth is,
the Democratic party has no affirmative
policy for conducting the war for putting
down the rebellion. They have thus far
been content with a negative policy; to
hang as dead weight upon the wheels of
the Government. General opposition to
the measures of the Administration, iusti.
tuted to save the country; not that Demo
Gratis can have desire to see the country
destroyed, but that political party may be
strengthened and built up in the North, al
though il may greatly jeopardize, if not ac-
tually destroy the Union.
Senators tell US we were united in the
North at the commencement of the war;
This is only partially true When Fort
Sumter was fired into, and war Inaugural
ted by the South, the Northern heart was
aroused, excitement ran high, and very
many Democrats united cordially with Re.
publicans and other Union men to save the
country. The masses were generally en-
listed in the great work. But not so with
large number of the leaders of the Demo
cratic party. They we're compelled by the
force of circumstances to lay comparatively
quiet tor season, but discomfort and oppo-
siton were quite visible from the beginning.
They never gave cordial support to the
prosecution Of the war from its commence
ment, and now this opposition with many
has ripened into almost open hostility. In
this class include the followers of Mr..
Vallandigham, both original and recent
converts to the faith.
Mr.. President, | propose briefly to exam
inc the declaration of Senators, That the
Democratic party was war party at the
commencement of the rebellion, and that it
continued unitedly and enthusiastically to
support the Government in its effort to put
the rebellion down, until the emancipation
proclamation was issued on the 22d of Sep.
tember last, since which time We have had
divided North" In 1860 We passed
through heated political contest, which
resulted in the election of Mr.. Lincoln as
President of the United States. james Bu-
chanan occupied the White House, aud held
the helm of State with wayering hand
He had been the bitter and unrelenting foe
of Judge Douglas, who was the only form.
idable opponent of Mr.. Lincoln in the free
States. The whole power and patronage of
the Government was in the interest of John
G. Breckinridge for the presidency; but this
power failed in electing a President; but it
did not fail in subscribing the wicked designs
of traitors in the South. They had not only
possession of Mr.. Buchanan, but of the
Cabinet, and commenced speedily and al
most unmolested, to consummate their deeds
of treason, in carrying out the long cherish
ed wishes of the Southern aristocracy to
dissolve the Union. Our small army was
sent to the most remote corners of the
country; our navy scattered to the four
winds; our small arms aud heavy guns were
shipped South.
Six States held Conventions and passed
ordinances Of secession prior to the 23d OF