Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-06-28
CONsIsTENCY OF SECESSION.
Gov. Lotcher's Proclamation to tn.
People OF Northwestorn Virginia.
fFrnm tbs N Y r;,ro,1
LRrom &c N. Z. Tlmes.l ]


Gov. Letcher, of Virginia, has lust is
sued two proclRmations. One announces
to the world the important fact, which has
hitherto been clothed in some obscurity.
that the people of Virginia by very large
majority of votes, lawfully cast, have re-
solved to Withdraw from the Federal Union
and unite themselves with the Confederate
States. The other proclamation is in the
nature of an appeal to the people of
Northwestern Virginia, over whose loyalty
to the powers at Richmond cloud is sup
posed to rest, To return to their duty aud
follow the fortunes of the Confederates.
Both addresses are in the Times of to-day,
and will of course, be read with interest.
Gov. Letchor is so ignoble a man, SO
false, SO. cOwardly, aud so much despised
even among the people of Virginia, who
have found ont his lnworthiness in the re-
cent times of trial, tt,at there Is notbin9
TO gain in exposing lis official shOr,eum-
ings. If he were notso abject tool in
the hands OF the iIsUfpers of Virginia, he
would long since have been superseded as
an incumbrance to the movements of The
rebels.
Gov. LetchCr commenced his appeal to
the people of Northwestern Virginia with
the following huge lie:
"The sovereign people of Virginia, un-
biased and by the tieir own free choice, have
by q minority of nearly one hundred thous-
and qualified voters, severed the ties that
heretofnre bound them to the Government
of the United States.''
On reading ihis, tie thoughts of every
one must at ouce recur to the famous and
Infamous letter of Senator Mason. which
was published previously to the election
to which Letcher alludes, with view to
settle the principles that should govern
EirginiRns in giving their 'unbiased'' suF-
fragcs on secession. The conclusion to
which Senator Mason arrived was this:
that every Virginian should cast his vote
in favor of the withdrawal of the State
from the Uniou-sor if any voter could not
coLscientiously and heartily do this. he
should not vote Mt all; and finally, if his
feelings disinclinrd him to cooperate ac-
lively with the Secessionists in the policy
thus forecast. it would be his duty to leave
Tue Statcl That opinion came eI ca.6edra,
and was accepted rs the authorized ex-
position of duty in the premises. And the
tyranny OF public sentiment, no less than
the presence of $4,000 rebel bayonets, en-
forced 1t IN every part of Virginia save the
Northwest, which happily remained and
still remains free. So much for the nm
biased election.
Gov. Betcher bases his appeal to North
western Virginians to be faithful to the rest
Of the State, on the ground that they of
the Northwest haze been fairly beaten at
the polls:
Is You as well as the rest of the State,
have cast your vote fairly, and the majurf-
ty is against you. It is the dnty of good
citizens to yield to the will of the State
The bill of rights has proclaimed that the
people have a right to uniform govern
menti and therefore, that no movement
separate from, or independent Of the Gov
ernment of Virginia, ought to be respected
or established within the limits thereof"
This argument is very clear, and worry
OF better head than Letcher's: And Il
contains n proposition in governmental
policy, of snCh obvious truth nnd reasona-
bleness, that we do not hesitate to apply it
to the solution of = problem of much larger
proportions that Gov. Letcher is studying.
The Constitution of the United States is
practically "bill of rights" to the Amer
lean people. 1t secures to them the right
to II uniform Government y and it is i'm
possible, therefore, to allow Government
separate from or Independent of the Gov
ernment of the United SAtes. to be form
ed within the limits thereof.n Does Gov
Letcher "see it?"
After having appealed to the patriotism
and reason of the Northwest Yirginians,
Gov. Leteher begs and cjoies them to-
wards the close of his proclamation. He
admits that they have been wronged by
Eastern Virginia in the matter of unfair
taxntiOn, for many years past; but the
seaboard rulers have repented now. "The
State, by majority of 80, 1000, hGs put the
two sections Of the State on an equalityin
this respect But why? Simply because
the Eastern aristocrats wLre alarmed for
their possessions, and--wantRd the brHye
sons of Northwestern Virginia to defend
them. 1t was selfish fear and not a sense
of justice that led to the iardy reformation
of the Government of Virginia, and the
admission Of. Che free whites of the West
u = footing Of equality With the slave