Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-05-07

by leaving the ranks Of traitors. Like rats
from sinking ship they seek to fee their
doom. These being admitted facts, we do
sign at present in brief to inquire whether
any just cause, or even plausible pretext
exists, sufficient to excuse their crimes.
l. The genius Of our system of Govern
ment, denies the existence Of such cause or
pretext. Our Government is founded upon
the sovereignty Of the people. Our rulers
are the servants, not the Lords Of the pco.
pie. They receive the right, temporarily,
to exercise the functions Of their office
directly by the will of the people. II is not
by any divine right they rule, any further
than the right Of the people may be On
index to that right. No privileged class
among us is ,Jora'. with Inherent right to
rule, but by the privileges granted by the
fun udamental laws Of the land, the choice
Of citizens Of the realm, whoever that
choice may be, is the authority to make aud
execute the laws during the period for
which they are chosen. And the facility
with which men may be changed whenever
sufficient cause exists the brief duration
Of their terW of office-and the mutual
checks Of the several departments of our
Government one upon another utterly pre-
clude the idea that any permanent violation
Of The will Of the majority, can be sustain
ed. Sooner or later, by the peuccible pro
visions of constitutional law, all evils would
Le reciified. Aud whoever by any other
means seeks redress FROM what he conceives
to be wrong, is himself knowingly violating
the constituted laws and authentics. 1t il
one OF the plainest and broadest principles
Of tho fundamental law, that the majorities
shall rule. And it the minority have no
arguments plausible or forceabe enough to
convince them Of error it only rculains for
them to submit, and submit peaceably aud
at once. Such being the case, where can
there be u shadow of pretert, let alone u
just cause for rebellion?
2. The declaration ofprincples governing
the several purties prior to the outbreak oil
the rebellion, denies the existence of cause
or pretext sufficient to excuse or paliate it.
The successful party of the campaign Of
1860, declared, That to the Union of the
States, this mutton owes its unprecedented
increase in population, its surprising devel
Opment OF material resources, its rapid aug
mentatiou Of wealth, its happiness ut hom,
and its honor abroad, and VIC hold in alb
horrence all schemes for disunion, com,
from whatever source they may" and fur
ther That the maintenance inviolute o
the rights ofthe States. and especially h
, right Of each State to order and coatrol ii
o,cn domestic installations according It's o,o
judgment enciusiceiy is ESSENTIAL 10 tha
balance Of power on which the perfection
and endurance of our political fabric dc
pends; and still further they declare tha
the Federal constitution the rights Of tn
States, and the Union Of the States mus
and shall be preserved.
The Constitutional Union Party, as tn
Bell and Everett purity den IN ,te then
selves, declared THAT it is both the par, o
patriotism and of duty to recognize no polil
ical principle other than The Consfitufio
of the country the Union of the States, an
the Enforcement ofthe Laps and that W
hereby pledge ourselves TO maintain, pre-
tect and defend, separately and unitedl
these great principles of public liberty an
national safety, against all enemies ut HON
and abroad.
Both the Democratic parties adopted a
the foundation of their political faith, til
. Cincinnati Democratic platform of 1885,
which declares, THAT the liberal principle
embodied by Jefferson in the declaration {
a Independence, and sanctioned in tho Cor
stitution, which makes ours the land Of lib
erty and the asylum Of the oppressed {
every nation hare erer been cardinaaI prime
, piles IN the Democratic faith. Th,
a cluiming fellowship with aud desiring tn
co operation of oil who regard the preserv
tion Of the Union under the Constitution
i the paramount issue, and again, I'm vie
p of the condition of popular institutions
. the old world, high and sacred duty
4 involved with increase responsibility upt
the Democratic Party of this country.
r. part Of the Union, to uphold and mainta
y the rights Of every State, and thereby Il
. Union of the States
n From all which declarations we see tn
y each party sought to Guido the Other
4 their decla red devotion to the maintcnan
- of the Union. The utmost of loyal dev
# tion was expressed by oil. And from q
- ton Of those parties and the declaratit
!, made oflheir principles there cannot
!. found the faintest shadow Of excuse for d
"a loyalty. And whoever is disloyal in sen
\ ment or act, Of whatever party he is, is so
"A dire ct violation Of his avowed and open
,. promulgated principles. He is traitor
n his principles as well as his country. v
;. see also how exceedingly base and d
,f ceitfui are they who noao claim to be Dem
Gratis and are in open or secret rebelli,
,. against the Union. They are arraht imp
i scrs,, every one OF them. Having stolen I