Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-12-15
when Shall the war Cease and
what of Siaveryl


The President has spoken in the most
unequivocal manner as to the time when
the Government of the United States will
cease hostilities, namely: "Whenever war
shall have ceased on the part Of those who
began it. That is tosay, there would have
been no war-there was no disposition to
to continue war against the Southern
people, on the part of the General Govern
naent, but for the need Of maintaining its
authority aud fulfilling the duty imposed
upon it through the President, by the
Constitution, that "he shall take care that
the laws be faithfully executed" Apart
from this, we do net belive that there existed
any person or persons, of whatever moral or
political faith, in the North who desired to
mako war upon the South forany cause, or
even to pass the bounds appointed by
Christian and civilized usage in agitation
against any institution which existed in the
South, including slavery. There was not
an Abolitionist in land who would have. been
willing to incur war such as has taken place,
for the purpose of securing the abolition OF
slavery. There was no threat OF that kind
pending. Hence there was no excuse on
that basis for JEFF. Davis leading the South
ern States into rebellion, aud none fortheir
following him. The rebels made war, not
against certain Northern States, rot against
abo!itionists, not against the Republican
party, but against the Government, and
whatever may have been their purpose in
making war against US, we have simply to
do with the fact that TO carry it out they
violated the laws, set the authority OF the
Government at defiance. and took furci-
BILE possession of the common properly of
the United States, the custody of which
was vested in the Government. And thlsis
the issue-all the issue between tsSc Govern
ment and the rebels to-day. TIE rebels
having made the institution OF slavery a
weapon of warfare against the government,
an element entirely foreign in its relation to
the government, over which the Executive
could exercise no jurisdiction, unless used
as an arm with which to smite his authority;
because an effort was made to render that
arm weak or imperative against our srmy,
does not make that issue, on our part at
least, one against slavery. Ii fthe rebels VIII
cease to fight, the war must cease, Tor our
people are anxious for peace, and would not
! fight if they did not have an enemy IN the
field to fight with. When they lay down
their arms they will find slavery asst was
before the war, excepting Of course. the
change which it has undergone by their
using it as weapon ofwarfare. They can
not expect to find it intact any more than
they can expect to find their first army still
in the field in their bran new grey uniforms.
The government of the United States was
forced, in its own defense, to shoot down
rebel soldiers, to destroy rebel works, to
burn bridges, tear up railroads, free slaves,
and many other things it dare not do in the
exercise of its functions as civil authority.
The President can no more re-lnSiave q
person made free by his Emancipation Wa
Proclamation, than he can raise to life
again the thousands of men who have
perished in battle. When the subject o.
Slavery comes to be considered by the peo
pie, its death will be decided upon in {
CONSTITUTIONAL manner. In the meantime
tt is the bounden duty of the President o
the United States, and he accerts tito carr,
on the war until the rebels lay down-thei
arms, but not moment longer However
whether in peace or in war;, the indication
is that. before many months shall hny
passed, the Constitution will be so amended
as to set at rest foreverths slavery question
so far as this nation it concerned. Th
Constitution as it is, and he who execute
the laws under is, have Determined the liml
of the present war to be, the instant tn
assalant rstires. At that moment the civ
order Of things will be resumed. Il Pitt
Com. u..er