Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-01-15
GOVERNOR R's MESSAGE
Gentlemen of The .Se,,ate aillpl'H
H.' and House Of REPRESENTATIVES


has arrived when you, their immediate
neighbors and representatives, fresh from
your homes, can participate in the duties
and responsibilities OF providing for and
protecting their interests; and 1t is source
Of great relief TO myself to know that, with
your, presence, shall have able counselors
to guide aud direct me, in the DISCHARGE of
the many cares and responsibilities resting
upon the Executive,
!" There never has been period in the his
tory Of our State when a faithful and yigi-
liant effort ct duty, on the part Of the pee-
pies Representatives. was more required
than the present. The question Of man s
capacity for selfgovernnent is yet unset
tied, The gigantic effort of wicked and bad
men to overthrow our beautiful and heav-
enly form Of government, which existed at
the period of your adjournment, has not yet
been quelled, We were given the reins OF
our State government, for the time being,
by and honest an confding constituency,
with a special view to carry out their wishes
in maintaining the government as handed
down othem by their Fathers; we should
look well to it, then, that we do not disap
point their expectations, They have not
fatered in this great work; but, fully ap-
preciating the mighty importance Of preserv-
ing our Institutions, they have yielded up
everything, with a deglee .ot, generosity un-
'paralleled in the history of any people,
Everything dear to them has been given to
the cause. Husbands, fathers, sons and
brothers have left their loved ones, to brave
the dangers of the field of battle and the
diseases incident to camp life, with q cheer
fulness never before manifested. The
mothers, wives and sisters also have fully
demonstrated their claim to the love and
affection of these brave and gallant men. -
All that woman can do, has been done to
alleviate the distress OF our soldiers, and
thereby stimulate them to duty.
Such being the character of our constit-
uents, it is impossible to measure the claim
they have upon US, their agents. Energy,
integrity and purity of purpose economy
and industy, are, at least, due from US to
them. r..,,l. ...4. ..t ..l.
Aside, from the claim that our constit-
uents have upon us for all this, the only
true reward public servant can win for
himself, is to be able to claim, when com
muning. with his Maker, an honest and Wig
liant effort at public duty. If we cannot
claim this for ourselves, when VIC shall sur
render up our trust, we will have worked to
little purpose.
1t is not neccssery to discuss the question
presented by this rebellion, with the people
OF Ohio; they have, with great unanimity,
determined that, cost what.it may 10 time,
treasure or life, the Union of the States, as
handed down to US by our Fathers, shall be
preserved unmpaired; and thus handed
down to our children. They will not for
one moment concede that there can be any
cause sufficient to justify State, OR any
number OF States. in Withdrawing from the
Union. Admit ii you please, that tho ,au.
thorities of the Federal Government, for
the time being, wery to attempt to interfere
with the domestic Institutions of either
Ohio Or South Carolina, to the extent even
of introducing slavery into the former or
excluding it from the latter; this would not
give the slightest pretext tor the one thus
attempted to be interiered with, to take up
arms against the government. The FEEDER
State, thus intertered with, from injury. =
Long before any such attempt could be ex-
ecuted, the people in whose hands all pow
er is placed, would, through the peaceable,
quiet mode pointed out by the Constitution,
hurl the authors ofsuch attempt from pow,
er, and thus rescue the injured State. But
of, by the Federal officers now in power;
bellion well know. President Lincoln has,
again and again, in the most solemn man
ner, assured the people that it was his de.
termination, so far as lay in his power, to
preserve, inyiolate, all the rights of the
several States. The Federal Congress, the
several State Legislatures Of the Loyal
h. Ia of i,
their political assemblies, have all, again
people Of the South 1t was not, therefore,
rights were about to be inferred with, that
induced them to take up arms against the
government. Mad ambition, and disap
pointment in not obtaining place and pow
or, on the part Of a few wicked men, wa
by these leaders, are simply to deceive theil
blind followers. fi eFe bHtiE ~ hi
| To bring these wicked men to the pun
lishment they deserve, and thereby restort
harmony, law and order throughout oui
common country, the people Of Ohio desire
10 do their full share OF, duty; and, to tina
end, will bear any burden that may be im
posed upon them. iadf ns}'o tan r ! .
Il l0c DeTlOu eiuCc yOui duJOuEuulcnt uu
been one of great excitement. About tn,
first of June our National Capital was Sc
4 riously threatened by the rebel army, and
but for the prompt response to the Presi
dents call for more troops, would have beer
sacked and plundered. The gallant younl
menrof our State were among the first Il
rush to the rescue--ov five thOusan(
promptly assembled at Camp Chase, ant
rendered their services. To their honor
and the honor of the State, it should b.
known, that although they thus assemble
I without officers, or military organization O
any kind, aInore quiet, orderly and well
behaved body of men or soldiers never me
together. About three thousand of thi
number we're promptly organized into reg
imsnts and sent to the vicinity Of w Washing
ton City, where they remained during th
term for which they were organized; and, i
is proper to add, ernsintained their higl
character for courage and gs6tlemanly bear
ling. The remainder were organized 10
duty At Camp Chase and other points Wit b
] in the State. Many Of these, since thei
discharge, have gone intoitha service 70
three years, or during the war .lsis9um
| The desperation and sudacily Of the rob
el enemy led them, early yinn September, :,
attempt the invasion Of our Southern Dor
der, 2 10 fepel this impudent and wicket
movement, Il became necessary TO call upoI
Ii 80 49, C.-.I .-'.f-.-L-|-. 49,