Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-03-12
THE Richmond Wing comes to US 10


the real old aHte bsllum Rhig that we used
to welcome with so much pleasure to our
exchange table. What is better still the
Wing is constantly improving in the tone of
its Unionism, and ia learning to feel &C.
oustOmed once more to living under the
flag. The old banner is now displayed at
the head Of it's columns, aud We infer that
the proprietor has made up his mind that
the United States is a permanent institu-
ton. WepubIish an interesting letter from
his columns on our 6rst psge. We fed in
an adjoining column an extract from o
speech by the Hon. L. B. Chandler, of Nor.
folk, made as it appears on the 18th OF May
last. in the United States House of Repre-
sen'atives in support of his claims to ed.
mission therein as a member-an extract
that entirely escaped our attention in the
Globe report at the time of the delivery Of
the speech. In the courso of his speech,
referring to the course taken by this Sec
ton of the State of Virginia at the time of
the secession of the State, Mr.. Chandler
spoke as follows:
"wbat was done in that portion of the
State that remained unseduced2 Did its
citizens blencb2 Did they Quail2 Did
they "crook the pregnant hinges of the
knee that thrift may follow fawniug2" No,
Mr.. Speaker, no. They knew whence their
blessings had flowed. They knew that the
Union to them aud to the country at large
had been, not a Mount Ebal of curses, but
a Mount Gerizim of blessings; that It had
been as eDnobliDg in it's influence as tori.
ent suns, which shine on barren sands till
they breed Jewels" They remained firm,
true to the memories of the mighty dead,
true to themselves, true TO their posterity,
true TO their country, true to their God.
Three days after the passage of the orr
dinauce, John Letcher telegraphed the
Mayor of Wheeling. read the Telegram
of Letcher, and the answer:
richmond, April 20, 1861.
To Andrea Sweeney, Mayor of Wheeling:
Take possession Of the custom house,
post flee, all public building and public
documents in the name of Virginia Vir-
ginia has seeded.
JOHN LRTCHRR. Governor.
WHEELING, April 81, 1861.
To John LsteheT, Governor Of Virginia
have taken possession Of the custom
house, post Office, and all public buildip gs
aud public documents in the name OF Abra
ham Lincoln, President of the United States,
whose property they are.
ANDREw SwEENEY, Mayor of Wheeling.
This same spirit pervsded all classes in
that northwestern section OF the State
Teu days before the question of the accep.
lance or rejection Of the ordinance was TO
hA VOfe6 nm tho 12th 6ov oF Moy =
mass convention met at WheeliUR. From
the Irregular manner in which this conVens
ton was called, and it's unWieldly size, II
was not calculated for the despatch of bus.
mess. Its action, however, resulted in the
call of another convention, which met at
Wheeling, June IL, 1851.
1t will be observed that the con
ven'ion exercised no power save what was
imperiously demanded by the exigencies OF
the times. They formed no new Govern
ment, but retained the old. They provided
for the assembling of the Legislature at
Wheeling on the hrst day of July, 1851.
The members of both General Assembly
and Senate, comprising the Legislature
With the exception of few vacancies, had
been elected duly and regularly before the
State seeded.
In the prosecution of their undertaking
to wrest the State from conspirstors aud
traitors, the battle bugle of the conven.
ton blew no uncertain sound. They did
not ask to have the line between treason
and loyalty, clearly, distinctly and def
niiely laid down, in order that they nigh,
see how near they could dress up to the
former, without running the risk of hemp
They were at heart for the Union. and made
no nice distinctions sgainstit. Thorough
was their motto. Tins Virginia
was kept on the constitutional track. In
tnose mountainous regions the Thermopylm
passes where freedoms most holy affairs
have ever been raieed, and where her fires
have burned brightest, treason found M
resIing.p!ace. The motto on the great seal
OF West Virginia was as true as to her in
those dark days of 1861, as it is true his.
totlcaIly-"AOHt0Hi Senper G6eri."
Mosr of our citizens will recall the ex-
citement that took place one evening in
April, 1861, in the vicinity of the Custom
House here. in consequence OF we'll .foun.
ded rumor that an order had been received
in the city for the seizure of the Custom
house. a large number of loyal people
assembled together for the purpose of re i.
sisting the seizure, should 1t be ATTEMPTED.
Ever since that time rebel sympathizers
have pooh-poohed the excitement az un.
called for and entirely gratuitous in it's ma
ture. No one, 80 far as we can recollect.
ever found out to whom the order was sent
and thus the whole Circumstance has died
AWey 10 the public mind as an incident of
half fact and half fancy. The above given
dispatches are the first intimations we have
ever seen that the order of seizure was sent
to Mayor Sweeney, and we are now in
cIined to doubt its genuiuenees as publish.
ed. Certoin it ia that Mayor Sweeney
never took possession of the Custom House
In the name Of Abraham Lincoln or any
one else, and hence we do not suppose be
returned any such answer. Another rea.
sOn why we doubt the publication is. that
Mr.. Sweeney has middle name and. if we
sre not mistaken, he always uses it in his