Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-12-31
[For tho 1nteltgenccr.l
WHERE SHALL WESTERN vIR-
GINA coz


WHERE SHALL WESTERN vIR-
GINA G0e
iNsssrs. Editors:-lt is not my intention
to be troublesome know that your coll
umns are pressed to OVERLOOKING. InInlge
me bat this once, and l know not that
shall trespass upon you again for some
time to come.
Note the question which st;lmdS Mt the
head of this article. 1t is an importunG
one. 1t is one which is now stirring the
Ideep thoughts OF the people ofour Western
valleys; mountains and sio es. | entirely
concur with you as to the direfuI consc-
quenccs that would enSne to Western Vir-
Sinia, and especially to our fair city OF
, Wheeling, were it possible that by any ar
tilicc, or compulsion, we could be hitched
on to n Southern Gonfederlcy. have no
disposition to reproduce the picture. You
have done it much better than can do
What YOU have said is true to the lifc-to
the letter, and you need not be backward
in procIAiminS it.
But Mr.. Russell is in the field again.
He hns assumed to speak for the people of
Western Virgiuia-of all Western Virgin
in. One might suppose from his tone that
he considered himself their guardian, their
conscience-keeper. This is Mr.. Russell'8
wont. But deny his right; and the peo-
pie will look upon it as u piece of high
handed assumption and impCrtinence. NJ
Russell is not q representative man among
us. However conservative i'll manner, lie
is known tc bc an extremist in opinion
lie is not in sympathy with the public sem
timent of the West. His sympathies are
supposed 10 DC with S,ulh Carolina He
is uspccted-distrusted At the preseuS
time he conld not be elected by the pco-
pie to tho most Insignificant Office, and
That MIR. Russell knows us wclla you or
|. Hence. Mr.. Russcll's only hope OF po-
liiicnl prcfcrmcnt, forwIIich lie so arduently
ongs-is i'll President Buchanan. If Nj.
Buchanan comes not to his relief within
the next sixty days, his fright Visions of
political distinction are fore*cr Cissipa:ed.
Perhaps MIR. Russell's late letter was in
tended To remind Alr. Buchanan of past
services, ut Charleston aud Baltimore, not
yet requited. But if Mr.. Buchanan does
not come to his help, even Brutus, whom
he loves with all thealfection of Mark An
tony for Caesar, cannot save linn. Brutus
did say? Aye, Brutus. Mr.. Russell is IL
lover of Brutus; and II man is known by
the company he keeps. Would Brutus he
held as II representative man in Western
Virginia? presume not. So neither
wonld Charles W. Russell.
Arc we nl fools because Mr.. Russell has
seen fit to make ore of himself? Are we
all bound to snccze because Mr. Russell
has taken snuf'? This is good Calhoun
ism, bnt apprehend it would not exactly
suit the people of this latitude. l too,
profess 20 know something of the tone of
pHblic sentiment in Western Virginia,
particularly of the Northwest. have
known ii for the last twenty-five years.
Aud If Mr.. Russell prctends to say shat
Western Virginia does not harhor q deep
and burning sense of wrongs inflicted on
her by the east, then shall not say that
MIR. Russell knows nothing about it-T
would rather cover him with the wings of
charity, and say he is grossly self-dcccived.
But could not say this. In conscience,
could not say it, for believe that Mr..
Russell knows hetter; and that his late
letter is only another of the Oft re-
peated blundcrs that he mas made from
time TO time, tn snbserve his private views,
since that i!l-fated day that Le proclaimed
his descstion of the Whig party, from the
the city of Richmond. These things were
not done in II corner; and no matter hat
lofty airs of diplomacy may be assumed
by Mr.. Russell, he is evidently no states
man, and very poor tuctician. He has
undoubtedly been an oHcrcstimated man,
but is rapidly finding his true level, as ali
such men inevitably will.
! do not suppose t!at Western Virginia
is anxious to be divorced from the East,
especially if she could get heriust rights
by remaining in the State But do say
that she almost despairs of this. She can
get her rights only when the East volun-:
tnrily Comedies them-and pray when will
that be? Judging from the features of the
present odious tax bill, may not repeat
the question, when will Eastern Virginia
Voluntarily conccde just and eqnnl rights
TO the West?
But that is not ALL. Western Virginia
looks upon certain movements that are
now going on in the East with suspicion
almost amounting to dread And in say
ing this, feel confident that only re-,
echo tue sentiments and feelings of nine
teMths of her population. She knows but
too we'll that there is q strong party in the
East. aided by such men as Mr.. Russell in.
the West, who would willingly draw the
State into the maeIstrom ofSecession, or
degrade her forever by making her play
second, fiddle TO u Cotton Gonfederacy..
When that is done, if she does not cut the
cord atsopge, which binds, her to the East,
all over. Blight and mildew, blasting
andia destruction will tall upon her fair
tSbills and fruitful valleys, tile pail of death.
xvi II H..