Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-01-18


will take care of themselves, but no duty
can be more important than that of stop |
ping occasionally to weigh well what seems
to cross our desires or to question tho di- |
recton of our progress.
We have the right and are in duty bound |
| to insist upon sufficient guarantees for the
future safety of the Union; but those guar
antics must be such as shall not be inconsis-
tent with republican government for those
who give as well as for those whe receive
such security.
Conquest does not rightfully give unlimit-
ed sway over the persons and property of
! the conquered, and their rights may be di.
minshed no farther than is necessary for the
public safety.
lfit were proven that it would be impos.
shle for us to live safely, as sharers of
common government, with the people ofany
State or community, cur republicanism
might force us to consent to separation, but
could not Justify us in holding them as sub
jects and this proposition is true without
reference to race or color.
Representation is pot privilege confer
red upon majorities, but it Is most efficient
for good when it approaches most nearly to
giving voice in the Legislature to all minori-
ties in proportion to their number.
1t is better and safer that minority,
however hostile to us in principle, should be
so represented as to be openly heard and
answered, than that it should have the ad
vantage of winning sympathy and gaining
partiSans by making issue upon the quss.-
tioa ct the right of representation instead
of upon the lalsity of its obnoxious princi-
pies
Military government is in its very essence
a despotism, and any long continuance OF it
| of ha af aaI ia
contrary to, and confession Of the failure
/, of republicanism.
These and many similar general maxims
of government are the intellectual diet upon
; which every living American has been bred
and OF which we have been such earnest
, propagahdists that no one Of us can deny
, them without incurrHg the contempt of tho
,, civilized world. They are mere sbstrac
tons, it is true, but we noed to bes them in
mind none the less carefully for that. All
, rules are distractions, whether they be the
formula for solving the problems Of govern
;. ment or Of other sciences. We recall them
. ts test the work, and We reckon ourselves to
!. have made good progress in proportion to
a the faithfuIness with which we have adhered
to them.
, In the heat Of our just wrath against
>. those who would have swept republicanisn
y from the continent had they been success
. full, we are in danger Of forgetting principles
!. to which we owe allegiance. and therefore
v we should not excuse ourselves from the
/ thankless task Of reminding each other Of
= them. To follow these rules and yet pre-
j vide that the national safety be not endap
;. gered, to determine who Of the late enem
n ie of the Government are without the pale
~ of clemency, aud yet to extend amnesty t,
>. the other millions Of those who were rebels
Il to restore political privileges to those whit
r. were formerly masters, and yet protect th'
- freedom of those who were formerly slaves
,r such is the difficult and delicate work he
i fore the executive and the legislature of tn,
:. Nation, and they may rightly claim Of us al
4 such appreciation oftheir task as shall max
i us most kind and charitable judges Of the
=, differences from fsvorite measures Of on
q own. We have, indeed reason to be de-
% vouty thankful that the work has fale,
n upon men in whose patriotism and wisdom
- we have go great cause for confidence, an,
40 that the progress they have alrcs ly mad
promises a conclusion which shall ba reason
,t ably speedy and generally satisfactory t.
a the country
8 In the presence Of the vast interests whicl
; are before US as part If the Nation, tn
ss local concerns which affect us as q Stat
n alone, are likely to he dwayfed and lose thei
n. proper attention. do not propose to en-
"a ter into any detailed or elaborated cxamius
ID ton Of our condition, or to make recon
-, - mendations Of legislative action Thi, ha
u been fully and ably done by my Predecessor
:. shall only glance at the outlines Of affair
w s and content myself with tbs briefost an
49, 49, most cursory view Of the situation IL au
4 official states duties we fnd 10 such hesv
4. responsibility as rests upon the shoulder
- of tho officers of our national Government
No The close of the war has taken from ms til
- necessity for putting armies in the field, an
=. relieved US, in our state capacity, Of the la
!, bors incident to close cooperation with th
~ general Government in al! our history. W
~, are subsidng into the quiet routine of peace
oo ful times, and AZ our young men are veturr
hs ing to their FARMS their merchandise an
nd their shops, and thor drain upen our phys
~ ~, ical strength being removed, the energeti
=, use Of intelligent labor will soon prove ho
-, ~ rapidly the recuperativs. powers OF th
Va people act and how true it is that tho time
hs which make least show in the worlds hi
ii tory are very commonly those of creates
ha real happiness and prosperity to stat,
ho Our veterans will not be adding new namt
'o' to the long list of their fields of glory, ht
bo they will be winning victories over physics
"' nature and Transforming the fruits of III
J., soil and the minerals of the earth into thl
M wealth which shall spread comfort and hal
mu Nv piness everywhere. We, who have hee
'"I called to guide the movement of our Sta
"a, Government, will connect our names wit
\. no such brilliant acts as have given wild
~, spread reputation for high statesmanshi
so, 'a to the succession of State officers who ha,
,a "n preceded us during these troubled times
'". "n but in the humber duties which will fall
ihe hs US We may rejoice that these quiet days ar
,,b in some sense, our best days, because the
a ,va are, as We hope, the beginning of an era G
"n purer and more rapid advancement in ever
nd thing which tends to the habit of cviliz
oc ton.
'en The habit Of graspng great thoughts ar
ss Of daring to do great deeds has apparent
,he begotton in our people disposition whic
me- makes all business enterprise take wild
mo scope than heretofore, and the keen insigl
,an an with which all our resources are scanne
sv as" and the adventurous energy with whiC
~ their development is pushed, leave nothir
aor to be desired in business point OF view u
'La less it be an increase of that sagacious ca
'"' ton which may save us from the danger