Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-08-15

<stNeR - - 1HhA-f1*<sT<r-A
more qualification than the progress
which Is there going on In the establish
ment of schools. The colored people
who, as slaves, were debarred from edu-
cation, regard the right to learn as one Of
the highest privileges of freemen. The
ballot gives. to them the power to
secure that privilege. All parties and
all public men in the South agree that,
If colored men vote, ample provision
must be made, In the reorganization Of
every State, for free schools. The ignor-
ance of the mnsses, whites as we'll as
blacks, is one of the most Hdiscouraging
features of Southern society. If Con-
gressional reconstruction succeeds, there
will he free SCHOOLS for all The colored
people will see that their children attend
them. We need indulge in no fears that
the white people will be left behind.--.
Impartial suffrage, then, means popular
intelligence, it means progress, it means
loyalty, it means harmony between the
North and the South, and between the
whites and the colored people. it..
THE PURPOSE AND, OBJECT OF THE UNION
a. PATTY. 80 w.. lUf. % -
The Union party believes that the gem
eral welfare requires that measures,
should be adopted which will work great
changes in the South. Our adversaries,
are uCcuStOIIIcu JO lalh OI Une TeD6lllOn,
as an affair which begun when the rebels
attacked Fort Sumter i'm 1861, and which
ended when Lee surrendered to Grant in
1865. 1t is true that the attempt, by forcef
of arms, to destroy the United States.
began and ended during the administra-
tion of MIR. Lincoln. But the causes, the
principles and the motives which pro-
duced the rebellion are of an older date
than the generation which suffered from
| F,,,,sN I...,. L. -
and power are likely to last long after
that generation passes away. Ever since
armed rebellion failed, large party in,
the South have struggled to make par
ticipation in the rebellion honorable, and
! loyalty to the Union dishonorable. The
lost cause with them is the honored
cause. In society, in business, and in
politics, devotion to treason is the test of
merit, the passport to prelerment. They
wish to return to the old state of things
an oligarchy of race, and the sovereign
| ty of States. .rr -
| To defeat this purpose, to secure the
rights of man, and to perpetuate the ma
| tional Union, are the objects of the Con-
gressional plan of reconstruction. That
plan has the hearty support of the great
Generals $50 far as their opinions are
known)--of Grant, of Thomas, of Sheri-
dan, of Howard-who led the armies of
| lion. The statesmen most trusted by
Mr.. Lincoln and by the loyal people of
the country during the war, also support
it. The Supreme Court of the United
States, upon formal application and after
solemn argument, refuse tointerfere with
it's execution. The loyal press of the
country, which did so much in the time
of need to uphold the patriot.cause, with
out exception, are in favor of the plan.
| I,,f bAS l., L.
sons OF the war and the events occur
ring since the war, have made converts
of thousands of the bravest and the
ablest of those who opposed the national
cause. General LOngStreet, soldier sec
ond to no living corps commander of the
rebel army, calls it "a peace offering,"
and advises the South in good faith to
organize under it. Unrepentant rebels
and unconverted Peace Democrats op-
ures which destroyed slavery and saved
the nation. ..a,...
Opposition to whatever the nation ap-
proves seems to be policy of the repre-
sentative men of the Peace Democracy.
Defeat and failure comprise their whole
political history. In la5oring to over
throw reconstruction they are probably
destined to further defeat and further
failure. / know not how it NAV be in
!
as to the loyal people of Ohio-they mean
to trust power in the hands of no man
who during the awful struggle for the
nations life, proved unfaithful to the
cause of liberty and of Union. They
will continue to exclude from the admin
istration of the Government those who
prominently opposed the war, until every
question arising out of the rebellion, re-
lating to the integrity of the nation, and
to human rights, shall have been firmly
settled on the basis of impartial justice.
They mean that the State of Ohio, in
this great progress, whose leading object
is 10 elevate the condition of men to lift
artificial weights from all shoulders to
clear the paths of iaudable pursuits for
ali to afford all an unfettered start and
Il fair chance in the race of life," shall
tread no step backward. Hl
Penetrated and sustained by convio-
ton thatin his contest the Union party of
Ohio is doing battle for the right, enter
upon my part of the labors of the can-
vass with undoubting confidence that
the goodness of the cause will make up
I,for the weakness of its advocates, and
command in the result that triumphant
success which / believe il deserves.