Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-01-10
[For the Intclligencer.l
mt. So1So-,I c0n1roveraC.


eriugs no quarrels, no bOrder-teuds obtain
between the inhabitants of the opposite
sides of the river. The hearths of Ohio
never glow more brightly, the tables and
side boards never grOan under heavier
load of generous hospitality, than when
our Virginia cousins, friends aud neigh
bors are found amongst our guests; and
when the citizens of the Buckeye State
pass over into Virginia, the same profu
sion of hospitality is displayed, only if
possible "a little more So" If private
| controversies arise, the citizens of one
| State sue in the courts of the other with
| the utmost confidence of obtaining justice,
land if defeated or unsuccessful, it never
enters their minds that local or sectional
| prejudices have anything to do with the,
matter. 1t is not from Kentucky, Virginia
or Maryland, that the loud howls, the
boistcrOus threats of treason, dissolution,
civil war and general mischief are forever
heard, but from Mississippi, Alabama,
Georgia, and above all from South Caro-
lima. This last named State always
flames like Vcsuvius or Stromboli. She
has lately appropriated two hundred thou
sand dollars to make war upon us, and
her Governor invites all the Southern and
Southwestern States to join her in the
bloody aud nefarious work. 1t is true
that these men ut present, speak cheapiy
| of treason, disunion. dissolution. and a
Southern confederacy% But the man,
who believes that these objects can be
accomplished without CIVIL WAR, can be-
| lieYc that an old withcred bag, can 0cca-
! sionalIy change herself into cat, ride
through the air on broomstick, or trans
form u gentleman into Il horse and ride
him off bridled aud sadled to witch'S
| feast The two opinions arc equally ra-
tional. The FOOLS paradise will be reali-
zed upon earth, as soon MS the peaccablc
dissolution of this mighty Union. We
NAV rest assured that dissolution and civil
war arc correlative terms, the one I'M
PLYING the other. If all other causes were
imperative, the ten thousand balcful pas
sions forever stirred and kept alive by the
language of ultraS and ire-eaters, would
insure II furious civil war Immediately
consequent upon dissolution of the
Union. And wicked and foolish as such
struggle would be the danger is neither
distant nor imaginary. 1t is at least time
for us citizens of the Ohio valley to count
the cost If these calamitics come we are
to be tho chief sufferers. Is it desirable
to have all our relations of amity, peace
and fraternity broken up? The French
provcrb affirms that, "happy is the nation
that has no frontiers"
The extreme North and the extreme
South are guarreling at our expense
Our river, instead of separating, as it does
brothers, cousins, kinsmen and friends, is
to become the boundary of foreign and
hostile Suites. Civil war is to rage on
both its banks. We, the inhabitants Of
| this valley, are chiefly concerned. het us
remember what civil war is, what it i'm
plies. Let us remember that it means
battles, it means bloodshed, it means
ravaged towns, burning cities, deserted
villages, it means pillage, plumber, devns-
tation. dcsolAtion. But there is no cause
of war between the slavcholding and non
! slnvcholdng sections of the Union. You
4 are mistaken, sir. The causes of war
between the two sections are as real as
mad mans dreams. And as mad man
has his dreams, so nations often have
their hallucinations and both the one and
the other often prove fatal "WhOm the
gods would destroy they first make mad"
It may seem bold to iusinuate that the
fierce sectional excitement, now threaten
| ing the peace of our once happy country
| is as irrational as the delusiOus of a
maniac But history, unhnppily, has its
examples of socinl rs well as of individual
madness. Instance, the Popish plot in the
time of Titus Oates, the Salem witchCraft
dclusiOn, a little later in the same century
the New York negro plot in l74O, and the
reign of terror throughout France in
1884.
A few hours. therefore. spent in con-
sidering what are the real causes of COM
plant, between tho two sections cannot be
time wasted.
What then is the cause of so much
! Southern discomfort? Why are our ears
tormented with hebdonladal and diurnal
threats of civil war wagcd upon us? Why
are our Southern fellow-citizens about 10
overthrow the Federal Government and
destroy the Union? 1t is not on account
of any law of Congress. The Federal Lee
| gislature has passed no law of which our
Southern neighbors complain 1t is more
over notorious that both the last and pres
Cnt Administrations have been ObScquious,
not only to Southern wishes and Southern
interests, but to Southern passions and
prejudiccs Many men, far wiser and
probably better than either of these Two
| Presidents, believe that if they had been
strictly impartial, no quarrel would now
be raging between the North aud the
South. When two boys are quarreling
the injudicious interference of Il very re-
spectacle gentleman, nearly always in
sures fight, especially if the interference
is Oh behalf OF the more qucrulOus and
aggressive.
The Territorial question is becoming
rather theoretical than practical; whether
the doctrine of popular sovereignty is
sanctioned by the Constitution or not, it is
likely in fact to settle the fate of the Ter
ritories. Why cannot men, therefore.
agree to disagree on such subjects, without
regarding the disagreement in opinion as a
cause of offence? Why may not one man
believe with Judge Marshall and the whole
Supreme Court of the United States, that
in legislatine for the Territories, Congress
possesses '.the combined powers of the
General and of State government" First
Peters, page 545. Why may not another
believe with Judge fancy and majority