Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-12-31
sI8ls o. THE sTHTE.
.[Rrom tie Eyeti5BuTe Horaid.i

head 81 What .Shdli ne Doe" being enqui-
ries and suggestions as to the probabili-
ties affecting this immediate section of
! country, growing out of the present
/ threatening aspect of the times. at the
! time it was written it is believed that the
suggestions in regard to the division of the
State, in the event of the secession of Vir-
+! ginia, had been made by no other netrsPd-
per- aud We subjected ourselves to much
criticism and, it is understood, not little
censure for broachfng such an extreme and
seditious idea. Less than two weeks have
elapsed, and in the Wheeling I0telligencer
i've see extracts from three Virginia ex-
changes, and an editorial of its own,
touching the same subject; some advocat-
ing ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and all holding the
possibility of acknowledgment of Virginia,
by the line of the Blue Ridge, az terrorcm
over the heads of those who are advocat-
! ing dissolution of the Federal Union
Simultaneously, almost, with the appears
ance of these editorials appears the opinion
of Gen. Scott, to the effect that, in that event
the State will be dismembered. and also,
the opinion of the National Znteliigencer,
at Washington, to the same effect. We
! have not the vanity to insinu0te that, be-
cause the Herald happened first to put the
idea in print, it is entitled either TO any
credit, for some of the papers mentioned
by the Wheeling Lnteligencer are not ex-
changes of ours, and we are we'll satisfied
that neither Gen. Scott nor the National
InteIligcncer have had the benefit of our
opinions. The point we wish to make is,
that the idea has wider prevalence than
some of those who are disposed to sneer
Mt our opinions seem to think; and the
very fact OF its being agitated at different
points, from Clarksburg to Wellsburg, by
the newspapers, almost simultaneously,
while it dissipates whatever claim to cred
| it or liability to censure that may attach
to us, is confirmation that there is, in
Western Virginia, Il strong sentiment in
favor of the Union as it is, first, or that
failing, of erecting the Western part of
the State into separate Commonwealth,
that will be satisfied to remain under the
present Constitution and laws, equitably
amended and administered.
The fact of the business is, that no news
paper in particular is responsible for this
idea, for it legitimately grows out of the
chronic discomfort in Western Virginia
with the administration of State affairs,
aud especially with the management of
the slavery question. That discomfort has
prevailed for years, and, instead of being
mcliOrated by time, the tendency is, to be-
come more embittered as the white p0pu-
lation increases and the black diminishes.
The subject of Acknowledgement was agita-
| ted thirty years ago, on nearly the same
grounds, and has been frequently brought
up since, and, in the contingency of dis
union, it is hardly probable that its dis
cusSion will abate in zeal and earnestness.
In the article in tho Herald alluded to,
we merely essayed to give our opinions as
to the probabilities in the contingency of
disunion; first, of the dismemberment of
the State, or, in the failure of that, of
the annexation of the Panhandle coun-
ties to Pennsylvania, by treaty between
the authorities of the two Confcderacie3,
without expressing any particular prefer
ence for either measure. Our opinions, us
mere matter of judgment, were expressed
i'll that article, not our preferences as to
measures of policy. If any one sees fit to
differ with us, it is, at the worst, only u
difference in Judgment, and either or
neither of US may be right and not much
harm done; we are willing to submit that
question TO the test of time; but we object
to people nccrediting US with sentiments
we did not express, or of advocating
measures we did not advocate. When the
time comes for advocating annexation to
Pennsylvania, we shall advocate it with
ont fear. favor or affection: and when ever
the time comes mp for dismembering Yir-
ginia, we shall not be deferred from advo-
eating that. AT the present time it is not
is ripe it will tall"