Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-14
ArrERsooS SESSION.

Convention ye-assemblel at two p. n.
Mr.. BARNES, of Marion, obinitcd the
floor, and proceeded to speak of the impro-
priely OF proceeding At this time to the di-,
vision OF the State. There had been no
uprising of tile people in favor Of it in many
portions of the State proposed TO be in
cludpd in the bounds of the new State =
They had not met in mnss meetings and
demanded that this Convention should
take prccipitate action. 1t was true it
was the desire of the people of his own
county TO have a sephrationi for himself
lac was hxious for it But there
we're difficulties in the way. In The first
Convention which met here 10 May, many
we're in favor Of immediate action. Pru-
dent rounseis prevailed. .Iowerer, and the
obstacles in the way rendered II necessary
to call gnother Convention. This met in
Juae, Snd some of the members were in
favor of al once proceeding 20 division.
But it was thought best to pursue the
course they deemed in accordance with the
Constitution Besides the Convention
thought it best not to endnnEer the exist
euce of our very nationality itself, by ac-
lion That would be calculated to produce
discord rs this would have done.
lie said there were difficulties now
According 10 tile spirit Of the Constitution
not only the people in that portion of the
STATE out of which the new State is TO lie
formed. should give their assent, bu, also
Che other portion, which it NIGH he sup
posed would oppose it-thnt the cnnsen,
of the whole State should be given so for
~ a representation of tho people OF the
whole StNte can be obtained. This they
knew could not he Dbtniued now. Action
here could only lie preparatory Mt best.
After the Convention had adopted meas
ures, the assent OF the Legislature must
first be had. and afterwards that of Con-
gress. Would Congress nda1it State
formed on mere tcchnicnlity? Would
NOT they require that the people of the
whole Saite should lie consulted? He
thought unless they could have the consent
of all the loyal people of the State. it
would prejudice our admission by Con-
urcSs il would he regarded on Il prinCi
nile similar 10 that on which the ssce, sioE-
lists have acted, and that we !Id hot ex
hnus,ed all the peaceful and legal means
Of attaining II separation. 1t WAS better
mot To make the trial now and fail aud
he distracted 10y the failure, but to wait
until the frnit should be ripe and ready
to I'LL into our hands. There were loyal
people in Southern aud Eastern Virginia
looking to them and praying to he re-
leased from their present thral'dom.-
Ia Tie midst Of the great struggle tlmt
wlS now going on for The muluuinHnce
of the Constitution amongst Us we are ask
ed TO raise an exciting anI grave question,
such as that OF dividing the Sale. Tie
time had not come yet for tue agitation of
tlltt question He bad nn objection TO an
expression oasthe subject by the Gonven-
h. mn
ter should be thrown upon the people TO
agitate and distract them at this time.
Mr.. MARTIN, OF WetZel, said the gentle
man had said that now was aOt the time
for separation. Before the ordinance
OF secession WIS voted upon there WAS q
call for the people OF Northwestern Yir-
Einia. Tic first call WAS from Harrison
county. Other counties responded, and
q convention tnet i'll Wheeling in " last.
IN that Convention it was fairly under
stood that ;Ge object was st division OF tie
Stale. They concluded it could not :hen
be done cUuslituiiOually, bat when we
could ttve legislature recognized as such
We would then be prepared to go into 81
division. Such WAS the understanding nil
over Western Virginia. The Government
Of the United States has acknowledged
thiS Convention as law making power
because this convention called the Legis-
lalure, which has been recognized in tue
person of the Senators it elected. While
The Government recognizes this as the
whole government OF ti!e State, il will also
icknow ledge rs when it comes to II divi-
siul vi the Siate. But there were repre-
seutaiiyes here from Eastern Virginia. It
q division could not aow BE- had consIilu-
tionalIr, when could it be had?
SIR. BARxs said, when the secessionis,s
are driven cut of the Stale.
Ms. AaarlX said The secessionist we're in
rebellion ug,iust the Uui;ad States, hence
they had declared themselves ai.ens, and
not citizens of YirgiriL or the United
States. Secession was unconstitutional,
and every citizen that Upheld secession
haze thrown Oh their allegiance, and we
had nothing 10 do with them, rs it regards
our rights and Interests in Western Yir-
giuia.
We were at one time without govern
ment. We met here To establish one
through tails Convention sent hcre by the
people OF Northwestern YlrginiI, aud We are
here ut ;h-ir will and bidding, and we have
i Right 10 csrgyDut theviews weadyocated
before them. He declared before ever thar
Convention was held NJ Richmond Tor d.
vision OF the State, and he was elected
here with tie knowledge OF his people
that he was 50 in favor of u division.
Therefore, he would go Eoi Il division, nat
only because Of more resent wrongs, but
because he had long been Convinced that
our Interests required it. Oar money had
heen used 10 make improvements east OF the
Afieghanies. We have no connection with
Eastern Virginia; the God OF nature had
made Il liue between Us, aud their interest
and ours were autngoni-tic, aud this was
one reason for wanting a separation +;
and while they wers setting. up gov
ernment in opposition TO the United
States, lie claimed the right 10 set up
M independent government separate from
them. The people expected nothing less
of this Convention than II division OF the
Stats, and if Foundation was not here
laid for au i1imediste SEPARATION the peo-
v,1n