Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-04-19
Republican Meeting in Prince
William County, Va.
OccorAx ApR1L Ia. $3.50.

day. William G. Athey was chosen chair
man. aud John Wright Secretary. hrm
and decided, but strongly conservative
spirit prevailed the Convention and the
utmost harmony and good feeling prevail
The following delegates to the Wheeling
Convention for the county were chosen,
.Tobn Underwood Esq, Thomas L. Selec-
| man. William d. Johnson, Joseph NJ. Saw
age. Walter F. Collins, Joseph I. Janney,
I William C. Athey and John Wright.
/ On motion of John Underwood, the fol-
/ lowing preamble and resolutions were read
and adopted by the convention.
/ As citizens of Prince William CO.,
/ Va, we have this day assembled to give
7 expression to our views and opinions up
on the great political questions now before
( the American people and ngitated in our
! Commonw ealth. While we concur in the
I distinctive doctrines of the Republican
| party, that Slavery does not exist in the
Territories by virtue of the Constitution,
I and that no power should impose 1t upon
them until the people thereof come IN their
sovereign capacity to form State Constr
tution preparatory to their admission into
the Union: yet we think that to day we
have more solemn duty to perform in our
| own sovereign State, and that is to eH-
| anime the various grievances to which we
are subjected, owing to the Constitutional
wrongs and Legislative enactments OF this
Commonwealth.
And first, the bill of Rights to our pres
ent State Constitution, in section 18th. sets
forththe freedom of the press as one OF the
great bulwarks of liberty, that can never be
restrained but by desnotic government
The Constitution Of the United States in
the first amendment thereto declares that
n I'll La To- oh riI CYi0
freedom of speech or of the press.
By reference to the 22d section of chap
ter 1913 of the Code, we find that our
Legislature has declared it an offence,
punishable by confinement in the Jail not
more than one year and the payment OF a
fine not exceeding $500, to assert, by
speaking or writing, that owners have not
the right of property in slaves; and also,
in section gath of the same chapter, it is
made obligatory upon all postmasters,
under penalty $500, to make report to
some Justice of the Peace of all books and
other writings received at his office, which
shall inculate resistance to the right OF
masters in slaves, and to have the same
burned in his presence, and to further re-
turn all subscribers to such publications,
who are to be committed to Jail. The
effect of such laws, if carried out, would
be to establish the most odious censorship
of speech and of the press.
Second, the 22d section of article 4th OF
our Constitution, says that all taxation
shall be equal and uniform throughout the
| Commonwealth, aud all property, other
than slaves, shall be taxed in proportion to
| its value. Section 23d, of the same article,
| saws that every slave who has attained the
| age of twelve years, shall be assessed with
| q tax equal to, and not exceeding that
1 a. 80 ~ gal Of
hundred dollars; slaves under that age
shall not be subject to taxation. In this
provision we find it stated that all taxes
Shall he uniform, while in the same clause
it relieves the STAKEHOLDER of his just pro-
portion ofFthe expenses of the State. It's
known that all slaves over IL years of age,
are worth from $500 to $1,000 each, while
to $500; thus. to make the matter more
plain, the total number of slaves in the
State is estimated Mt Sill 1874. Their low
est cash price we think cannot be cstima-
ted at less than 5000 each, which, ut taA
of 4Octs on the 500, the same we pay or
lands, would yield revenue to the State
of about 81, 226,76O, whereas the present
arrangement brings but S337.804, leaving
the sum of $685., 765, which has to be made
up by the holders of others kinds of pro.
pertty. And all this must be borne with.
.
charged as Abolitionists and disloyal tc
Virginia.
Thus, after a careful review of the poll
tics of the country, we are forced to the
conclusion that in the coming contest we
are to make choice between the Demo
cratic and Republican parties, rs we are
convinced that every other party will he
swept away by the issues of 1860. And
in order to make known our views thereof
be it
Rcsolred That believing slavery to be
an element of political weakness, we arc
unnlterably opposed to its extension into
territory now free, that the dogma that the
Constitution carries Slavery into the terri
tories is new political heresy, subvcrsive
of peace and harmony.
Resolved That while disunon senti-
ments are proclaimed in the halls of Con-
grcss by pro-slaYery men, and disuniOu
purposes openly avowed, we point with
pride to the fact, that not single Repub-
lican Convention, not q single Republican
orator has avowed any design against the
integrity of the Union, even should the
present Administration and its corrupt
policy be perpetuRted by the voice of the
people.
RESOLVED, That we are in favor of equal
rights to all citizens, at home and abroad
and that we regard the preservation of the
American Union as the highest object and
duty of patriotism: that it must and shall
be preserved, and that all who advocate
disunion, are. and deserve the fate Of trail
tors.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this
meeting be published in the Wheeling In
te!iiyencer, the Wellsburg Herald, the Prun-
tytown Fisitor, the Ceredo Crescent, and all
other papers in the State, favorable to the
object of the meeting.
rousing cheers for the Union and the Re-
publican party.
VIZ. C. ATHEY, Chairman.