Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-01-21
Extracts from the Speech of General
il. w. CAN'T af Cincinnati.


people Of Arkansas, exhorting them to
stand by the Union. This letter was re-
markable, both on account of it's able man.
ner Of presenting the case and from the fact
that the writer, Gen. CAN'T, had held a
Brigadier-G GenersPs commission in the Reb-
81 army, and had served in that capacity
But, becoming convinced Of the error into
which he had been carried by the Secession
whirlwind, he boldly sbjured the rebel
cause, and manfully spoke his sentiments to
the Arkansas people. ..- -'-,-. p. !
Gen. Can't recently spoke in Cincinnati,
and the following extracts from his speech
will be read with pleasure by our readers
We copy from the Commercials report:
But what was the result? Delaware would
not come with us; Maryland hesitated, and
then clung to the old flag; Kentucky did not
respond. She hesitated in gloom and amid
fields Of blood, and then, emerging from the
cloud, shone brightly as ever in the colec-
tion Of stars. Missouri, too, long scene Of
bloody conflict, has returned to the Union.
She toppled amid the wreck and disorder,
but again sparkles in the nations coronet of
bthts. uio IOOhGuu Odu W DibNeTy
seemed worse hemmed in than ever before
and we feared to abandon it and the strug-
gle. We waited long and patiently for our
recognition by foreign powers. But, in.
stead OF that, came Lncoln's Proclamation
Of Emancipation. Prolonged applause.
don't think the vast importance of that
measure was fully understood, either by the
people or the President himself, when it was
issued. We Of the South certainly did not
fully or nearly appreciate it. But first came
his notice, and at this we laughed.
What, said we, has Lincoln or his Gov
ernmcnt to do with US. that he sends us his
notices. Let him try it on, and see what
good it will do him. Sure enough the fa.
nous Emancipation Proclamation was issu.
ed. But still we laughed. What does his
Proclamation amount to, said we. Our Gov
eminent doesn't ratify it; it doesn't affect
our Constitution. But armies had been
raised, and under the old flag the legions OF
the North and West bore down upon US,
and they brought with them-the RocIa-
nationl Cheers. We called them Lin.
coins hordes, but with their appearance,
the manacles fell from off our slaves, and
they were free. We in the Interior saw this
result along the rivers, and we pitied our
friends who were thus feeling the effects OF
the Proclamation; but we soon felt the same
trouble, and we laughed no more on that
subject. And here let me express my be.
lief that God Almighty intends this war to
be the death-blow to slavery. From the
6rst, we can trace circumstances and signal,
which point unmistakaby to this fact
Every circumstance in this rebellion show,
a struggle in the nature Of things to free
the nation from the blight of this curse. -
And we will throw it of and be a more hom
ogeneous and united people than ever be
fore. The people of the South did not un
derstahd this at first, but they are begin
ming to learn it, and to see the philosophy
of events. Many Of us see it now, and de-
sire the evil uprooted forever. I believe
that If certain men in the North will stor
|. talking about peace and conservatism, and
use every effort in support Of the war, tha
' the rebellion will be SO pushed as to collaps,
D by spring time. You would think, if 20,
visited us in Arkansas, that the seat Of Alb
a olitionism had been transferred from Ney
: Esgland to Arkansas. Our people have
right-God knows-to be sick of slavery
: and they are sick of it. OH so sick, The
. can point to dosolated homes, devastated
fields, forsaken firesides, and smoking villa
ges as monument OF slavery. They turr
I'll from it with loathing indescribable Blu
while We who are so much interested pra,
: for deiverance from the curse, there is
0 sneaking party in the North who woul
force us 100 keep this curse with us. w
/ would return to our allegiance with SLAYER
!, blotted from our State Constitution. WhH
sight is here presented. tell you, IN
+ friends, that if you desire to prolong thi
. war, you have only to continue this tai
g about conservatism. There is nothing tbs
has more assisted JEFF. Davis than this cor
ssrvative, peace party of the North. Th
Il work Of that party, he said, was the first ra
Of light he had perceived and rejoiced 6
! during this whole struggle. Let me appei
., to you, then, to drop this talk Of conseryl
= are in force. You people Of Ohio have dor
u q glorious work in this war. Your soldie
70 have bravely represented this State on man
q battlefield glorious to the arms of Il
Union. But never did Ohio strike such
10 blow at the rebellion as when her voice ga'
, a hundred thousand majority in favor OF Il
" principles represented by John Brough.
~ Loud and prolonged cheers. That vi
O. one Of the most terrible blows the rebelliC
r. ever received. 1t was the greatest victo
of the age. Its moral force is above {
computation. And your own city of Ci
=. cinnati, in its Great Sanitary Fair, h
, achieved another victory which will have
= great influence in the cause Of freedom.
l. But, if / return again to the subject
{ the people o! Arkansas, you must not co
slider me tiresome, for it Ia one Of great il
portauce to me and my people. As an G
n ample of the intense desire Of our people
return to tho Union, and have slavery ab,
d ishsd, l will relate one incident. A rel
'r ment OF 500 Arkansas soldiers who hi
Dr. served in Mr.. Prices army returned hom
I was requested to address them and
so. These mon represented one.fourth
a. the State, for many Of them, privates thoui
they were, were prominent citizens-pr
IN fessional men, judges Of tho courts, legisl
,e tors, ETC., before the war. At the close
o. my address took a vote on the question
returning to allegiance to the old Cover
ment with slavery abolished. And he
many votes, think you were given in favo
be Just eight hundredl There was not m,
cd Of them who was not in favor of returnil
nv Ito his allegiance and having the curse
- slavery removed from of his State.
Some people Of the North have said tn
II do not represent the people Of my State.
n, But they will soon see that do They W
h- saa that i represent people terribly