Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-03-29

trick by which to embarass the radicals and
divide the Union party. make the toll
low NJ extract from his oflicia despatch to
Hon w. l. Sharkey, Of that d tie
" If you could extend the elective fran
chise 10 all persons of color who can read
the Constitution of the United States in
English, and write their nlmes, and to all
persons OF color who own real estate valued
at not less than $50, aud pay taxes thereon,
would com mpletely disarm the adversary, and
act an example the other States will follow.
ms yoH Gun d0 W,th perfect saf:ty, and you
thus place the Southern States. in reference
TO free persons Of color upon the same basis
with the free States ! hope and trust your
convention will DO this, and, as q conse-
qu3nce, the Radicals. who are wild upou
negro franchise, will lie completely foiled in
their attempts 10 keep the Southern States
from renewing their relations to the Union
by not accepting their Senators and Repre-
sontatives. d"
WHAT CONGRESS WILL DO.
But | must pause. The danger Of tho
country is not from military power. The
great soldier who captured Fort Donelson
and Island N. ~, and enabled Andrew
johnson, the hunted refugee, to return 70
his home, commands the army for life. No
st. Armand can order parloned traitor to
his position. And having conquered the
rebellion on bis own line, he will not permit
the results Of the peoples dearly bought
victories to be trnscherously surrendered by
any but themselves. .-,
Ihs Thlrty. Congress will maintain
the Constitution in its integrity. 1t will do
what 1t can, in spite OF the veto power, to-
protect the public faith aud credit. 1t will
invest the Executive with ample power to
protect and avenge every loyal man in the
conntry. 1t will strive to guarantee to each
State republican form OF Government. 1t
listens TO the appeal, Of the survivors of the
brigade of loyal North Car Ieiinisns who re-
sponded to the appeals OF the gallant Foster,
and the Alabamsians who followed Spencer,
through the war, and will not consent to yield
them helpless victi inns to the malice of the trail
tors who could not corrupt or overawe them.
The evidence taken by the g Central Di-
rectory" shows that there are such men
throughout the South, aud if they are to be
abaudoned to vengeance--if the South is to
be closed against Northern euigration-if if
they and the public debt aud property-yes.
aud | may add, peace-are to he confined to
the care of the master spirits Of the rebellion.
it will not be done BY the Thirty ninth Con-
gress.
The crisis Of our couutry-perhaps the
last g'eat strain our institutions are to feel
will be 10 the election of members to the
Fortieth Congress. Neither Mr.. Ihnson
nor the ephlstopheles of the State Depart
ment wi. waive any effort to give success to
= my policy" but the people. true to the
Union and lib rtS at whatever cost of watch
fulness aul labor, will ,hwart their machina-
tionS. The President may pardon Jefferson
Davis. but the people can prevent him from
leading lees army to the Canada line.
New Hampshire has sounded ''the generr
al. " and the citizen soldiers Of the Republic
will drive the invaders back.