Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-03-10
For the wheeling Daily 1n,elngeneer.
AI,oli+jop;er,,


this city; extraordinary and offensive as they 10
s4gt every Just sentiment demand more than passing
notice. Is there man in Wheeling whose cheek
did not burn with shame on noticing these produc-
items? The editor must be in the habit OF forming
LIS opinions fom the worst abolition sheets of the
% day else be could not possibly have given vent to
81 the peculiar kind of bilingsgate which mark those
80 efforts He denounces the Legislature as a mob,
talks about the oyerseer and lash, and character
ICES the members ''as idle and imbecile masters,
whose sole vocation is 10 corrupt their own souls
a'and wear out Gods footstoo with their tyranies"
These are the very bits and choice phrases which
ssabonnd in the vocabulary of the atheists socialists
and abolitionists of the country, who under the
-gs pretence of reform and religion, merely seek
- ing that distinction and means of subsistence
$50 W hich they cannot otherwise attain.
Z Il If there are ten men in Wheeling, who sympa-
thize with Wharton in his abolltionisn and libel
Gus assaults upon the Legislature and laws of Vir-
ginia, we greatly mistaken. We know the
people of Wheeling. and we know they are
tpeaceabe, orderly and law abiding people, else we
would have seen following this libel upon the As
SemblY, violence which we have, so far in our
q history happily escaped. We can hardly trust
ourselves 10 speak OF this conduct in the language
it deserves. TIL. government of Virginia in all its
departments is just, mild and ge nte-none On earth
more so-and her Legislature has been eminent Tor
the Just and generous sentiments, which have per-
Vadedi 1t for many years; and every assertion that
the dominant party of The State, or the people of
The Eastern part thereof, are hostile, or in
different 10 the feelings and interests of the West,
is untrue. And the trutlrof what we here say, no
people, know better than The people of Wheeling,
and we are proud 10 believe no people more highly
appreciate and reciprocate than they do; nowith-
standing, like every community. they may have
q some half dozen men among them who are unwor-
thy. An injury 10 in the West, is instinctiyely
felt and promptly resented by the people of Vir-
sinia, 10 the very shore. Legislature more
desirous.t0 do equal justice TO every part of the
State is not to be found in this broad and glorious
Union than that of Virginia. We are Virgin ans
andsweaare glad of it, and where is the man who
is not proud 10 be called Virginian2 And why
this sentiment, but the fact, the consciousness that
all that most enoLles aud exats man, is 10 be
found in our history landmarks the people of Vir-
GINA. If we look for sound morals, a sacred sense
ofiustice and generosity, or high and enlarged
patriotism, they are heTe-here find that wi icI
adorns man IN his private and his public character,
IL, his personal sind in his national relations. Our
Legislature, like othtIs, may err, but in the pur-
pose 10 mete out equal justice to every class and
TO all parts ofthe Suite, she less seldom mistakes
than Others.
And what has the Legislature done 10 give rise
to this precious specimen of Abolitiolism? Moth
ing-hterally noihing-excepti be 10 place the
1nkeepers of Wheeling equality with those
ottae county-Simply 10 declare, that il the city
will not give license, the county may-to de-
clare, that if the authorities of the city will not
exercise the powers generously conferred on them
by the Legislature, the authorities Of the county
Il n iS taka frnun tbn ~
impaired, unless it will persist contravening
the revenue laws and fixed policy of the State, in
thinking itself better and wiser than the Govern.
ment. We want no better evidence of the mid
and generous justice Of the Legislature, than the
very enactment,-the very law complained Of
The government of Virginia happens to think
that wisdom and sound morals do not require the
enactment OF sumptuary laws, or to be plaIn,-of
a Maine Liquor law,-but that all such Legisla-
lion, partakesio Of the spirit and principles of the
timesiwhen people and rulers thought they were
dong God service, 10 bring mems consciences in
matters OF drinks and meats, of religion, into
subsection TO government. Entertaining these SEN
iments; and thinking the time was past when
ought 10 be subject to such shackles, our Leg
islature has simply given to Inkeepers and others
who may believe they may lawfully buy and sell
liquors, an appeal to the authorities of the county
the one half of whom is chosen by the people of
Wheeling. ~ Et-e.--a sos l5a-z
When municipalities set up 10 be better and
wiser than the government, and 10 counteract its
policy and defeat its laws, it is common 10 take
away from them chartered powers. But in this
case nothing of the kind was done. The city is
left inpossession of its chartered rights, and they
who may feel aggreved, practically allowed a
mere aPpeal-and that too, not 10 distant power
or 10 stranger sent among us-but TO men chosen
byaourSelves and our immediate neighbors and
county friends.
In the history of man and OF Government
where was ever displayed more mild and gene
rous exe'cise of power And yet this Legisla-
tuterhas been subjected TO the vilest abuse for
thissyety thing, when, in truth, the only fault, if
fault there is, is that perhaps not sufficient re-
dress has been allowed the injured-a redress that
will be Afforded by the Legislature, as sure as the
sun'rses if this one practically proves defective.
We ask the people of Wheeling 10 pause-to re-
fiect7we ask the City Council 10 do so-and we
ask more We ask the people of Wheeling and
OF the county-whgs and democrats-and all men
who love virtue and value the peace and prosper
ity OF the city aud churhes their families and their
hre sides, n who appreciate the good opinion of
goodmen, and the care and protection of the Gov.
eminent, 10 rebuke this infamous assault upon the
Legislature. We call upon the true friends of
Temperance themselves 10 pause-to retiect-and
to shew this meddler and mischef-maker tina,
however he may have won upon them, by lending
his paper TO their cause. yet he cannot and shall
not introduce among us the demon of Abolition
-lsn' and disloyalty 10 our syeneIated and noble
State. n
HRowland "A. Smith. the baggage master, who
was recently arrested at New Haven, OH charge