Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-09-01
2elmuat Chronicle.
st. cIairsviIIe, Ohio, Sept. I.
Proclamation by the Govern or.
EXECUTIVES DEPARTMENT OF ONO,
aaA.r CorIruuus Auunet 90

" orueIeu 10 thke place on tne .otn say OF
September next. for any deficit that may
to the State of Ohio. This draft is fixed
by the provisions of the act Of Congress,
and must follow in fifty days after the date
of the call of the President. Present in.
dicatlons are, that portion of the quota OF
this State will be deficient, and that IN at
least some districts draft must take place
TO cover such deficiencies This need not,
and should not have been the case. The
exertion that has been made to disco curage
and prevent cnlistments. If otherwise di
rected, would have filed the quotas of those
localities, or left the deficiencies very light
However unwilling to believe that any con-
siderable portion of the people of this State
would array themselves in spirit Of factious,
if not reasonable. opposition to the execu-
ton of the laws of the land, there are indi-
cations Of such spirit in the State, which,
as Chief Magistrate, | may not disregard =
In appealing to the people to discard the
counsels of wicked and unrrincipled leaders
that invite them to facious and forcble
resistance to the draft, or any other legal
requirement of the Government, AIN
ectuated solely by desire to preserve if
practicable, the peace of the State, and the
welfare Of the erring portion of our people,
and not from any apprehcnsions Of either
the determination or ability Of the Govern
ment to maintain the supremacy Of its laws.
The man who supposes that either the Ma
tional or State Government is unadvised OF,
or unprepared for the threatened emergency
is following tho deception Of his leaders to
the consequences of the most serious char
acter. Let me advise you who :ountenance
this insurrectcn, to look carefully at the
civil and military penalties you are iucar-
MT IF I,,l,
3ls., 1864 40 define and punish certain
oonspirocies" is as follows
Bel enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives. of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That if two
OF more persons within any State or Terri
tory of the United States shall conspire to-
gether to overthrow, or to put down, or to
destroy by force, the Government of the
United States, or to levy war against the
United States, or to oppose by force the
authority of the Government OF the United
States; or by force to prevent, hinder, or
delay the execution Of any law Of the United
States; or by force to seize, take, or pos
sess any property of the United States
against the will or contrary to the authority
OF the United States or by force, or intim-
idation, or threat to prevent any person
from accepting or holding any Office, or trust
States; each and every person so offending
shall be guilty Of a high crime, and upon
conviction thereof in any district or circuit
court Of the United States, having jurisdic-
tion thereof, or district or supreme court OF
any Territory of the United States having
jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a
fine Of not less than five hundred dollars and
not more than five thousand dollars; or by
imprisonment, with or without hard labor,
as the court shall determine, for a period
not less than six months nor greater than
six years, VI by both such fine and imprison.
ment."
This is merely the punishment for cousl i
racy; yet its penalties arc not light, and
should not be thoughtlessly incurred. This
follows, too, mere combination or agree.
ment OF men to do an unlawful act, and is
complete without resort to arms Resist
ance to the law by bodies Of armed men son-
Rtitutes an overt nct OF treason, the punish
ment of which is death. These are the civil
peHalties the military results are to be
found in the power Of the Goveynmcnt by
armed force. to deal with every species of
insurrection against the enforcement Of it's
legal ensctments.
1t is Unnecessary to argue the duty OF
every citizen to yield obedience to the laws
constitutionally enacted, as long as they re-
main in force. If men may take up arms
to resist laws, in the policy or effect Of which
they do not concur, then all Government is
at an end and We are resolved into an.
archy. This state of things is not to be
tolerated. A Government may as well per.
ish in bold and vigorous effort to maintain
its integrity, a. TO suffer an insurroction to
neutraze its laws and dey its power
Most earnestly do appeal to the people
OF tha Staia uaf N nua t,a in fhia t,roihl
resistance to the laws 10 which evil counsel
lors and bad men are leading them. Ii can
not and will not succeed. Its triumph, i
It achieve any, must be of mere temporary
character. The Government is not weak
1t is strong and powerful. 1t cannot and il
will not, permit an armed insurreotion e
impeach its strength, to impair its power
while contending with the Southern rebel
hon. do not say this to you in any spirit
OF intimidation, or in any threatening tone.
speak 1t to You Us a warning, and with an
imploring voice TO hear and heed it. know
what the determination OF your Govern.
ment Is, and ! fully comprehend the power
at haad to enforce it,.
What can you, who contemplate armed
resistance, reasonably expect to gain hy such
movement? You cannot efiectually O,
permanently prevent the enforcement Of the
laws. You cannot in anywise improve you
own condition in the present, and must seri
ously ipjure it in the future. Judicious anc
conservative mon, who look to the suprem
acy Of Government for the protection an,
safety Of their persons aud property, wi
not sympathize or co operate with you. Yo
may commit crime; you may shed blood
you may destroy property; you may sprea
ruin and devastation over some localities @
the State; you may give aid and comior
Tor senson TO the rebels already in arm
against the country; you may transfer, 70
brief time, the horrors Of war from tn
ilelds OF the South to those OF the State O
Ohio; you may paralyze prosperity, an,
create CONSERVATION and alarm amon
our people. This is q bare possibi
ity; but it is all you can hope TO aC
complish for 2eu have looked upon III
progress Of our present struggle TO it'll
purpose, if you have not learned the grea
recuperative power aud the deep earnest
ness OF the country in this contest. Tn
fiDal result will not be doubtful; the dis
aster TO you will be complete. and the pen
atty will equal the enorlni;y Of the crime