Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-12-24


way the Gazette has discouraged enlist
ments2 Suoh wholesale charges as the
CHRONICLE makes without specifications
and without proof, comes with q bad grace
from q man who, unscratched and sound,
resigns his position in the army for reasons
satisfactory 10 himself !" or from stsy-at-
home howler and lip patriot who, at safe
distance urges on carnsge and desolation,
while no is exceedingly careful to keep his
own carcass out Of harms way"
We find the above precious paragraph in
the editorial columns of the last GaLstte,
snd ss the editors seem to be desirous OF
obtsining information. we shall for their
qualification refer them toa little Of the
history of the past few years by way Of an
swerng specifically the.questiens propoun-
ded.
To the irst question: "Will the CBRoN-
rcLE please to specify in what the Demo-
cratic Party has failed to do its duty to the
country p We answer iu this: That at the
time of the inception Of the treason that
resulted in the present rebellion, the Demo
cratic Party was largely in the ascsndency
in every State Of the Uuisn where that in
cipient treason eliminated in the overt act,
and it not only "failcd to do its duty to the
country" at time when it's services were
: most needed, and in the direction where its
influence was most potent, by discouraging
rebellion and urging loyalty to the Govern
mcnt, but its leaders in those States in the
political contest Of 1860, were the authors
Of the treason, the leaders of the rebellion.
Whom the Southern wing Of tho Demo
: cratic Party arrayed itself against the Cen
eral Government, and refused to obey its
laws, whilst the Southern leaders Of that
party were srming the people against the
authorities of the Government, and by force
Of arms taking possession Of the forts and
4 dock yards of the Nation within their Dor
!, ders, and preparing themselves for the dead
J ly conflict, the Government in all its depart
ments was in the hands Of the Democratic
: Party. There was Democratic President
a Democratic Cabinet, q Democratic Su
:. prsme Court, and Democratic Congress
and they all failed to do their duty to tn
"A country" by using their personal or part
influence with their Southern brethren,
v to dissuade them from their mad purpose,
or by welding the powers Of the Govern
70 ment they had aeorn to support, to brinl
. back the refractory spirits Of their party I
he submission to the laws and authority Of th
10 Government.
in When the leaders Of the rebellion, er
is couraged by the completely or imbeciity q
u the Democratic Administration, forced tn
d. Southern States-sgainst the ekpresse
in wish Of q majority Of their peopls-iuto open
nd armed rebellion against the Government
the leaders of the Democratic party met i
Conventions 10 the Northern States, and d.
~ clared their sympathy for the people in rebs
~ u lion, their opposition to any effort on the pa
..y Of the Government to coeree them into sui
y. mission, and from that hour until the pre-
''' snt time the leaders Of what purports to b
'us the Democratic party Woodess,t the Sc
'o' mours, the Vorhsis, the Vallandig CHAINS, ii
'u' Coxes, the Medary's- shave been using Il
'ou same arguments against the measures
my Congress and the President, for the supprs
'he sion of the rebellion that have been used
~ the Davis and Mason's and keitts' al
lou Toombs' Of the Southern rebellion; and
az the continued and persistent efforts Of Il
81" leaders of this party on tho stump, al
'ea through the press, to prejudice the peoI
o' Of tho loyal section Of the country agniI
nus the Administration, and its efforts to su
n.y. press the rebellion, public sentiment h
Il k.l th~k th IN I'd A,,., fa rfi
a. " the existence of tho Government tn
of the armed rebellion that sought by op
. nd war its overthrow. But the crisis is passs
!, ,, The dark cloud that ovsrshadowed the prt
.old poets of the country has been dispersed.
re. The patriotism ofthepeople, influenced by
sympathy for tho brave men who have
a freely sacrificed the pleasures and comic
of home for the safety and preservation
my their country, has triumphed over the p
Jour judice Of party and the tsschings Of th,
;.s. Democratic leaders. has decided ov
me. whelmingly against the Democratic party q
ight the policy aud purposes Of the Delnocra
! 40 40 leaders, They begin to read the hand v
sb ting upon the wall, and as they are max
Dot- al cuOTt " 8ut tuc"sOhos p"oA " o.
ntilc port Of the Government, and their pa
lie upon war footing for the coming Pr
Dental contest, they assume the attitude
D. injured innocence, aud ask 'in what
Democratic party has failed to do its d
mon to the countryl" In view Of the history
was that party and the actions Of its leaders
Hon. the past three years. after its abandonm
ieei- BY its leading Statesmen, and above oil, .
'ndi- tho recent terrible, overwhelming rsbuk'
best has received at the hands Of the people,
that tho still more severe and unanimous den
unit. o;.,;on bv What was called . Dsmocr
nb'r army, man must bs ignorant, indeed
'ting possessed Of an unsccountable degree OF
riety plici,y,.who would ask the question, >
INIT what the Democratic party has failed u
had its duty to the oountry2"