Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-07-19


Laughter There is time enough in tb
future to discuss that. One of the mo-
remarkable things is that the people are &
long in finding out what are their true il
terests and who have been their real opprei
sors.
CHARACTER OF THE REBELLION.
From the commencement of this rebcllio
| pronounced it the rich mans war and tn
poor mans fight. Applause and laughter.
Puppies that are born blind come t
their sight in nine days, and yet grown up
bearded old men can't come to their sight il
six years laughter and applause to see VIII,
were their real oppressors. who it is that i
responsible for the destruction that has take
place in the last five years. think th,
President made great mistake in grantint
these indiscriminate pardons, and in grant
ting them too hastily. At the same tint
| think Congress made great mistake
These States of the South have never beer
cut of the Union, and they could not get ou,
Of the Union unless secession was Lawful
and constitutional Men may carry them.
selves out Of the Union, but they can carry
the State along with them. Applause. I
There was no legitimate power to do so, and
nothing short Of physical force would have
carried them out Of this Uuion The same
physical force that could have carried me
ont of the Union might and would have car
ried me out of the world. Applause. The
States, therefore. have always been in the
Union, an1 could only get out by recopni-
ton of the rights of secessionists. If seces
sion was in violation Of tho Constitution of
the United States, it was null and void from
the beginning. And those loyal men who
resided 10 the States had their claims to the
protection of the Constitution and the Gov
erHment of the United States.
CONGRESS.
think, therefore, when the South sent
loyal representatives, that could comply with
the provisions of the Constitution and the
laws Of the country, aud take the eaths pre-
scribed by. the laws, that Congress- ought
th have admitted them to their seats. Be-
cause not to do SO is not only not to encour-
age the Union and loyal men Of the South,
but to discourage loyalty. 1t drew no dis
tinction between the loyal man, who had
made oil the sacrifices that every loyal man
in the country was obliged to make, and the
rebel 1t placed each upon common plat
form. An Infinite injury has been done to
the loyal cause of the South by loyal men
not being received and properly encouraged.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
The speaker here referred to his personal
experience during the War, and stated as
reason for his not taking the oath of allegi-
ance to the United States Government that
he was not born natural fool; that if he
had done so, situated as he was. he would.
have been seized and confined in Southern
prison; that the United States troops did
not remain to protect him, or if they had
he would have taken the oath as he could
have done 80 at each meal Of the day.
RELATION OF REBELS TO THE GOVERNMENT
As this country recognizes the right of
expatIiation, there was no power to keep
any body of men FROM going out OF this
Union if they thought proper to go, but
they could not carry the States with them |
And by doing this, | now say that when
ever they took themselves out of the Union |
and made themselves citizens of the Con
federate Government, a Government de |
facto, though not Government de.jure, a |
Government for four years, with all the
plans, with all the formalities of Govern.
ment, and all the powers of Government,
aud more power than was ever exercised
over the citizensof this country; when they
made themselves citizens of Government
hostile to and at war With the United States,
they made themselves aliens to the United
States Great applause And they are en-.
titled to no privileges applause except what
The law-making power chooses to conferup-
Do them. My own opinion is that the only
legitimate mode by which they can be re-
,ognized as citizens is by law of naturali-
zation. lApplause. And in comforting
he privilege of citizenship by law of
you may attach to it what
conditions and consequences you think pro-
per. Applause. In this view am sus-
aimed by Mr.. johnson, who said, on his
acceptance of the nomination for the Vice
II say that the traitor has
,eased to be citizen, and, in joining the
'ebellion, has become public enemy. He
orfeited his right to vote with loyal men
when he renounced his citizenship and
ought to destroy our Government We say
o the most honest and industrious foreigner
Who comes from England or Germany to
lwell among u.s. and to add to the wealth
If the country, before you can be a citizen
rou must stay here five years. IF we are
o cautious about foreigners, who voluntar-
ly renounce their homes to live with us,
What should we say to the traitor, whe, al
heugh born and reared among us, has rails
ID parricidal hand against the Government
which always protected him? My judg-
nent is that he sheuld be subjected to Sc
ere ordeal before he is restored to citizen.
hip" ..u.aa. ... -.s. .-.I
JoHNsoN's g PARDoNs WORTHLESS
And now, in regard to the pardons that
AVE been granted by Mr.. johnson, do
'ot believe they are worth one copper.
AVE been carrying on vigorous war against
hese people at home, through the news
'apers and by letters, in which Ihave cited
s authorities Chief Justice Marshall and
thief Justice Taney, to show that there is
10 power to pardon before conviction. And
nasmuch as by law every man in this coun-
ry is recognized as innocent until he is
'roved guilty, the power to pardon and re-
ieye commences after conviction, and not
,efore. In locking over the proceedings of
he Convention, Ifound that when that sub.
ect was up before the Convention, Mr..
Martin moved to insert tho words latter
after the words s'reprieves and
,srdons," SO as to make it read, land he
the President) shall have power TO grant
eprieves and pardons after conviction for
'ffenses against the United States" I'D
Mr.. Wilson objected on the ground ''that
pardon before conviction might be necessary
q order to obtain the testimony of accom-
,licss. He stated the case of forgeries, in
Which this might particularly happen.