Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-01-28
Gressinger vs.. Pittenger.

Gressinger VS.. Pittenger.
TO tie Editor Of the Belmont Chronicle.
SIR--The two column editorial ia last
weeks Gazette slanderiug and oalumnistins
Lieut.. Pittenger, gives conclusive evidence
that its author has sprung from an exceed
ingly low and vulgar stratum Of society; or
has sold himself, body and soul, principles
and character, to designing clique of as
vile, base-born and traitorous scoundrels as
exist outside the lines Of their proper mas
ters, the "chivalry" Of the so-called Con.
federacy. The man Of vulgar origin, who
has wanted the fostering care Of scnteel
society to implant virtuous principles and
ennobling sentiments Of humanity firmly in
his heart-no matter to what station of life
he may arise--no matter what his outward
responsibility may be, or how great his in
tellectual attainments, or polished his man
pers-yet ever aud anon, as occasion may
override, he will exhibit the vulgarity of his
former state by the coarseness of his Ian
guage, and rudeness and churlishness of his
manners. ...
How else will we account for the billings
gate, the vulgarity, the low-Aung slang and
vilainous epithets he heaps without stint
upon Pittengcr, and along with him upon
many OF the wisest and best men in the ma
ton. The whole elaborated article is filled
with language and epithets and sentiments
that become the bawdy house, the grog
shops, or denizens of such places as the
Five Points. This seems the most plausi
bic excuse for the vulgarity of the attack
upon brave and suffering soldier of the
country; while the scarcely concealed treas
: on, inferential seltlaudation, and hypocrit..
: ica pretensions to pie.y, may be accounted
for only upon the hypothesis that the author
: desires to secure favor with the better por-
ton of community, after surrendering every
instinct of manly virtue, or moral principle,
along with the powers OF his mind, to sub.
serve the interests Of set OF uDprincipled
, demagogues, who have purchased his servi-
! ccs, at the cost Of his honor as agentleman,
$ and character as Christian.
We do not propose to attempt the de
2 fence of Lieut.. Pittenger, as he is amply
! able to defend himself from any sush gratu-
itous assertions and assumptions as the arti-
a Gle contains; but propose TO notice some
general principles that the Gazette, from
E the tenor Of its remarks, would seem to
: highly prize. .u
!, Patriotism seems to be special virtue of
!, Bro. Gressingor. As it was day conse.
e Grated to that ennob,ing virtue, and feeling,
0 doubtless, that patriotic resolutions were
n growing weak in his heart, he went to the
= lecture of Lieut. Pittenger for the express
: purpose, among others, noticed hereafter
/. to have this virtue cultivated. renewed, OF
= strengthened, as the case might be. And
il We will Just look through the record of the
d result, to see if We can find out the true
character of the original article. Here it is
/. ave assert, without the least fear of sue
h "cessfu ul contradiction, that the war in which
h "we are now engaged had its origin in thost
y Every passions, excited and brought intt
e life by just such scandalous falsehoods a
r "were put forth Oh Friday evening by Mr.
e " Pittenger; Rather than yield an opl,n
IS ion they (the dogmatic Abolitionists ik'
y war. /" "They have wrecked q powerful
u transformed the country into o vast grave
J, yard!" Such is the character Of the articl
!, possessed By Bro. Gressinger. The natioI
l Of which he is fostered and protected cit
!, izen was the originator Of the rebellion
!, "Dogmatic Abolitionists" who, like Lieut.
u Pittenger, have risked their lives Tor the de
!, fence OF their homes and the honor Of thei
!" native land, were tho getters up Of all thi
- devastating war, that is costing IAN ocea
~ of blood and squanderiDg mountains Q
70 money" And not word Of cheer or not
y of commendation or token Of encourage
= ment do the brave men who are strugglin
~ for the restoration Of the national integrity
=, Union and honor, receive at his hand. Blu
10 examinations, ISLANDERS, and epithets vile
I. are the best words ho has to bestow upo
~ them. No wonder then, that he failed
y receive that ediication and increase in pa
y riotic virtues that he expected. 1t was ne
- his kind of patriotism, and he had no us
y, for the article.
~ Brother Grcssenger is man of charit.
III too, we infer from the fact that he vigorous
ly charges Lieut. Pittenger as being "a ma
I'd totally without charity" but we think
We will be seen by a few quotations that hel
ur too, as upon patriotism, they only differ 1
US to the quality Of charity" and the objec
90 Of it. He asserts that Lieut.. Pittenger
or "wolf in Sleeps clothing. " We hay
ne never seen any man whose whole soul seen
ss ed so completely filed with the fires Of ma
X ice, hatred and revenge. WHO cou
% see the world in ruins rather than adm
e, that he might be in error. i" And final
to shuts the poor fellow cut of Heaven. The
". see the refined encomiums and beautiful
OF charitable epithets with which he ornamen
ree the names Of Phillips, Sumner, Wilson an
I'd Hale, (why not Beecher ineluded2 On
ie Greeley was he forgotten?) and Ne
'n Epglanders in general ~" braxen-taeed. tou
50 mouthed men, hereditary thieves,
I'd original thieves Can such charity dive
n. in mortal mindsP Then just to think th'
OF all this wonderful display Of an overgrov
% charity was gratu,tous on his part, as Ne
I'd England was not in the question at all, aI
u, we can never be sufficiently grateful for !
er exhibition. ..,...t'
2. He i. also man Of truth, as none b.
~ such would dare TO charge stranger who
he had never seen o. making many fall
representations Of the Southern people,
% "ihat every intelligent man present kne
were false "-reierring to whipping viii
he soldiers" wickedly and maliciously false.
n Now Let no one sunnQsa for a moment tn