Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-03-19
Eternal Vigilance is the Price of
Liberty.o

eternal Vigilance is the Price OF
Liberty"
As the time for holding the spring elce.
tons approaches, the friends of free gov
ernmcnt and lovers of the Union should be
admonished that vigilance at the 'bal
lot boz" as well as upon the battle. field, is
the price Of our free institutions. The
enemies Of our free government at the North
everywhere, are not idle, but doing all in
their power, consistent with personal safety,
to weaken the Government and prejudice
the war; Under these circumstances, lot
the Union party be warned in time, that
the wary foe does not steal q march upon
them in the absence Of Union voters in
the army, and thus secure victory at the
Spring elections.
| The Warren Chronicle, of last week, SO
nearly expressed our views on the subject
that we adopt them as our own:
| To counteract the Vaccinations of this
semi Secesb organization let the Union par.
ty in every township in this county, and
every county in the State, commence and
secure thorough organization. This can
be effected by taking care to select the right
stripe of men for the various township of.
fces and appointing town and district com
mittees to look to the local interests of the
party in the very important campaign of the
coming season.
We incidentally alluded to what we feel
sure is fact, in last weeks paper, when we
stated that the Butternuts were well organ
lied for party warfare, while our friends, as
partizans, failed in this very necessary at
tainment. 1t will not do to confde too
much to our numerical strength for success.
Foras the battle is not always to tho strong,
nor the race to the swift" but sometimes
to the few but bold and vigilant, we cannot
say what disaster might not occur through
our apathy. .s ~ i3es -,r
Tho place to begin the work of organizes
tion and party activity is the township meet.
ing. A few active men can do great deal
to arouse the attention of their neighbors,
by talking to them at convenient opportuni
ties and insisting on their cooperation in
the labor of maintaining an unbroken line
and bold front to their political adversaries.
The Butternuts have their regular meet.
ings for drill and consultation in every town
where corporals guard of them can be
found. They are quite sanguine of catch
ing the Union men asleep this spring, and
by polling their votes hope to carry the
local elections. Such feat would add to their
political capital fifty per cent, in the way of
encouraging their rank and file, while it|
would very probably have depressing in
fuence on large number, among us. But
all this can be averted by exercising due
diligence in preparing TO meet our oppo-
nents with sufficient force, which We have to
overwhelm them. However much season
OF political excitement in the North at this
time may be deprecated by all who realize
the necessity of union among ourselves to
be able to overcome the rebels, it is plain
that heated campaign is inevitable. The
Butternuts have so willed it. They have
rejected, as q party, every overture for bury
ing the hatchef Of party strife until we had
saved the Government, and have said they
will uphold their party at all hasards, even
though all should sink in common grave off
ntter ruin. TO us there appears only one
way to get along with these miserable
factionists, and that it is for the people to
rise in the majesty of their power and vote
their political annihilation. We WOULD
NOT SEEK ANY COMPROMISE WITH THE
ANTr-wAR BUTTERNUTs, With Unien on
their lips, but treason in their hearts, they
are ready to betsay the North to the South
whenever they attain sufficient political
power to enable them to make the dishonor.
AbIo transfer with safety to their necks. AS
long as the Union party holds the reins of
government, they know it is impossible to
execute their reasonable designs. In a
contest with such men, the members of tho
Union Party must not occupy equiyocal
ground. Though thousands of their mum.
Der are on the battle field, and many are
numbered with the honored brave who have
allen in defence Of the old dag Of liberty,
yet are they capable Of defeating the in
,idious sbettors of rebels at home. The
sacrifices the Union people of the North
have made in behalf Of their country
'hould only inspire them with new zeal and
'onsecrate them with q fresh baptism of
patriotic fire to the cause Of their country
ieliyersnce, peace and glory. Let the good
work Of uniting, combining and using our
strength as loyal party be felt this Spring
It the polls, Let there be such vote
polled that the opposition viii see they have
! foe to contend with who will combat them
It every step. If we do this Il will do much
oward preparing for the more important
,lectionin October,