Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-03-09
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A nen,n,knhI. Ealtorini.

A recent number Of the Riehnond En-.
quirer contained the following remarkable
editorial onthe proposition TO arm the slaves
in the Rebel lines. We ask Ihose especial!
ly who have pretended TO be frigh,apsd at
President Lincoln's ''usurpstions" tsgive
it careful reading. Tho Erquirsr says:
IL it be corect that tho Confederate Sen.
ate has decided defnitisely against negro
soldiers, then ii has deliberately and defiant
y disregsrded the eternal appeal Of Gen.
Lee, and the well expressed wish oil tho
people (; 1t has criminally jeopardsd the lib
erties Of the States, recklessly hszsrded the
success OF our cause, aud pTesumptuously
set Its judgment, or rather the Judgment Of
thirteen men, sgainst the will OF the people,
the earnest appeal Of Gen. Lee, the request
of the army, and with indifferent eyes looks
upon the calsmities that now bsset our
cause, and the imminent danger that now
imperils these States.
The liberties OF these States must be pre-
served I; we should rejoice il this could be
done, aud the Legislature Of the country
remain intact but the public safety is i'm
perative, and since the Senate will not con-
sent to the use Of great element Of strength,
there remains but ons thing for the Presi-
uCul ~ uO-EcC tbdb thC INpubilC fCtCNtb
no detrimeDt; and, for this end, Vitheut
Iap, c1H upon the people 10 seid their slayes
TO the front aye! tdjte Hte negross and use
them. The public sqfety Is obope ldtcs and
cOnstjfut,ons and II n mistaken respect for
the iaUs and tie Const tuition permits the
public s9fety to be compromised there oW at
toch an o,ofui responsibility to the Executive,
uhich ,oiHLe transmitted through all ages n.
| the miserable Slavery of these people and
| Meir descendants.
When this assum ption OF extraordinary
and supra constitutional power is in aC-
cordance with the will Of the people and
exercised for the protection of the Govern
| ment and the defense of the publiv liberties,
| it is right and will be justified. 1t may be
said that this is neutrality-suspicious.
Bu it would be revolutionary only in form,
not in truth. The will OF the psople-eer--
tainly Of Virginia-has been expressed
through her press, her soldiers and her
! Legislature. Her Senators have under-
taken to disregard that will they ere in
revolution against their OVID people The
President may exercise this power, and
! ginia Legislature. 1t is not desirable that
any convention Of the people Of Virginia
/ should assemble during the excitement Of
this war. but if the supposed interest Of the
shareholders IS TO be permittedto stand tef,ceea
any and every mems Of public defense and
the presercdtioa Of tie Liberties Of these States.
/, then a contention ought to be assembled aud
the institution abolished IF the will Of tho
people is not to be regarded by Senators,
then they set themselves up as an ohgnrctv
superior TO tho people. This canno. be sui
mitted to. The Legislature of Virginia
should SEQ that the will of the people OF the
State is oboyed aud respected. These States
and the cause stand to-dny ui need Of do
tator-of man who will take the power
of the people, and use it for their .prsserva-
ton: and such man, whether President
Davis or General Lee, would be borne on
the shoulders of grateful people, if either
of them would, with stong hand, seize pow
er and exercise it for the public safety. At
such time, and amid such perils, it seems
like moekery to hear the action of the Con-
federate Senate called conservative. Shsr-
man is rushing through the Csrolinas like
an avalanche, and report says he captured
hundred thousand bales OF cotton at Co
lumbia; Grant is gradually, and perhaps
surely, extending his lines around Peters
burg and Richmond, and threatens every
moment to burst over the lines that inter
vene; and the Senate il doing the conserrd.
ttre History furnishes no parallel to this !!