Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-04-14

hurled down from Heaven, he suddenly lift
ed up has head, exclaiming. (which way
| fee is hell" and, like Satan, his scollesgue
might have added, Myself am helllh-
During the Revolutionary War, Lord Fair
fax, after deliberation, decided to 20 over to
the mother country, and went over grandy
and solemnly. But there was another man
who had Joined his fortunes to the strug.
Cling country, and remained with il till the
war was well nigh done: but, as in the dark.
ness which precedes the morning, that man
hatched treason, to surrender to the enemy
all that had been gained. And that man
was Benedict Arnold. When the present
war commenced, some men hesitated as to
what they should do, while others went
over to the enemy. Robert E. Lee, who
sat at his home at Arlington, hesitating and
doubling, at last went over almost tearfully..
But now, when hundreds of thousands OF
brave soldiers have assembled to God under !
the shadow Of the banner which now waves
over us, and when thousands more have
gone into state of ofdecrepitude, when three
years of terrific war have been raging and
our arms have pushed back the Rebellion
and now, when the uplifted arm Of majestic
power is ready to let fall the lightnings of
vigorous execution, here, in the quiet of
this hall, rises the dark purpose of Bene-
dict Arnold, which would surrender the ma
ton, its flag, and honor and glory, to the
bitter curses Of the traitors of our country.
For the first time in the history of the war
it is proposed TO give up the struggle and
and abandon the war, and let treason run
riot in the land. Mr.. Garfield then contro-
verted his colleagues positions, The issue
was now made up. We should use the
common weapons ofwar. IF with these we
| ohn,,l& MT s,,ooaa1 bo mould L., ~, a euraa
as he would against the savage who attacked
himself or family. He would resort to any
element Of destruction; and, Unnecessary, he
would fling all constitutional sanctions to
the winds rather than lose his country.
Mr.. Eldridge (Dem., Wis asked him
whether he had not sworn to support the
Constitution. .. ...... -.
Mr.. Garfield replied he had, and he was
glad the gentleman had asked the question.
He rccollected that the Constitution declar-
ed the purposes for which it was formed; it
was for the general welfare and public de-
fense. And on that ground he swore to
support it, regrettng that he had not q
sword in his uplfted hand at the time to in
terpose all means to overthrow this cursed
Rebellion. He said that when he was in
the military service spy brought TO him
two letters addressed TO John c. Breckin-
ridge. They continued commentators of
the bearer, who desired place in the ranks
was written by man who lately held seat
on this floor, and was from Indiana.
Messrs. Holman. @. A. White, and ofh-
ers on the Opposition side, called for the
name of the writer. .....
MIR. Garfield replied he had the letter,
and was understood to say that he would
; give the name at the proper time. He then
alluded to tho Knights of the Golden Cir
Gle, With their secret signs and passwords
Such organizations came up before the
) American people under the lead of the par
, ty over the way. This will be the signal fei
r throwing up blue-lights at the capitol al
: Richmond This he believed to be the ele
waited banner the signal to be answered by
; traitors all over the land. t... .rsf-.t
5 Mr.. Long replied that he said very dis
y tinctly when he commenced his remarks
, that he spoke for himself, and that he wa
alone responsible for his utterances. II,
was we'll aware of all he did say. He sale
= it deliberately, because his conscience tolt
e him it was right, and his judgment approx
ed it. He said, because when he approach
ed the front of the desk and held up hi
hand to swear to support the Constitution
; before Heaven, he intended to maintain tn
/ solemnty of the obligation. And so hel
IS him God, fearless of all charges which coul
be made by that gentleman or others, i
spite of all means of power in the land, h
never would violate that oath, nor shrin
9 from the responsibility he assumed on tn
first day of the session. He never belonge
to party which took the oath with men
$ tai reservation. He remembered the dis
trict of country from which his colleagu
y hailed. The resistance to the Fugitive Slav