Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-13
MT. CarlIle,s speeoh,

DIr. Carlile's Speech.
He at length came out upon the balcony,
and on his appearance was greeted with u
tremendous round Ofizcheers. When the
tumult had subsidized, he told them that he
was very unMell, and scarcely nble to re-
turn thanks for this demonstration; but,
said he, cannot part from you this even
ing without doing so, and expressing to
you my sincere hope, that the efforts about
being made In our portion Oftthe State, will
end with the restoration of hnrmsny
throughout the country, and with the great
advancement of the interests nnd prosper
ity ofNorthwestern Virginia. (Cheers.)
We are united, my fellOw-citzens, by
imaginarylines to other portions of terrific.
~, with which we have no commercial
nor business relations or ties. The con-
neCtion Is an unnatural one; and so long
as it exists must, in greater or less de-
gree tend 70 the injury of the people thus
unnaturally connected. tAppiause.) But
we have that right which belongs to a free
people; and that courage, trust, which
characterizes Virginians everywhere.-
While we are and have been willing to re-
main thus connected, we are compelled by
the action of the Eastern portion of this
State, from which We are separated by
natural barriers incapable of being remoy-
own hearthstones aud our own firesideS
We have, SO far rs know no cause of
complaint against the Federal Gotern-
meut. 1t has for more than three quarters
ola century, sheltered us In sunshine and
IL storm, and has been the dispenser of
iunumerable blessings, which we have en-
joyed almost unseen and unfelt, and under
its benign workings We have grown and
Prospcred as no other people in the world
have ever done before or since; hnd now
gang ofconspirntors are banded together
for the purpose of destroying this Govern.
ment, and usurping the PowerslW be-
long to the people, and they aFc trying to
'!coerce" US into rebellion against that
Government, and to use US as tie physical
force essential to enable themito accom-
plish their unwholy and unhallowed pur-
pose. ("Neverinl And theyhppenl to US
as Virginians, by virtue of our Estate
Rights" aud By virtue Of what they call
State allegiance, to yield submissive obe-
dience to their DEGREES. Whose DEGREES are
they2 Bear inmind my fellowtcitizens they
are not the DEGREES OF Virginia. The State
of Virginia and tue sovereign people of.
Virginia never have determi1ed that they
will make war against this FEDERAL govern
ment ofonrs. War has been made, bnt by
whom2 The government disclaims having
done it. Who sunk ships at the month Of
Elizabeth river two days before the ortli-,
nance of secession passed Who seized
the Custom louse ut NoffollS2 Who
marched troops upon HarPers Ferry to
seize the national arsenal2 Then can any
honest man familiar with the facts claim
that we are bound bytvirtue of the action
of the State to make ourselves parties 10
this unnatural and unholy War? (..Neverl
neverE 1t is first, plain and cardinal
principle of our government that the PEG.
pie shall rnle. Cheers Thisis the Hrin-
ciple that the Conspirntors want TO get rid
of. They arc impatient of This yoke.
Let me here call your attention to these
facts: There is no State allegiance incon-
sistent with your federal allegiance. There
is no such thing in morals or law us makes
it obligatory on you rs loyaicitizens of tile
State to obey even that State when through
its ordinary constituted authorities it tells
you to make war on the federal govern
Inent. make that assertion fearless of
successful Contradiction. This word allie
glance is misunderstood. lawyers and
statesmen have got their definitions from
despotism. What is allegiance? 1t is
that obedience which the shbiect owes to
the sovereign. Now who are sovereign in
this country2 1t is the people (oheers,)
and governments are their agents. There
Is no sucu InlnS IN tho technical legal sense
as allegiance under our system of govern
meat. We are the sovercigus aud the gov
Crnmeuts are ours (applalse(, and under
our system the people have created two
agents to afford them that ptoteEtion which
governments necessarily afford to person
aud property, One Of these agents is the
federal government; the other the State
government The federal government is
supreme within It's prescribed limits; the
State governments supreme SO far only.
as tits controlled by the organic law. No
power exists in the State government to
absolvc you from your allegiance TO the
federal government Both nre yonr SER
wants, and each must keep within It's pre-
sctibcd limits. II either of,these govern.
ments 10 to be more valued It is that one.
which secures TO you and -FOUR posterity
tue liberties achieved By your fathers nf-
ter struggle OF seven long years fan.
Plause); and you have It in The constitn-
ton they formed expressly provided that
tue federal government, or tue whole powe,
OF all the States, shall he eSerted in yonr
behalt-if there should be den found in
your State who would wishito deprive Won
OF republican form of goytrnmentSex-
pFessty stipulated, say, In the Constitn.