Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-08-21
Under which King, Bezonian ~
The Political Status OF the Panhnn-
die fOrcibly considered.
[From the WellEburg Herald


1t seems to be IL matter of considerable
difficulty, in the present political exioen-
| cy, Tor some of our Panhandle denizens to
make up their minds exactly as to the lat
ltude III which they reside, whether South
or North of Mason & Dxon's line. and
! whether, sectionaliy, they are under oIli-
gatlon to vote Democratic OF Republican.
| we DO not believe, ourselves, that the ac-
cldent OF PERSONS place of residence
ought to be allowed TO determine his mo-.
lltlcai opinions any more than those of his
conscience, nevertheless, accident has a
very determining inauence,-in fact, in
thls campnign, such accidents seem to
override all other considerations of con-
science, patriotism, policy and Interest,"
FOR the benefit of such as are-in, JqYtEtt.cr
our opinions IN the premises. According
o the map of Virginia, We are clearly
North of Mason l. DiXOn's line-the par
allei of 80 degrees, 4b minutes, which de-
| fines the southern boundary of Pennsyl-
Yauia, extended due West, defining, also,
the southern line of Marshall county, the
base or butt-end of the Panhandle. Alb
stractly considered, there can be no reN
| sonable objection to the hypothesis that
we are Northern community, If Mason
t. Dixon's be considered the division
| line; but, considered in reference to
the circumstances, some doubts may
arise, even as to our geographical
status. We are down on the chart MS
a dependency of Virginia, and, undou6ted-
ly do pay taxes, have our washing done
and vote in Virginia, these being the
attributes of citizenship, and would
be liable to military duty on emer'
gency, and subject to all legal ordinances
of the Commonwealth. Constructively
then, we are all Virginians. Forty-nine
ififtieths of the territory of Virginia lie!
South of 80 deg, 45 min., aud the question
recurs: Will the little accident Of our 10
cation Justify us in taking upon MS char
acter proportionate to the interest W.
have in the State, or are we bound to g
with the forty y-nne- -liftieths? According
to the doctrines of the strict-constructlOn
lists of State rights, we are clearly of opln
ion that we are under no obligations, II
this case, to go with the majority, and W
are fortified in this conclusion by TeterenG
to the Sqrattcr Sovereignty dogmas c
Senator D0uglas, -singularlY enough, bot
branches of Democratic profession unitin
i'll favor of the Panhandle being allowe
to consider itself Northern or Souther
territory, according to the interests all
inclinations of its inhabitants. The que<
ton then recurs again: Are our interest
, and inclinations Northern or Southern?-
Not to make short story long, it will
sufficient to say, that our interests ar
altogether with the North; and the incl
nations of our people, which are, just nov
in the transition state, will be more dehr
itely known after the 4th of November mex
As to the main question which is div
ding the country into North and Sout
we are in state of practical indifference
though some affect kind of religion
vencrution for the institution OF SLAYER
which, to others who cannot take such
sublimated views of a clearly abstra
proposition, seems slightly ridiculous
Their 'loyality" appears to border on Il i
. superstitious 1t is very fashionable IL
slipshod declaimcrs to enlarge upon the
lovAlity to the State and to tue institution
ofthe State: and it furnishes an excellel
theme for ad capfandum effect, but WHIT
their professions of loyalty come to
= dissected it will generally be found eth
y that self-interesti is at the bottom of the
u professions, OF that they do not know e
= actly what they are saying. loyalty
the laws under which We live, is certain
a commendable virtue, but it is not i
y consistent with desire to alter, nodl
and improve them, and, in this light, tho
: who think that the institution of slave
can be altered, modified, or even event
ally sboiished, to the best Interests OF
State, may be as loyal as the o'
of her citizens. This sentiment
LOYALTY is what disinclines many
our people from. taking tho positii
on the questions that are agitatl
= :he public mind, that their good sense a
:, interest tells them that they should-lc
Il atty to party, loyalty to State, loyalty
or Southern institutions. We have not
single word to say in derogation, OF. sucl
= sentiment. 1t is a uoble one, the csser
d. of patriotism, the cornerstone OF or; or;