Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-06-04


cant speeches and resolutions of the last tew
months2 81 NJ 'F
Tire "Secessionists per se," Ito use q
phrase in vogue in the South at one tune, J
deeined the co cooperation ofthe Southern
Observation-Disclosures essential to the success
Of the first step in their plan--the secession
Of the Southern States-as that co opera.
tlon was need d to make the movement pop
ular and effective at home, and the aid of
the reconstructionists in the Northern,
Western, and border States, was required to
prevent the suppression Of the movement,
IN its inception, by the Federal Govern.
.nent.
Though greatly disappointed in some re.
spects, yet in other their success was even
greater than they had anticipated. The op.
position in the South was much less trouble.
some than might have been expected. The
causes of this aud the means taken to sup
press resistance, are, no doubt, well known,
aud need not be stated. One fact, howev.
er, deserves to be noted, and its importance
canuot he overratcd. The whole slavehold
ing class, with its numerous dependents,
enlisted in the enterprise of secession with
such violent alacrity and zeal that the very
word "Reconstructionist' soon became an
epithet OF reproach thai no politician dared
incur. Two results followed, viz: First, tho
Reconstructionists FASTENED to become "Se-
cessionists per se," and secondly, it became
impossible for the leaders Of the movement
to keep faith with the reconstructionists of
the Northern, Western and border States,
even it such had been their original design.
That this design, if ever entertained, is
now abandoned, il clearly manifested by the
open and frequent avowals Of late made in
Southern prints, and in the Confederate
Congrcss-even by the peace advocating
MIR. Foote-that the South eau never, and
will never, enter into Contederacy Of any
kind with non slaveholding States Moth
ing can be palmer, or more emphatic, or
more earnest, than the assertions Of this de-
termination on the part Of the South. They
mean precisely ichat they say: aud it matters
not, SO far as the future Is concerned, wheth-
er this determ nation, now so plainly avow
ed, Is wholly the result Of the war, or wheth.
CT it existed in the minds of the Secession.
lists prior to the war That the latter is the
fact, however, cab confidently aver, as |
had frequent intlmations to that effect from
various Southern men in the fall of 1860,
aud the winter Of lS60-61; and besides,
long before the Inauguration of Mr.. Lincoln,
it had ceased to be safe for any man to
broach in the cotton States, tho ezpcdiency
ot reconstruction Of the Union on any ba.
sis whatever. Further than this one OF the
original per Sc Dlsunionists, man Of
high standing in his State, aud Of the ultra
States Rights school, after remarking to me
OF the Montgomery Constitution, shortly at.
ter its promulgation, that it was provis.
ional instrument, designed for a moral el.
Fac n nd in h.. b,, >
on TO speak OF the adoption, in due time, OF
a permanent Constitution which should not
only exclude all free States, but also prohib.
it any member of the ConfedeI acy from ever
cmancipating its slaves without the consent
Of all the other States.
1t is certain that a pure slave Confedera
cy had been originally determined on, and
that the admission Of the Northwest into
that Confederacy, even on terms, was not,
from the first, in the programme, as under
stood by the initiated. Not even was the
doctrine Of States Rights to be urcondition,
ally adnitted-that peculiar and cardina
dogma las had been supposedly of the Dem.
ocratlc faith according to Calhounl The
Border States were not to be allowed tC
shape their policy, at any future time, so a.
to meet their own views OF cxpediency, bu
they were to be held by constitutional re
strictions in complete subservience to the
views and interests Of the Gulf States.
1t will be seen that neither accuse no,
suspect any Northern or Western Democrat
vi the design to aid in the permanent dis
solution Of the Union; and certainly tho
Democratic party, as party, is liable to nc
such charge. But one assertion may satel,
be made, viz, that the Democratic politi
clans OF the North and West, whoever the,
may be, who were privy to portion OF the
Secession scheme, and thought they were
taken wholly into tho confidence of South
ern men, were grossly deceived, and have
been betrayed and deserted by their suppos.
cd Southern allies. And yet these polti.
cans seem to be acting precisely us il the
original programme, as understood by them,
were still being adhered 10 by the South in
perfect good iaith, the plainest acts and
declarations OF Southern men to the con.
trary Notwithstanding,
IT, disregarding the late disclosures OF
their real intentions by Southern Secession
lists, any Northern or Western Democrats
suffer themselves to be deluded bS private
aud confidential assurances from any quar-
tor into the belief that the South will vol
unfairly enter into o reconstruction of the
Union, in whole or 10 part-ot u Union en-.
bracing single free State-if, acting upon
this persuasion, they devote themselves to
the execution ofthe programme as original
ly palmed of upon them, but now impossi
BILE to be carried out by Southern politi.
ciana, even il these wore really desirous tha,
it should be; If they permit themselves tc
be used, in any way, or to any extent. fol
tho iurtherance OF plans devised or partici
pated in by those who have:basely abused
their con6dence--let them, at all events
listen to the warning Of Gulf State Unior
Democrat, respecting the consequences o.
such course. No reconstruction will take
place, they may rest assured, during thi.
generation, except as the result of the en-
tire defeat Of the rebellion by force Of arm.
TO accomplish which, the power of the
North 10 fully adequate, If that power bs
not divided against itself But fail to ac
complish this, acknowledge the Confedera
cy, or give it time, by n suspension Of hos
tilities, to strengthen itself, at home anc
abroad, so that Il shall be able to realize il,
designs, and in vain will single Western
or Middle State knock tor admission into
that Coniederacy. In vain will it try, b,
fugitive slave laws, aud by laws permittinI
masters to bring their slaves within It's lin,
its, to recommend itself for adoption into tn,
Coniederacy dominating tho Lower Mssis