Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-05-16

them intend to stand by them faithfully
and literally, III their terms are complied
with by the rebel States In good faith
and without evasion. [Applaiise. They
would be branded with dshonor, and
their fame tarnished forever If they did
not. But IL isa party whose plighted
word to the people has never been bro
ken, and will not be now. / regret, i'm
deed, that Mr.. Summers amendment re-
qpiring provisions in the new Constitu-
ton for universal education as condi-
tiOn of reconstruction did not prevail,
but hope the good sense of the South
ern people will establish it voluntarily,
insuring them a warmer welcome AZ
they return 70 the, Council Board. But
1 cannot omit In passing, to state that
one of the essentials of the reconstruction
policy is the election Of congressman
who can honestly and truthfully take
the oath required by law. We should
have been faithless and worthy of the
''slow, unmoving, finger of scornn If this
essential had not been insisted on infiex-
IDLY. When the waves of treason swept
over all that region there were faithful
few who refused to bow the knee to Baal.
Branded as traitors to the Confederacy
because they would not surrender their
birthrigbt, they never swerved from
their allegiance. Punished by confisca-
| IlOU anu TODDtGy, anu threatened WlLn
Outrage and death, they never faltered !;
and when they could no longer live
peaceably at their homes, they fled to
the mountains. the caves and the
swamps, and said, "Welcome confisca-
ton, robbery, exile or death; but we
stand by the stars and stripes to the last
drop of our blood and the last beat of our
hearts, [Applause.] God bless these
faithful Union men. They are to lead
back these States, clad i'm new robes of
liberty aud Justice; and we should have
"Anathema Marantha" written on our
door sills If we had abandoned them in
our hour of victory. I cannot doubt the
future of the great party which has won
these triumphs and established these
principles. It has been 80 brilliantly
successful because 1t recognizes liberty
and justice as its cardinal principles, and
because scorning all prejudices and de-
flying all opprobrium, it allied itself to
the cause of the humble and the op-
pressed. 1t sought to enfranchise, not
to enchain; to elevate, not to tread down
to protect, never to abuse. It cared for
the humblest rather than for the might
iest-for the weakest rather than for the
strongest. It recognized that the glory
of states and nations was justice to the
poorest and feeblest. And another se.
cret of its wondrous strength was, that
1t fully adopted the injunction Of oul
murdered Chief, "With malice toward
none, with charity for all, but with firm.
ness for the right, as God gives us to see
the right. (Applause.1 Only last month
the British Chancellor of the Exchequer
in defending his Reform bill, which
holds the word Of promise to the ear t.
, break 1t to the hope, exclaimed: "Thii
is a nation of classes and must remain
So" If may be pardoned for replying
would say, This Is nation of free
men, and must remain so." Applause.
, Faithful to the traditions Of our father
: in sympathizing with all who long TO
r the maintenance or advancement of lib
erty in Mexico or England, in Ireland o
D Crete, and yet carefully avoiding all en-
: tangling alliances or violations of tn
z law, with recognition from ocean II
ocean, North and South alike, of tn
3 right Of all citizens, bound by the law Il
{ share in the choice of the law-maker an,
{ thus to have voice in the country thei
hearts blood must defend, our centen
NAL anniversary of the Declaration O
! Independence will find us as an entir
: nation recognizing the great truths O
that immortal Magma Chartar; enjoying
a fame wide as the world, and eternal a
the stars, with prosperity that shal
3 eclipse in our future all the brightes
E glaries of the past.
At the conclusion of his remarks MI
4 COlfax was greeted with renewed aI
' plause. The meeting then adjourned
/ for the purpose Of giving the member
: an opportunity ofbeing introduced t
: their distinguished guest. A COLLATION.
: was then prepared, and the festivitie
1 were prolonged to late hour.