Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-01-21

mass Of our people, OF both political parties,
refrained from interfering with their "pe.
culiar institution" we first family protest.
ed, and then more resolutely declared
against its being made an engine of political
power, and, for this purpose, extended over
territory that otherwise should be free.
We urged the southern people to eonfne
that institution" within its existing limits.
and take with il all the guarantees the
nation could give for its quiet And pesoeable
enjoyment; but we could not consent that
the blighting influence Of slavery should be
spread over free territory, merely to create
Slave States, in order to preserve 'the
balance Of political power" For. this check
to their political ambition, the leaders in
augurated this gigantic rebellionj and o
large portion Of their people took upon,
themselves its consequences, in an armed
attempt to destroy government under
/ which they had been prosperous and happy;
to dissolve Union Of States that had
bsen their protection and strength, with
out contemplating the possibility Of failure,
or the fact that success must impoverish
rather than benefit their condition.
According to the magnitude OF this rebel
lion, the result OF 4 restoration OF our Gov
ernment and Union, will be potent in its in
auence, not only upon ourselves but the civ.
ilized world. 1t involves the question Of
mans capacity for selfgovernment. The
issue is on trial, whether Q Government
resting solely with the people, and controlled
by delegated powers, possesses the elements
of strength and unity to protect itself and
assert its sovereignty in such an emergency
as a great revolution or rebellion Inaugural
ted among portion of its own people for
its destruction. When this fact shall be de-
monstrated, as the loyalty Of the great mass
of our people gives unmistakable evidence
that it will be, it establishes at once the
stability Of our form of government
vindicates the integrity and intelligence OF
our people, 1T will stand forth us warn.
, ing to future attempts at rebellion,-whie
it will constitute page in history that the
patriot and phlanthropist OF other lands
may contemplate with pride and hopeful.
/ ness.
As we have not provoked this war, but
sought rather to avoid it, We are not respon.
sible for its consequences to its projectors
and their followers If the people of the
, Southern States feel its burthens and de.
{ vastating influences, it is because they have
| invited them if sorrow and suffering and
{ misery have been brought to their hearth
I stones, it is because they would not be con
t tent with peace and prosperity; if oppres
sion and tyranny arc the features Of the
, because they suffered themselves to be
. long protected and blessed them ;-if they
are stepped in debt, impoverished end ruin
8 ed, it is because they have preferred these
v to condition of affiuence and plenty ii
Q their agriculture is smitten, and their com
/ merce is destroyed, it is because they have
assaied the interest that has fostcred thu
one, and attempted to strike down the fal
: that has protected the other;--if their in
4 stitution of human slavery is now dying II
/ thoir midst, it is because they have snittcr
a it with their own hands-because they made
, it an element of rebellion, they
/ sought to change its character from do
mestic institution, under the protection o.
{ the Constitution and laws, to the gigantic
' form of political power that should rule
I and desolate the land The fruits are Of
t the tree they have planted; and the hand
r that reared 1t can alone be censured for theil
o bitterness. Time, repentance and loyalty
O will, in most instances, relieve them frou
the consequences of their folly and crime
II Peace, prosperity and plenty may COM
d again; but they cannot expect the nation t.
r restore all they have-dsstroyed. They can
al uOt TcuouuduIy tldC VIC SuOulu TtStOT
# to life and vitality again the active agent o
f institution Of slavery any further privleg
d or immunity than the pesple Of the North
a ern States may seem proper to extend to it
As we approach the end of this contest j
a is natural that portion of our people shoul,
n display some anxiety to anticipate il, will
n plans and propositions that, upon super6cl
d al examination, may promise 10 hasten it
n adjustment.
Il We want peace-the North as we'll as tn
l. South but we have not passed the terribl
ordeal Of the last three years, to make G
:. accept peace upon any other than homo
)" able terms, or without the promise OF pc
y manent adjustment and endurance. W
~ cannot negotiate with rebels in arms, or az
y nit Of anything from them but unconditiol
ps al surrender and submission. Much we Gu
~ pardon to the masses of the people, but Il
=, leaders must reap OF the harvest they ha,
W sown. The past has its punishments tn,
may be mitigated or forgiven but Il
We future must have full and ample securit
70, 1t is simple folly to talk OF suppressir
ed this Rebellion and restoring the unity of Il
ed country without first subjugating tho mil
MS tary power Of the Confederaey, or relievir
ve the people of the seeding States from
cOntrOlilnB lnuuence-anu III many case
at oppression. 1t does not follow that the de
III truction of the military power of the Sou1
IN, is the subjugation of the people. In MAJ
ad cases it will prove their cnfrsnchissmeu
ne There is loyal sentiment and population
1t nearly, if not quite all the Southern State
ps- Where too strong, or too open in its mar
ne festations, the military power has essaye
ie- by every possible means, to keep it in su
,t, lection. Men holding and expressing 10y
nd sentiments, have been fined, imprisone
ir, hunted into the forests and mountains; al
rol many of them suffered death while thu
en- families have been impoverished and RUNE
nd Political leaders designing men, who h
IN secretly plotted the overthrow of our 60
th crnment-led few-but actually forced
IS, majority of the Southern States into sec
u. sion and rebellion--and the military pow
no now holds them there. 'lsa
TO Future history will record that, perha
no no with two exceptions, the ordnance Of SEQ
w sion would not have been carried in any
ees the seeding States, If the people oor
I nI1 have been permitted q fair, uncontroll
"a, election, by ballot, upon it. But they We
@ eu overwhelmed by fraud and force--and tn
CO ~ =, ,,o.o .olJ n.orJ,no 10 tha