Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-06-18

| brought ABOUT ana Wnetuer tue people OF
Virginia should be in this distracted con-
ditiOn in which we now find them, by any
previous action of their own. We lind
peculiar state Of things in the South. AZ
ter the revolutionists had seized the arsen-
ais, the forts, the treasury, or MINIS, the
| post offices, and all other government prop
erty they could get hold of, we find the
Convention OF Virginia still remaining firm
for the Union. But there was deep plot
going OH all the time. Those who were
| leading the secession movement, every
where were acting in concert, and their
plans were matured beforehand. All the
leading men were iuitiated-were indoc-
trinated fully into the views and determi-
nation of the leaders. They all acted in
concert, and sprung this thing on the peu-
pie of the country without the people hav-
| ing any concert among themselves. Hence,
sir, we see that Immediately upon the step
taken by South Carolina, all over the
South, aud AS far as secession influence
could reach in the North, the declaration
was made that there must be no "coer-
cion." Not paper in favor of secession
but what came out with the ddctFfne of no
coercion. Sensible men, legal men, in ev-
cry part Of the country looked at one
another aghast and in wonderment; and
the question was proposed from one to
another, and it few from one end of the
| Union to the other, "Have we any govern
ment mt all?2 Is this magnificent govern
ment built by our forefathers a mere rope
of sand or is it u reality 2" But still the
dogma was promulged. & There must be
no coercion;" and in order to produce
revnlsiOn of feeling in the public mind
against those in favor of the enforcement
of the laws, they were called "cosrcion-
lists" or those whose object and desire was
to exterminate their brothers in the South.
In this way things progressed. The last
Administration went out, and the present
one came in. The policy to be pursued
was Hnxiously asked for and looked to-
Every step the present administration took
was tortured into coercion; while OdiOus
epithets were shoWered upon it to make II
distastefnl to the people of the South
| When the Virginia Convention assembled
at Richmond it was asceFiained that three
fourths of itwere opposed to disunton.-
But the plOl began to converge to a point
Major Anderson was in Fort Sumpter, and
it was well known that his provisions were
nearly run out. 1t was known the very
day they would run out, and that he must
be reinforced, either in provisions, or in
provisions and men both. The Virginia
secessionists then called their mob Conveu-
ton to meet in Richmond on the 10th of
April. A messenger was sent from Rich
mOnd to Charleston the day before Fort
!Suwpter Irds fired on. BE made his speech
there; saying there was one thing that must
be done, aud Virginia would secede. They
knew in Charleston what that thing was
and Gov. Pickens ordered Fort Sumpter to
be attacked. The attack was made, and n
despatch came to the Governor of Virginia
from the Governor of South Carolina, saying
Sort Sumter is fred upon : what will
Virginia do now?" 1t is said that the Com
Vention would not even then have dissolv-
ed their connection with the United States.
But the SecessiOuists, without the authori-
ty of the Governor, dispatched troops to
seize Harper's Ferry and the Gosport Navy
Yard, with all their munitions of war. The
declarations had already gone forth from
Charleston, throughout the Sonth. that
they intended to seize the Capitol immedi-
ately; that Lincoln and his Cabinet were
trembling in their seats, and were consult
ing whether to remove to PHILADELPHIA or
New York. Thus they forced the Presi-
dent to issue his Proclamation, calling on
$4,000 troops. They ERelo he would be
bound to issue the Proclamation or retire
IN di3gtdce!-that Virginia must be called
on for her quota Of troops, or Secession be
acknowledged. The proclamation came
Virginia was called on, and then the Procla-
nation was styled by the cOnspirators the
browning act of iufamy of the Administra-
ton, on account of which they must Sc
cedel Thus the plot was laid ana consum-
mated. The plot WAS one that was con.
cefved in perjury at Washington, aud car
ried out by falsehOOd throughout the couu-
try, attended by coercion, intimidation, in
suit and reign of terror, which was euual-
" concerted throughout Virginia, as well
as in the other Southern States.
For several days before the Convention
passed the Ordinance of Secession, it was
absolutely beseiged; members were threat
eued with being hung to the lamp posts:
their lives were jeOpardized; the mob was
marching up and down the streets. and sur
rounding the Capitol, and everything was
terror and dismay Immediately upon the
passage of the Ordinance of Secession. in
every county, as far as can learn, a syste-
matte reign of terror was inangurated.
Leading politicians in each comfy
wherever they dared, propounded to all the
Union men questions of the following i'm.
port-"Are you in favor of the Union. or
the State of Nirginia2" notifying the par
" at the same time, that if they were In
favor of the Union, that they had better
prepare their necks for the halter, or leave
the State-some adopting one badge of
menace, and some another; such as MIS-
'OIs worn IN some prominent place, 9TH
eFs, Mimic rlhe balls, with holes perforated
IN them aud tied in the button holes of
their coats. In other sections of the State
where they had the power, irresponsible 4
persons assembled, under the name of
committees of safety" who proceeded TO
monty AL the obnoxious men in their sec
ton. that they must leave the State. This
meant Union men. Prosecuting attorneys
attended militia trainings and read the
laws on treason. AlIUnion men we're adj
monisLed that they would be prosecuted
Before the day of election arrived we see
Ine troops from South Carolina, Georgia
ana other Southern States, placed all o:er