Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-28
WAsn1yoroS. Nav 9th, 1861.

| 4&C"" OOIttG H. DOLSs 4LEGILGlGOHUs v q
Ny DEAR S1R:-lc answer to your letter
of May Cd, l have not and onght not to
have much to say. This much, however,
both my inclination and my duty require
me to say, my personal respect for you re-
mains undiminished. Ny friendly feelings
towards yOu are not only not diminished.
but arc made more deep aud tender, by
the distressing circumstances which SUR
round you. And these facts make me re-
greet very much that should have been
compelled by circumstances, to write you
! snCh letter to intlictlahy pain nr NOR
ti6catIon, and especially to the degree in
dictated br your answer, aud explained
more mt large by the friend who bore it.
disclaim nll intention to wound yonr feel
ings, or to offer you the slightest indigni-
ty, and If there be any thing in my letter
from which an intention to insult you can
possibly be inferred. retract it.
This much say with tho Intention and
hope of preventing any breach, or even
weakening, of the personal relations Oe-
tween US Let us be friends still.
But it seems, now that we differ so wide
" in opinion upon matters of fact, that it
is impossible for US to reason upon the
snme line of argument. You think that
the Union is already dissolve,i-the nation
already destroyed! On the contrary. be-
licve no such thing. You believe that a
peaceful dissolution of the Union, in the
manner and by the means already employ
ed. is possible. | believe it impossible !
believe that the insane effort at National
destruction persisted in, will involve IL war
! more terrible than any the world has wit
messed, since the thfrl" years war in Ger
many. YOu think that II great nation like
this can consent to die, and may hope to die
| u. TSHs A..
! individuals, are under Gods great law of
seIf-detence, and when pressed down BIZ
superior force, will die in convul$ivc
aRonies. You seem TO think that Virginia
can go out of the Union, and still preserve
her integral Statehood. think that when
she dismembets the nation, she will herspl;
tie dismcmhered.
But will not continue the contrast.
! My heart is s0rrOwfnl when contemplate
the present degradation of Virginia. Glow
are the mighty Talent With the loss of
her power she has lost all prestige also,
and can no longer lead the people and di-
rect the counselsz of other States. She re-.
members Der patriots nut sages of former
times, only to boast OF them-not to imi-
| tate their talents and virtues, but Thy i'm
plicit filith) t. impute to the present gene
ration the POslhumous reputation of the
glorious dead. Formerly She proudly
marched in the van of all the States; now
she creeps in the rear of South Carolina,
and consents to be detailed as a picgnct
guard, to man an outpost of the ''CottDn
| Statcs.'
Poor OLD Virginia! In my heart I pity
her. Already they boast in the South
that they have transferred the seat of war
from their homes to yours. And snon
their devOurihg legiOns will be upon you
to eat up your substance and DO your vo-
ting at the disnnion election. Now mark
my prophecy: Unless Virginia, By a rapid
revolution, redeem herself from the gulf
that lies open just before her, she will be
degraded, impoverished, and dismember-
ed. For her. hope almost against hope.
And for you. remain as heretofore,
J Your friend.