Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-02-26
Who is Responsible flor the Rebellion

Who is Responsible fQr the Rebellionp
EDITOR BELMONT CHisoNIcLE: In look
ing over the st. Clairsvilie Gazette, of Feb
5, 1868, l noticetwo articles purporting to
be replies to Andrew Porterfeld's Address
to his DEMOCRATIC friends; in which address
Porterfield charges the present Rebellion to
the conduct and management of the Demo.
cratic party.
As there is difference of opinion on this
subject, as on all other subjects, l see no
improperly in free expression of our
thoughts on this question, good humoredly
and for each others edi6cstion, as we arc
all poor fallible creatures, and liable to err
We may, by free discussion pro and CON-,
with an honest endeavor to get at the truth i,
come to understand this perplexing question
much better than at present, and thereby
qualify ourselves to act in concert to save
and redeem a country almost lost in civil
war.
believe there is nothing exists without
a cause. I will try to show some cause for
our dangerous position as nation. Now I
am pretty thoroughly convinced that Slave.
ry and Freedom cannot dwell together, and
that shareholders must always be the secret
or open enemies Of Liberty, Religion, and
Civilization and that slavery is the cause
4 of the war, and the strength of the enemy.
He battles fer it, and draws his supplies
from it. Now, friends, do not fly off in q
passion, and endeavor to frighten the people
with tho cry Of Abolitionist " or ''Nig
ger!" Those epithets are pretty nearly
worn out. The more intelligent portion Of
community want some good sound reasonins
for the why's and wherefores, for our diff
culties.
We believe the motive to the Rebellion
was the extension of slavery into the Terri
tories. This, in point Of fact, is the KEY tc
the complicated question of American poll
+ tics. The old Wing party, and the Demo
E cratic party, have for number of year
been legislating for the extension of slavery
notwithstanding we have been holding our
9 selves out to the world as the only Free Gov
0 ernment.
: Mr.. Foster says the Democratic party q
the whole Union, with the exception q
South Carolina, stood upon the floor q
Congress, in the persons Of their representa-
..-..;..;o, ;rto.o.J.,. g. - -
J. nsso'!a'ilon, i:.ereonns ior sVeh the PRIV
,ieee 20 ,eass sSs 70 hationsl vote whethe
a 70 eccop. sne S:li.eauen compromise as
. 9asis TIon Tn,cn R,. 20 se..le our inpendin
Ilihiu..eS Du' ap, .Aere was mgger !
ma. "a: push res r .nas niekeI was IN tn
Cli.'GaJteli .I Potoi Hp; HSUmp,on;.se ano se Is yet
ina. !aIt lSoi ois d.u party, 'nat mas don
4 m..le eise turnE DuonAnsn Administrs
;, .ion .ua" ~ ,,os.na .e C.. 70 keep him tnora
). shve,y say ~ pfuPs,e ior .nis rebellion An
= NY rt .n' nS ,e tha ssE'e ior supremacy o
h ,hs par. y, .as I;e. vsavfry Rower " .
.he hk,S asS s.oo pvmoy asaiuSt S Iree men ire
.ayuknih ~ IT, Tn;o SpeeGn anu lree legeiatlo
i; w..n;n "na ,j.mo Jjom not 'ne !errltorisl ei
e.s pe.s'on y, as.ns ss '"e Tny rational soiutio
na.;on anGo1 qemS sor ny Tel9 dii .he pr,
= 9aao", ~ o ,raason"hi, snu 'eosilon MAG
: uuts I;ooo,n,s liz ? ala't;o ,,n1 oi .wG year
ph,E PHI, hs to v "%a 1;,bout oo" .mI' esula POI
aDan, sso,y ue % haf,r. "tIa' ,Ha ~ oseas'ag up tn
y ,;o on,U;anooa% ire no M p,s1ens aulhln'Stra
mn;s i1om oU w". anmo;n,d II nU. ,orset .ha' yel
!, pasia M was a?J ?ts. .as'nian Vi tne con
mites lm on ",,i.ay anals 10 as 70 give MI
lul qprorthHny pr,ha soda w. ,aae eare oi .he ooutl