Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-02-09

our fathers were seeking 10 establish. lie
regarded II as having been compromised IN
the formation Of the Constitution, and that
these compromises were binding upon every
individual ia the land. At least that was
his conclusion. While he disliked tine in
stitution Of slavery while he abbored the
education IL gave tho people Of the slave
States; while he saw threatening the evils
which have at last come upon Us, he thought
as an individual he had no right to inter.
fcre with IT, From an early age be had felt
that the encroachment OF slavery upon every
footof territory was great wrong, and in
the end would bring calsmities upon the
country, threatening If not insuring its des-
truotion. Therefore during his political life
he had wsrred against the extension Of
slavery into territories now free; he had
warred against his political party on this
question, and he had looked forward TO tho
time, for years, when by peaceable amend.
ments TO tho Constitution we could get rid
Of that evil.
Slavery is one Of the most potent elements
of this rebellion, and to the same extent
was one of the moving causes Of it. He
had never been convinced that protection
Of slavery was the first cause for the South
ern leaders to precipitate this rebellion he
believed the primal cause lay deeper than
that. Slavery was means OF uniting the
shareholders, but the motive power OF this
rebellion wss in the leaders spirit OF hostil
ity to the principles upon which the fathers
established the Government, and which
prompted them to seek to uproot the Gov
ernment and put another in its stead. If
they could not force the North into this
position, then they were resolved TO sever
(, h., h., II,,o, I'D netai,tiah
in their own territory an oligarchy, Of which
slavery should he the chief corner stone. -
When this was done, slavery became a
means OF warfare in their own hands. Then
it was that large portion Of the people of
this country, who had been averse to med.
ding with it, thought if it was a means of
warfare in the hands of rebels, it was com-
petent for us to use it as means with
which to assai and crush out streason. -
Loud cheers. But slavery has perished,
not SO much by the sword as by the voice of
peace in the amendment to tho constitu-
tional law of the land. Applause. There
fore he rejoiced at this success rejoiced as
it comes as warning voice to those who
have sought to destroy the Government,
and to those who have acted so promptly,
as crown Of glory, to them and their sons
forever. Applause He rejoiced, there
fore, that he and they had lived to see this
glorious consummation. He rejoiced that
before the legislators left the city of Colum-
bus, they would in behalf of the great State
of Ohio respond as became patriotic and
free Stote, to this voice of the nation
Applause.
Looking to the end, now more beautiful
and promising than at any other period of
this eontest-though he had never doubted
the end as far as the means of war were
concerned-looking to that brighter end
which will be for US and our children for
all time to come, he congratulated them
that on this day they had found nation. as
he had on a former occasion characterized
it, what God and our fathers designed it
A LAND OF HUMAN FREEDOM. Loud and
continued applause. - -...
After the excitement had somewhat SUBJ
sided, the Governor suggested that the
hundred guns had probably better be post
poned until they had ratified the amend
ment in form; but the legislators decided
that they would have hundred guns on
both occasions. His Excelency then told
them they might expect thunder at five o.
clock that afternoon.
The members then rose and gave three
cheers, in which the visitors united most
heartily. -..... .s..