Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-09-06

Very Respectfully, Yours
Yu1lAn TAas, j. r. MAJOR.
Luxe MccUIkE, y: W. WHfTE,
S 2 Isss ~ Fs,s s. wi 3 S9l BsALl.
WIFE, w I'M. "a psHE ssl c9aaas,
THo1As wHrTE, JAMES PALMER,
HrrRy CAL sFpr5F W. II, Tam,
). ii Prsp1ETos, JoHE MILLER,
CHAsLxs w. RUSSELL, J. STAIR,
WV. DE CnlPs
10 Nears. W1l TAR and Others
CESTLENEs 81 place the Charge TO the
Grand Jury Of Brooke at your disposal IL is
4 linsty production, which have not had time
70 copy. am gratifed in the expression Of
Your Judgment, that 70 general dissemination oil
Its principles would be public benefit Ihat
It NAV be 50 most devoutly desire: that its dis
seminatisn may impart truef understanding Of
the allegiance which all citizens owe to the
States and the Union, q, nobler sense of duty
which the States owe each other and OF the
moral and political obligations which bind COM
munities living under one government 70 re-
gard the harmony and rights Of those living un-
der another.
with sentiments Of friendship and regard.
GEO. W. THOMPSON.
l[sEpTEHBrR Sd, 1856.
GEsrLEMEs OF THB grand JuRy lin giving
Won this outline OF the criminal law ofsViTginiu,
1 have purposely omitted the 1g0th ch. of the
Code, relating TO treason, misprison oil treason,
attempting or instigating others to establish
usurped government, and advising or conspiring
with slaves to rebel; also the 9th and och see,
tiotis Of CHI 1876, forbidding tho intermarTage OF
blacks and whites; also sections % to ~, In.
elusive Of CHI. l9s denying the right Of property
in slaves and writings DC TO excite insurrec-
tion the duties of pdstmastefs, knowing OF
such writings in the mail; and free negroes re
Inaining in or brought into the State contrary to
law
These laws involve questions which are daily
assuming moro serious Importance from the
relation We bear to other States Of the Onion,
and from the reciprocal obligations between the
Commonwealth and Its citizens. The tendency
of the times is to the disruption Of these States
and parting our government into tfagmentary
confeflerlcies lInsthe hour of danger, the true
man viii do his duty. he will suspend defen-
stye action Of a final character. TO the last mo-
mont or 4 stern necessity. he viii maintain
the law and order of society as long as they can
be preserved, and prove his shield when this
ceases the violation Of this law and this order
will be his incentive and motive TO action. ms
love Of law and order viii induce him to shun,
as It may eventually inpel him to incur danger.
That there are indications of danger, believe
The speck in the horizon, lately, not larger than
a mans hahd, is a lowering cloud big with the
hufTicane and threatening with Its lightnings.=-
e Let us calmly watch the danger, and If possible
save the land, the whole land-and if mot, save
ourselves in the integrity and single mindedness
5 of our osn conseienees; In the faithful dis
charge Of our duty to ourselves our State, our
country and her Constitution.
Treason to the United States consists "only
In levying war against them or IN adhering TO
their enemies, giving them aid andeomfort -
This definition Of treason, though 50 closely
{ limited and rigidly defined, undoubtedly EN-
ees a forcible disruption OF the States. ltwould
embrace an insurrection, the object Of which IS
TO suppress any lawful and authorized acts UNI
der 4 law of the United States, and marching
with a marty in arms and committing acts Of VI
olencc aud outrage in execution of the object
and with view by force and intimidation to
prevent the execution of the law.-U. s. v. Vi
col 9 Dallas $40; same v. Mitchell H. 34S.
Conspiracy to subyert by force the government
of the United States violently TO dismember the
Union, TO cceree repeal Of 4 general law, or to
reyolutonize q territorial government by force,
if carried into effect by embodying and assem-
bling military body in a military posture, Is an
overt act Of levying war and not only those
who have arms, but those who perform the va
rlous and essential parts which must be assigned
a. different persons for the purpose Of prosecus
2 ting the war, are guilty Of the. eFime.-u. s v.
Burr ct a Cranch 40 From this view Of
the crime Of treason YOU viii perceive, there
may be moral treasons, which no law Of the
land can punish. There may be acts OF nom
feasaree which inaysWork dissolution OF the
violence, and yet under the limited definition
given to treason by the Gonst itution Of the Unit
ted States the eonspiratots may fold their hands
in safety, and IN the excitement of a false pht-
lanthropy or the despotic calm OF q still more
faisenhiiosOphy, unmoved, behold the wreck OF
Congress shall persistently withhold the sup
plies of government the fatal work may be done
But treason Of the kind j have been discuss.
ing Is treason against the United States, which
State iudieature has no authority to punish
Congress having passed laws upon that subject,
and SO far the federal courts have cognizance
alone This kindof treason applies exclusively
70 the United States, and cannot be enlarged by
any law But there Is a treason against the
State which may be defined BY its egislatuse
and punished as X preseribes, or shall hereafter
see proper This being 50, we owe two kinds of
allegiance The hrst 20 our State She pro.
teets our property and our persons she defines
our rights and eniorces thems she gives pro-
teetions she positively demands obedience
Prom each citizen Fthe allegiance IS due. II IS
binding ON his conscience, whether he takes
tho cath oynot BY being under the law and
receiving its protection, be becomes citizen
and the Obligation Is imposed The witness
who may he called to the stand p give testimo-
NY, and by some accidents unswcrn, issolemn>
II bound by the position he oeclp5es 70 tel the
whole truth. No man Is ahsolYed trpm the
strict discharge Of any Of his duties by the O.
lul1elul OF Nlf 81 tlt AVltAdl "
secure the discharge Of such duties. he Is
felon in soul Thowouid resort TO the subterfuge
md incur the actual guilt while ne palters with
bis eonsciecce This allegiance covers al his
political obligations sAxo those which he OWES
to the soyernnent Of the United States This
iattc1 IS special ~ giance, sacred and should
be invioahle within The sphere Of its bligaticns
say It Is special but II IS none the less sacred
because Of ifs character The general govern
ment IS y limited organiza ton u has peculiar
and vel defined obi sets IN lis Ultimate sphere
y is supreme; Il commands, we Should obey is
70 meiitate It's DESTRUCTION is akin to parricide.
But 5rill it Is limited. 1t did not grow cut Of
the exigencies Of individuals Is the States did;
Il grew out Of The czigencies Of the States. The
States are the elder governments which created,
defined and limited the powers Of the GENITAL