Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-03-21


II ABoLITIoNIsM was question Of purely local
interest-one affecting tie residents of Wheeling
alone-I might leave it in the position in which II
wasleft by the tempestuous and incorporate gath
erIng at the Court House on Saturday evening"
BUTT is subject of no such narrow and contract
edyintertst-of no mere Wheeling identity. III
belongs TO the whole State, 10 the whole South, 10
the Whole Union. II affects the dearest rights Of
The whole people it inyades the peace of the
whole people; involves the property of The whole
people. I'll tue, that Wheeling has nursed in
her boscmthe viper that has turned and stung. but
the sting has gone 10 the whole State. Thereto e,
as Virginian by birth and education, in aft ction
and pride. have the right to speak my brief word
and to ask you, even in the name of the Stae ifyou
as an important integral portion Of the State. are
tamelyto submit this sting that is woundng the
very Sitals of Tie great State body! II you are
quietly TO look and allow the rights OF our prop
erty TO be invaded; institutions 10 be trampled
upon; our laws 10 be violated; and our law.ma-
kerS TO be scofed and sneered, and branded as ty-
rants by the impure hand of ranting fanatic!-
Are you 10 fold your arms in peace, and to close
your lips in silence, when such a fanatic walks
into your midst, and openly, rnd unblus inely, and
tauntingy, filings his Sedtious sentiments into your
very teethI Are you 10 permit the blazing torch of
Treason 10 be carried into the very homes of our
people? Are yom 10 allow the powerful lever of
the Press 10 be employed in kindling discord in
our families, and exciting rebellion among our
slavesI No! emphatically, mol Though we i've
here on the boundary line between Southern rights
in properly and Northern a5olitionism-thot hu-
man Upas that is spreading lis poison upon those.
rights-we have too much State honor, too much
State pride, too much reverence for State institu-
lions. 100 much regard for the property our slave
holders, 10 give free patti TO this reviler of law,
this poisoner of the public mind, this invader OF
the public peace. If we have laws 10 which he is
amenable, lei US bring him under the influence q
those laws. If We hrve the legal means to still
his slanderous tongue and 10 stay his reasonable
hand, let us use those means. This is no time for
talk ng, no time for warning-enough Of both has
been done. 1t is itne for action-prompt, ener-
getic, decisive action. 1t is he time for impress
ing the great seal of the laws condemnation upon
the tongue.that has spoken as tongue never dared
before 10 speak upon the soil of the Cid Domin-
ion, and in the midst of her sons.
The South. and especially Virginia, has suffered
too long already from. and submitted too quietly
10, the constantly recurring assaults of these North
ern Red Republicans. Day Ivy day, night by night,
have they been trending the st, althy step of the
thief upon our domain, and plundering us of
property, till our fcrbearance has long since
ceased 10 be virtue. Time after time, ever and
increasingly, have they Leen stealing into our
homes, and blighting our hopes, and spelling our
peace, till we compelled 10 rise in our majesty
and might and defend our lives. our properly and
our sacred honor.
Let US. the people of Virginia, now, at this ac-
cepted time, invoke all the powers with h:ch cd
and laws have invested u.s. forever TO stay the
hands Of these Northern fanatics and Southern
trotSrs from sowing their fanaticisms and ueasOns
broadcast upon our land, and in the midst of our
people. five neglect to do this, if we permit tie
invader sill 10 confront US in security; if we re-
fuse TO act, and to bring the power of our law
10 bear in its strongest weight upon them. it will
need no prophet TO iel that will live 10 see the
day when fires will blaze on bundled hills. and
the earth drink The warm blood of our numbers
without number.
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