Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-12-28
Secession is Anarchy.
seasonoblc Words I o the People of the
Border States.
Do we Prefer Suicide to Prosperity Z

Do we Prefer Suicide to Prosperity Z
From the New York Timcs.l
We are now trying the strength of our
Government in its weakest point-the
Federal Executive. All the Republics of
North and South America, based on the
model of our own have, for want of an efficient
central power to command respect and en-
force obedience, sunk into anarchy, and
become prey to civil wars with no pros
pect of termination but the extinction of
of the race. They commenced their career
by the refusal of the Suites to respect and
obey the organic law for the whole coun-
try. One step was followed by another
till, at Inst, all ties OF social organization
had become dissolved. The person is no
longer protected. Property is seized with
impunity by the strongest. Even those
who by lucky accident happen to WELD
the little central power remaining, and
who should viudicatc and maintain tho
laws. subsist upon spoilation and plundcr.
Neither individuals nor communities can
be relied on for the discharge of any duty
The sense of common danger or of present
or prospective advantage is no longer Il
motive to action. In fine, in our sister
Republics, society seems to be reduced to
its chaotic state, without the power of re-
construction, save under the hand of n
Skillful and energetic despot, who can
make his own will the law and rule for the
people.
The United States are apparently enter
ing upon similar career. A State, upon
mere fiction, or ut best upon divergence
in opinion, from the Central Government,
has professedly dissolved the ties that
bound her to it, and with Icvity moro
excessive than that displayed by the States
OF Mexico, i'll their eagerness for change,
treats the most solemn legal obligations
that can be assumed bya people as matters
of the purest indifference. The central
powcris floutedand contemned Torender
the parallel the more perfect, our central
Executive looks supinely on, unmovch or
incapable; or what seems more probable,
is in league with the traitors. y blow is
struck at social organization and govern
ment, which, unless arrested, will speedily
place the United States in the same cate
CORY with Mexico and Central America
The ties that bind the States together will
first be severed, and respect for law and
order correspondingly weakened. Obliga-
tions to municipal laws will next be re-
pudiatcd by refusal on the part of the
people to obey them. Next will follow the
obligations between individuals, till Meth
er persons nor property are longer respect
cd, and forms of government become
mockery, because they can neither COM
mand respect nor enforce obedience.
If there were any sentiment of nationali
ty in the present secession movement there
would be some room to hope that this
would finally organize an orderly and sta
bic government. But not trace of such
sentiment is discernibic, nor anything that
distinguishes the action of South Carolina
from the sheerest anarchy, in which self
will a nd cio ekr
There may be common hostility in the
Southern States towards the North, but
this will be no clement of union among
themselves. In the case of South CnroIi-
M, no motive other than that of uugovern-
able sclf-will, or immOderNte cgotiSm can
be detected, To applications for delay,
for cooperation, from sister States, she re-
turns nothing but insolent and snappish
replies. She is evidently bent upon n
piece of grafuitous mischief and covets
the glory of alone applying the torch
which is to set the country in hames.-
Were she 'impelled by sense of danger,
she would, with her contemplate paucity
of numbers, crave cooperation and assist
ance, Were she inspired by an instinct
which is the presage Of future greatness.
there would then be some logical relations
between her idea and her power No peo-
pie that havea great future ever provoke
by their vaporing and extravaganza, dcris-
ion and contempt. South Carolina has
not displayed a single quality upon which
state or weIl-ordered government can
rest. If success is to follow this new
movement, then we are under new dis
pensation, and the book of experience and
history may as we'll be closed.
The subject which unites the South
against the North will be the very one that
renders the union among themselves inn
possible. South Carolina and Virginia
have more and sharper points of difference
than either of these have with the free
States. There is no rivalry or compcti-
tion between the latter and the former in
respect to their industry or products
But Virginia and South Carolina are the
very antipodes on point which would
in hour dissolve any compact entered
into between them. no matter how strong
ly expressed-that of slavery. The re-
newal of the slave-trade lies at the foum-
dation of the secession movcmenr of the
former. Virginia can entertain no more
slaves. She yearly exports her increase,
which is her most valuable product. The
number of slaves in that State is about
415,000. The ratio of increase about 80
per cent. The number annually exported,
consequently, is about 1000. AT $500
per head, their valve exceeds 81 ,0O0, 900.
Open the slave trade, and the price of
Virginia negroes now selling at 81, 900
per head, would he reduccGlto the cost of
the imported article Virginia wouldsset
fire to her Capitol as soon as open this
frn6a ia anoSnpt -t,,f IL