Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-02-19
Are the Leaders of the Democratic

wi h Freedoms soil beneath our feet,
Aad Freedom banner streaming o'er us!
.-.@---.--..---ss..-.----
Are the Leaders of the Democratic
Party In favor of the CONSTITUTION
as 1t is, and the Union as it WASP"
Two years ago the "Crisis" "Hcl
pers Impending CriSis"-but Modary's
Crisis, the leading organ Of the Breckin
ridge Democracy OF Ohio, contained q
lengthy article headed, "Thc hour of our
troubles is upon us in oil its fearful pro-
portions" which commences, "We say fear.
full proportions, because it is ct best a fear
ful thing to change and reconstruct at once
a great aud prosperous Government, DE-
sTRoYED by ignorance aud .fanaticism," and
for fear thero should be some niisunder.
standing as to the meaning of the word
destroyed, further on in the same article he
says "TEe time has arrived when each
State must .ook to its own interest, and the
care Of its own citizens. We arc in the
midst of revolution-not Of people, bur
of States. We stand to day where we stood
after the expulsion Of the British author.
tiles from the Colonies. We rest upon oul
State Organization, and our future is in ouI
own hands. Our old National Government
has no longer any existence, only by the
su0erdnce Of such States as choose to give
it u rohmtay support. We
have no Nationality but that which is Of
Ohio. Gov. Dennison has no superior, he
can tieat by will OF our people, with any
State or Nation, and form such alliances as
our Legislature, through the demands o.
the people, may authorize"
This is certainly very clear there is ne
need of difference of opinion as TO the
meaning ofthe.word destroyed, ,as used in til,
shove quotation. Although tho Constitu
ton of the United States, and the law
made in accordance Herewith, have beeI
declared and regarded as "the suprem,
law of the land" and the politicians of tn,
Democratic party when they wish to play
upon the credulity Of the unthinkinl
masses, are fulsome in their praises of it
and its binding efficacy, we find thi,
wheel horse" ignoringi and boldly de
claring, I'VE have no Nationality, but thai
which is Of Ohio. Gov. Dennison has ut
superior"
This was the doctrine of jeff. Davis
Toombs, Yancey, Sl:dell, Mason ant
Benjamin when they left the Senate of the
United States, short time prior to tht
publication of this article. This was ant
is the doctrine Of every disunionist in the
country.
Let us briefly look at the context and see
what he means by tho term change and re
construct. And there is no doubt but he her,
declares as clearly against "the Union as il
was, as he has against the Constitution
ns it is. " 'IfVirgina secedes and joins tn,
Southern Contederacy, Maryland will un
doubleday do the same, and then Washing
ton City becomes the property Of the Con
iederate States, and President Davis and
Vice. President Stephens will occupy the
places Of Lincoln and Iamlin.
That il is mere matter Of time with the
Border States when they shall join the
Southern Confcderacy, is, or should bt
known to every one. There can be no such
thing as permanent division between them
and when the Border States go, what will
be the condition Of Ohio and the North
Western States? Will they be content t.
be attached to New England, in a cold
frozen, N)rthorn Nation Of negro worship
ers? Not very likely. We should all b,
knocking at the old White House at Wash
ington for admission We will fix up
Government good enough to live under
better than We e.are got no0 in all probabili
w."
These quotations are certainly very clear
ly in favor of Constitution and Union
but it is the Constitution of tho Southern
Confederacy and union with the slave
holding States, under their saveholdin
Constitution, which il very charitably place
in power at Washington-and not the Oh
Constitution aud Old Union, which are bot
ignored and declared non est
1t is true this article, at the time it wa
written, was not fair expression Of tn
sentiment and position Of the De,nocrati
party, or even the great body of its leadin,
spirits. 1t was published and commende
by . majority Of the papers of that party il
the State, but among the masses of tn
party there was strong feeling of aversio
"A tha hold and fan flaaa uanror 4, ,,b;ah
disposed Of the Constitution and Union.
Two years Of constant application by tn
more bold and fearless spirits of the party
has had wonderful effect IN softening dow
the fanatical attachment for the Old Cor
stitution and the Old Union, that was CLAIM
cd ss the special result Of an association
the Democratic party. And slowly an
surely the leaven Of Breckinridgeism. an
d...u ID. Il 4