Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-09-06


the national arms, those who had suffered
so long would have some indemnity for the
past, or at least, security for the future,
they had hoped 10 be permitted to return
peacefully to their habitations, and to renew
their associations with the friends from
whom they had so long been parted, but the
experience OF the last twelve months had
taught them, in bitterness of heart, that
the spirit which animated the rebellion was
as ramrant to-day ns on the day when the
rnhels first drew the sword. Voices, -
That's So The prescription Of all who
aided the Government was as rampant and
incorripible at the South, as defiant. as de.
nunciatory, as vindictive and as cruel as it
was at any period during the rebellion
Seeing this and realizing that, SO far from
being remitted to their homes they were
remitted to the same element which bad
sought their destruction and the destruction
welcome delivered by Mr. Gibbons to- day.
Governor Hamilton, on behalf ofthe assem-
hled loyalists of the South, returned thanks
for thewelcome which they had received
He said it would be an unmixed pleasure to
do So, were it not that they could not but
remember the cause of their assembling
Of the Government. Some of them who
happened to be at the national capitol deem
ed the time propitiousl to call the Unionists
of the South to send delegates to meet and
consult together as TO their own condition,
and that of the country. They believed that
they saw not only danger to themselves, but
a cloud, though no bigger than mans
hand, on the verge of the horizon, which
might ultimately spread over the entire
country. They therefore determined to
make the call. The question then present.
ed itself, Where should they meet2 They
knew there was not a congenial spot of soil
for them in all the South. No place where
they could meet except they braved the fate
OF those who met in convention month ago
in New Orleans. 1t had heen truthfully
said in one Of the leading Administration
papers that they would not have dared to
meet on Southern soil. He who uttered
that truth did not know how important it
would be to attempt to disabuse the mind
of the American people as to that oft re-
peated falsehood that the South had return.
ed in complete faith to its allegiance to the
government, but their eyes turned instinct.
lively to the city of Philadelphia, cheers,
where civil and Constitutional liberty on
the American continent had its birth. They
knew hnre in the city of rankin, and in
sight of old Independence Hail. they might
meet and consult with the approving smile
Of its citizens if not. where under Heaven
could they GO? Voi"es, ''no where. " l.
They had come assured of welcome, hut
that which they had received was far be-
yond their expectations. For that welcome
he returned gratifed thanks in the name of
the loyal men here assembled, of the loyal
constituents whom they represented. of ev-
cry man, woman and chldiof them, whether
white or black. [Cheers This Conven
| tion had heen called because they realized
the fact that no practical principle of ad
minisratien had been settled by the late
convention. They had hoped,that hcncefer
ward this government would be such govern
ment as the fathers had intended it to be one
giving freedom to every human being with
| in its limits by placing on a sure foundation
the rights OF every citizen, but they foun
that they were only to be remitted to the
tender mercy of States which might at the
will and discretion strike down the dearest
human rights, while no protecting power
was to be found in the Government. They
deemed the time auspicious to bring back
the people to primitive ideas of republican
liberty; to organize party or rather to en-
force the organization of party devoted to
republican liberty, and to bring il back to
the simple platform of the constitutional
rights ofevery citizen. That was why the
convention was called They invoked the
assistance and counsel nf all brethren every
where throughout the United States. They
asked the loyal delegations that came here
from the loyal States to give them the hand
of welcome, to help them to renew their
faith to the government in purer spirit
than before, and to prove to all the present
cabinets and councils that the people North
and South, who were loyal to the govern.
ment, would be satisfied with nothing less
than actual security or individual equality
under the constitution to all Wen. Cheers.
If they could be met in that spirit they
hearts would be with those deleea tions from
the loyal States. As to their fortunes, their
had long since been expended and they had
nothing now to give to the cause but their
lives and honors. Cheers They pledged
never to cease in their, efforts until they
could strike hands with the people Of the
North on the broad basis of human rights
until they could say that wherever the
American constitution extended it covered
none but freemen indeed, as well n
name. practically as we'll as theoretically. -
Loud cheers .-
After the conclusion Of Governor Hamil-
tons speech tho crowd called for three
groans for the dead dog" of the White
House, which was followed by pretty gen
eral hooting and EXPLANATIONS of derison.
Three cheers were given for Parson Brown
low and Governor Hamilton.
Charles Gibbons then came forward with
a small gavel in his hand and said, l hold
in my hand the identical gavel used in the
Charleston Convention, assembled there In
1860 for the dissolution Of the American
Union. [Derisive Laughter, ''shouts of
throw it away."] This il the gavel that
called together that Convention which de
elared the American Union was dissolved
(Cries of throw it down here. Sir, turning
to Governor Hamilton. have the pleasure
of rendering it to you for the purpose of
calling together that loyal Convention,
which is te lay the foundation for the estab-
lishment of that Union. Governor Hamil-
ton accepted the inauspicious gift and then
the presentation ceremonies were declared
ended. The procession, after much confu
sion, was re marsballed up in line of march
with music playing, banners waving aud the
bells of fire engines ringing, to the National
Hall.
PENSIONS AND Bounty. Persons ent-
tied to the Additional Bounty, or increase
Pension provided by the laws past at the