Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-07-21
'TERms OF ADvEa TiSIxc



The following letter was sent by tho
Hon. Schuyler Colfax to the Congressional
Convention Of the IXth District ofIndians,
held at Valparaiso on the s0th ult., which
nominated Mr.. C6lfax for reelection by 40
clamstion.
- HoCsK OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WAsHIN0TOs, June rs, "a.
Nix DEAR SIR: The prolongation of the
session Till next week prevents my attending
the Congressional Convention at Valparaiso
on the s0th, and thingliBg there with such
true-hearted patriots as know will bc found
assembled. Ny sphere Of duty is here ill
Congress adtourns; and never having been
absent from IL single day, it would not be
night to leave 1t now for nyoxn personal
gTatifcatioR. g.. a..
Appealed TO last February b. the unsni-
nous resolution Of the delegates for, tho
i4fh District at the State Convention. TO
accepts re. nomination, my name is before
your Capyeution; for oheeriuly as 4, would
have retired TO make place for soma other
candidate, j. seemed that, while our brave
defenders In the field were standing at their
posts 70 fearlessly, no one in civil life could
righifufy desert his, If his constituents CON-
nanded otherwise. But it must be prompt
ly Withdrawn, il even in the opinion OF
minority Of the counties il would be wiser
and stronger to present some new candidate
If the voice of the Convention, however, ia
clearly and unmistaksbly in favor of my re-
nomination, and BY such a decided prspon-
dersnce as to leave no doubt as to the wish
es Of the people, shall accept its action,
an honorable pride at this renewed evidence
Of their continued confidence.
But regarding division of the Union
forces at the balot-box as akin in its results
to diversion or weakening Of our forces at
the front. should feel guilty Of crime il
the presentation of my name threatened the
harmony or impaired the strength of the
loyal cause l have striven here 80 faithfully
to serve. speak thus generally because.
at this distance, it is impossible TO foreknow,
what viii be the prevsiling eriDion when
the delegates from the Lake to the Wabash
shall oomminele. Nor can |, of course,
predict all the details of the platform. But
frsnkness compels me to tell you my views
on the great questions of the day, unresery-
edly, in advance. isi-., i,
Ijustify the Administration in its denial
10 suspected traitors aud their abettors of
the writ OF habeas corpus; for, as / read the
the Constitution, this was the express in
tent Of its trainers, when, in TIME of iusur-
rection, the public safety required it.
justify IT, slso, in what is denounced by
its enemies ss bitrary arrests" aud only
regret that aay thus arrested, against whom
there seemed reasonable suspicion, like
Marshal Kane and others, were discharged
without trial. -
justify B.tle. in daring to hang trail
tor in New Orlesns,, and Burnside in ar
resting an influential politician for publicly
I IaCv,n1 ~,d orJa
deemed essential for the nations cause.
heartily approve The Presidents Eman-
cipation Proclamation, and his solemn dec
lsration that no slave of any State.
whether on the border or further South,
who fights for his country, shall ever wear
the chains of bondage. r,s..s, ,.r-.c 7
| Rm for the most vigorous exertioRs to
re-enforce our armies by the largest possible
addition of colored troops; and only regret
| that the persistent opposition to them by
the enemies Of the Administration, their
| Congressmen and their presses, has retard-
ed their organization; when, had they uni
tedly aided in the work and encouraged it,
we might have had, ere now, 400, 900 of
such soldiers, instead OF 100000 and avoid
ed all impending drafts. 1'
indorse most heartily the policy of con-
| 6scating the property of Rebels voluntarily
| IN arms against their country; and Sho,
guiltier than the parricide, seek to involve
country and citizen alike 10 g common de-
! struction. At ..,E 5 >..n
am for striking at Slavery, the cause Of
all our woes, and the progenitor Of this gi-
gantic Rebellion, with every power under
eur control-War Power of the army, the
Naval Power Of the Navy, and the procls-
nation power of the President and for its
final and irrevocable extirpation from the
land, by an amendment TO the Constitution.
which shall make that instrument, Us well
as the Republic itself, forever free; and
thus, also, obey the Divine Injunction, ITO
break every yoke aud let the oppressed 60
free" - Z ,,.. .r.-- -..'.: -, ..-,.7
! am against treason, whether it rsars it's
hideous form in front OF our patriotic and
gallant armies. or under the roof Of our cap
| itol; in the streets OF New York. or within
the borders of Indiana; and am against any
severance Of the Union by the sword OF re-
bellion, by a disgraceful compromise, or by
base surrender ofthe sacred cause in which
go many martyrs for the right have so sadly
and yet 80 bFsveiy fallen.
And, 70 SUM up, ani for Abraham Lin
coln--the pilot who shrank not in the dark
ost hour-and for Andrew Johnson faith.
full among the fsirhless found for the
highest offices in the nations gift, Of which
they are each so worthy. -.-
.T5v, won Very truly yonrs, i q "a
-.-., .--r :T.,.s- SCHUYLER COLFAx.
MARK L. MCLELLAND, Valparaiso, Ind.
Pm