Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-28
Proclamation of Judge Thompson

Proclamation OF His Honor, Judpe
Hh0mpsOn--He Calls ON the Rebeis
in western Virginia, who are in
inns IiIIfs against the United States, TO
|, George W. Thompson, one of the
Judges OF the Circuit Court, acting under
the Constitution and the laws of Tirripin.
and under the Constitution of the United
States; and by my oath of Office, imposed
on me by the State of Virginia, in virtue
OF the obligation voluntarily and solemnlv
assumed by the State in her ratification of
the Constitution of the Union, to declare
the Constitution of the United States. and
the laws made in pursuance thereof, the
supreme law of the land. ''anything in the
Constitution or laws of any State to the
contrary notwithstanding; Art VI, 8
Z 81 and being by the laws Of the State,
conservatOr of the peace, and desirous
anu intending to maintain both Constitu-
tlons, and the laws made in pursuance
thereof, by the faithful discharge of NV du-
ties, hereby, in the numeS of those Con
si!tutICns and the laws made in pursuance
thereof, in times of peace and prosperity,
ana with the consent of all the good peo-
pie OF the Commonwealth, MS necessary
tor the protection OF life, liberty, property
and the lawful pursuit of happiness, do
call on all the good citizens to obey these
wise and s"lutary laws and to aid me in
their hrm and sHluuNry enforcement by
obedience themselves, and for the nuuish-
mcut OF the lIwless
1t is only in obedience 10 Constitutions
that families are safe in life, liberty or
property; and no mnjori;ies, cabals, mubs,
however numerous they may be, or by
whatever motive they may be nctunted,
are above these exalted safeguards of hu.
man welfare and prosperity, and under
these individuals and minoritics are enti-
tied 10 protection. If majorities, acting
luwlessly, are above them, then majorities
in Suites, regardless OF the Constitution,
Will rules but this may not be until the
reign of lawlessness and violence is in
augurated. And call upon all citizcns,
IN virtue of these smprcme laws of the
:nnd, to stand by the faithful and impartial
administration of the laws To those cit
izens OF Wes; Virginia, whose large ma
Jorlty against secession show firm deter
mln1tion 10 maintain aud defend their
Constitutional obligations, I appeal to
maintain the law and order which both of
these instruments guarantee and enforce
1t one IS u matter of conscience and of
law, so is the other, and iu maintaining all
these obligations to the utmost extent
possible, in times like the present, we show
ourselves worthy of peace, and the order
aud the protection of those laws whose
sovereignty we have vindicated by our re-
cent vote, or become obnoxious to their
just punishment
To those citizens in Western Virginia
who clmim the right OF secession, in like
manner appeal to lay down their arms
against their breheren and fathers, and TO
submit to the Judgment and wish of their
own people, in So large portion of the
State us West Virginia. If it is right for
one portion of the people in mass to vio-
lste or set aside the Constitution, so as to
free themselves from political intercourse
with other portions of the people of the
United States. surely it should be permit
ted 10 so large body of people MS West
Virginia, exercising their sovereignty in II
lawful manner under the Constitution and
in support of the Constitution, to choose
their destiuies. This, at the late election,
they have done in no uneqUivocal manner
They should be permitted, and especially
by you, their brethren, exercising with
such unanimity this sovereign und Consti-
tntional right, to stand by the Constitution
and the laws in peace; to maintain the
solemn integrity of the institutions under
which they have grown and prospered. By
this vote they have solemuly said they have
no cause of revolution they are salts
fed; let them remain in peace. If you
are dissatisfied, go i'll peace; 60 where
you will have the support and sympathy
of those whose cause you espouse; and in
Gods nnme, in the name of our ancient
friendships and freside relations; in the.
nnmc of that peace, the skirts of whose
robe will be dabbled in blood, if you re-
main in arms; in virtue of the holy ties of
relationship and for the preservation of
whatever of constitutions and the laws are
left, while yet the ruin has not reached
you and US; while the vengeance of civil
war has not broken up all domestic ties
and the sword of private revenge has not
crossed your own thresholds and sprinkled
Fit with blood, and left your homes and
your households in ruin; by all the solemn
memories of the past and the obligations
OF the present to recognize the wishes of
the people of West Virginia to seek their
own happiness and welfare in lawful and
peaceful manner; in the solemn majesty
| of those laws and in higher appeal of
Justice aud the cry: depart, depart in peace;
and give not up West Virginia, which
otherwise will remain in safety, if not re.
pose, TO the horrors of n terrible war
With such large majority neither East
ern Virginia nor the South will be dis
posed to cOerce us to their own local and
peculiar policy. With such position as
West Nirgiula occupies, separated by vast
mountain ranges from old Virginia, ncces-
sible to the whole West and the whole
North. the whole will he Al unit in our
deieuce. West Virginia never can be CO.
creed or conquered. Her streams NAV
run blood and her households may be des-
olated, and if this shall be so, it will be the
work of those in West Virginia, who re-
main in arms to oppose aud resist the
wishes of the majority Of her naoDIe Pn