Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-09-26
Letter from PHILADELPHIA,
pnlLApELrnIA. Scpt. I4.

/ -usS1FS. L0Mf"etE ~ !4cEJsFHH6t:
! DEAR SIRs:-Thc liberal sentiments of
/ the Ndity Intctiiycmcer, published by you,
induce me to take the liberty of address
ing you, hoping to procure through the
medium of the IHtetiigemccr some reliable
/ Information respecting the sentiment of
i the people of Western Virginia upon the
/ question of siuvcr". My attention has
| frequently been called to that portion of
our Federal Union, by representations OF
its unbounded mineral resources-its
adaptcdncss for agricultural and grazing
purposes-its healthy climate and abund-
ant supply of springs and streams OF WI
ter, and its central position in the Union,
where land could be purchased at lower
prices than in remote Minnesota or Ne
braskn
| To these strong recommendations there
has, however, been an offset SO over
shadowing as to darllen the entire prospect,
| and constitute barrier to emigration aud
settlement by persons accustomed to cx-
| ercIse the right of freedom of speech of
the press and the ballot box. Much as
they might wish to develop her mines or
| iron, coal and other minerals-to establish
| furnaces, fUrgcs, rolling mills and factories
upon her strenms-to grow cattle and
sheep upon her mountain sides, and cult
vate corn. wheat, fruits and roots in her
barred the path and threatened them with
persecution and death if they desired to
assert the trnthfulness Of the Declaration
of Independence. pemncd by Thomas JEFF
ferson. or to commend the example of
Washington, in the emancipation OF his
slaves, to all other Virginians. Land is
too easy Of acquisition to tempt men 10
encounter social m3rtyrdom to- procure ~
| given number of acres in regions even
more attractive than the MOnongaheIa,
| KanawhN, or Guyandotte exhibit on, their
margins, aud therefore much nf Western
! Nirginn remains IL forest as unbrokcn AS
in the days of Daniel Boone
But we live iii an age of progress; and,
if the representations of correspondent
of the New York Herald may be credited,
events are about to transpirc which the
writer effects to Geplorc, but which every
friend to the true interest and character
Of Virginia should rejoice at, as the dawn
of her dcliverancc and the harbingcr OF
the promised good time n coming
Western Virginia, he says, is seriously
disposed to shake of the incubus of slave
ry which has heretofore cramp"d her en-
gics.
That such may be her determination,
should be the prayer of every one who
values her advancement and believes that
she is susceptible of noble aspirations and
more humane occupations than that Of
of supply ing the Gulf Stntes with human
cattle to stock their plantations.
Virginia was once the foremost State in
the confederation, and it is in her power
to be so again: but not until she nhjures
slavery aud welcomes the free lahnrer with
his free thoughts and expressions OF opin-
ion to residence and home upon her soil.
Until that time arrives she must continue
H. IL. ]
see hcrself. distanvcd at every census by
one or more ofssthe. younger States which
have wisely avoiledstllc clog which hindcrs
her from competing with them in growth
and entcrprizc. These facts are so we'll
understood that their repetition may
appear useless were it not that to over
come Pcrnicious customs, habitsnnd pre-
tjudices, requires slime upon linc and pre-
cept upon preccpt." 1t has been too much
the rule of her inhabitants to say to those
not residing within her boundaries, "Please,
gentlemen, attend to your business aud
institutions, and let US alone to manage
ours, which we certainly understand better
than you who do attempt to advisesus."
Figures and facts, however, are stubborn
though silent arguments, and II tax levy
lis stern logic. These Virginia has to con-
tend with, and their eloquence. may be
/ more impressive than pleasing: therefore
we are hopeful that the sold Dominion"
is about To awaken to ~ sense of her true
interests and the danger Of financial ship
wreck with which she is threatened, it the
market for slaves should be Overstocked
or closed.
! In giving vent to these, sentiments
design no disrespert to the people of the
i State, but merely TO express disapproba-
! tiou of the character of very material
item of Virginia traffic. if the advertise
ments contained not ouly in the seaboNrd
newspapers, but in those of the interior
may be taken as evidence, when we sec
! buyers of ''negroesp presenting their Claims