Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-04-18

r. MADbhA3
F. II. PEIRPOINT.
Primary Congregational Convention.
Pursuant to previous cali, delegates
from portion OF the Counties Of the 10th
Congressional District of Virginia assem-
bled at the Court House in Fairmont, on
the 10th day of April, 1861, for the pur-
pose of organizing, with the view to elect
ing man to Congress opposed to seces.
siOu.
On motion of John F. Smith, Esq, Col.
Thos. Gather, of Taylor comfy, was called
to the Chair, aud Isaac Holman, appointed
Secretary.
On motion of G. r. Latham, commit
tee of five was appointed to draft rcsolu-
tions and prepare business for the meeting.
The following Gentlemen were appointed
said committee: G. Il. Latham, f. MaderA,
Col. II. PitZer, f. II. Cumpton and j. c.
Beeson. The committee retired and after
short absence, reported the following
preamble and resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted.
WHEREAS, us citizens of Western Vir-
GINA, forming part of the Republic of
the United States of America, in times
past, we have been proud of our great
country, which has been the .'boast of the
the whole earth;" and have loved it, be-
cause in it all our rights of life, person
and property have been secured and pro-
tected. The Union aud the Constitution
of the United States, constitute the legacy
OF our fathers. All our greatness rs
nation, morally, physically and intellec-
tually, is attributed to them; aud by which
our State governments have been enabled
under peaceable pursuits to attain their
present position. But we deeply deplore
tlie revolutionary spirit that has, seized on
the minds of many i'll this great nation
to such an extent that the bonds of the
Union have been broken, the Constitution
Hnnulled, and the flag of our fathers, the
stars and stripes, the emblem of liberty,
chosen by Washington, Jefferson, Madison,
Franklin and their compeers. trampled un-
der fOOt-the flag under which Perry,
Jackson and Scott Taught the proudcst
nation of the world that frcemen could
not he conquered. It has been with feel
ings of the deepest regret that we have
seen seven States of this confedcracy, in
the excitement of the moment, while la
boring under the chagrin of political de-
feat, hastily passing ordinances of seces-
sion, and by conventional forms, creating
dictatOrinl government, defiant of the
wishes OF large portion of their own
citizens, aud of the citizens of the 9TH
er twenty-seven States. The cause of
alarm to treemen would not have been so
great had the diSaffcc;ion stopped with
those States; but it is manifest that there
is a powerful party organized in the State
of Virginia, pledged and determined to in
volvc the people of this Commonwealth in
secession from the Union, and to throw
off their obligations to the Federal Con-
stitution. We had hoped that this revo.
lntiOnary movement would have been con-
fined "a fnv NiGSOtSHfSaH g.,
Eastern Virginia: but we regret there are
some men among US, even in Western Vir-
GINA, who have been seized with the mad
mania of revolution, and are now actively
engaged in intl"ming the minds of the peO-
Pile.
The first fruits of this revolutionary
movement is the destruction of confidence,
depreciation of our currency, stopping
business of every kind, and the decline in
the value of real and personal estate.-
Even this temporary difficulty could be
borne, with hope for better in the future,
but our late Legislature, acting under the
influence of the secessionists, have made
large appropriations amounting to more
than one million of dollars, to erect ar
mories and arscnals, and buy firearms,
with view of pIunging the State into a
civil war. With !hese appropriations
number of new Offices have been created
ut high salaries, all increasing the burdens
of the people. We do not design to inn
pugn the motives of our secession oppo-
nents, but we do censure their acts, rs
being in conflict with the teachings of our
fathers, "that standing armies in time of
peace were dangerous to the liberties of
the people" And we appeal to our fellow
citizens, without distinction of old party
organizations, if they have seen or known
n n h iV,Tr inst F,.S,, II,
OF things into which the seccssionists pro-
pose to plunge the country.
We are glad that no army yet invades
our rights; that we still have the privileges
OF trecmen; and IN the name of Liberty,
we appeal to the people of this Congress-
tonnl District, without distinction of party,
to rally under the STARS and Stripes ig.
nortng all party affiliations, until orr
country is rescued from the sccessiOnists,
who, while they are oppressively taxing
MS to put the State on u war footing, are
ut the same time denying US equal repre-
sentatiOn aud refusing to have their prop
crty taxed. We hold it to be tue duty of
all Western VirgiRi0ns, through their
representatives in Congress. to do all in
their power to restore the federal govern
ment 10 its forme glory; and to send men
to the State Legislature. pledged to repeal
all laws for burdcninS the people TO arm
the State aud abolish all the new military
offices created b. the Legislature.
10 this end we would advise each cnun-
~ in this Congressional District to organ
ize Immediately, and present to the people
the ahlest aud lruest Union men. for the
various offices to be filed at the Snring
| election. Therefore
Rssolred, That we hereby cordially
pledge ourselves to support any true aad
reliable Union man for Congress in this
District, without caring to inquire with
what particular party he may have hereto
| fore co-operated.
Re'oiged, That all men of the District,
opposed to secession, are respectfully invi-
t !, to unite with us for tie purpose of
G cSl the secessionists and restoring