Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-09-11
FLOR the 1ntelligencer.l
,,,uhnt1he Hour Demands.n

of the very highest moment TO every pat
riot and citizen. Let us cast glance,
then, at our surroundings, and with the
light of facts and experience aiding, make
up our minds calmly, but decidedly; and
once aware of the stern demands OF duty
let us follow the lead, though the path
way should carry us through suffering anu
to the death.
Time spent 1ot0 in argument with the en-
emies of the Union, is worse than thrown
AWAY. IF the most beautiful and costly
edifce ever reared, was threatened win
/ swift destrVction-when moments are
worth miIliops-as we'll might we, under
,,,ch circumstances, squander priceless time
discussing the origin and probable results
of the calamity, as waste it in mild expos
tnlatiou ut so critical a time US the pres
ent.
How strange, that there are some who
still claim to be attached TO the Union,
who maintain that the men engaged in
this rebellion ought to be treated with all
the consideration and tender .for6eGrdncs i'm
aginable, and no very severe measures
taken against either the principals or the
abettors of this most unhallowed conspira-
CIV. The hearts of these men, so overflow
ing with the milk of kindnes, seems to be
cheered by misfortuncs to Federal arms.
They contemplate with evident and ILL
concealed delight, the suffering or death
of the patriot men who, devoted TO their
country, have thrown themselves into the
breach. These men. the moment they learn
that the Government is waking up TO the
dread emergency of the times-determined
that the actors and sympathisers, the
armed and undrmcd traitors, are to be
visited with the full penalty of the law,
and that the friends OF the Union are
determined to back it up at any length
it may go to overthrow this traitoroas
league against It's authority and perma-
nencv-that moment their unholy hands
ARE lifted in holy horror; and, Messrs.
Editors, even your stony hearts would be
melted, could you hear the sorrowful walls
of these lovers of their country. Through
their sobs you may hear that our Con-
stitution is set aside and the liberty of
speech, and the press restricted.
The spirit and intention of our glorious
Magna-charta, according to these double
faced hypocrites, ought to be, to tolerate
traitors and let their so styled confederacy
"alone' The liberty of specific cast
odium on the Government and preach re-
brlliOn ut the street corners. The freedom
of the presto SOW poisoned f.lsehood
and Misrepresentation over this land, and
by its insiduous teachings, to imiusc into
the minds of even loyal men, doubts and
fears MS to the result of this contest.
The fact that thereare in this community
and neighborhood, scores, yes, hundreds
of men of this stamp-mauy of them con-
spiring daily, and in the dead hour of
/ night, how to carry out their devilish de-
! signs,-that they contribute money. and
advise and aid thoughtless young men to
array themselves in the ranks of the enemy
Yes! and the blood of some of the unfOrtu-
I nate victims, spilled atthe gap OF Manassas
will rleavc fast to their guilty souls even
to the judgment day. I.say the fact that
we are mingling with such desperate men
ought to wake us up from the Indifference
and security in which we seem to rest
Wise men act and make proper provision
against surprise or destructiOn-fOOls sleep
on
The blood OF our brothers, and fellow
citizens, defending our soil against the
rebel invaders has been shed-its purple
currents have crimsoned even the noun
tain streams OF our own Virginia; and men,
for only their attachment to their native
country, have hecn rnthlcssiy shot OH the
| wayside-or banished like miscrcants to
beg from door to door. Are we men p
Can we longer view with apathy this con-
test2 Have we no stake in the issue no
duties to perform demanding action?
Let us be up and at work-let our citi-
zcns who have such responsibilities resting
on them that they cannot possibly "shuul-
der arms" in defence of the county-or are
too old for active service, form themselves
into guards for the protection of govern
mcnt, State and private property
But above all, let our young men, if they
are brave and patriotic; if they do not
want the finger of derision pointed at
them; if they intend to make good their
right to n free country, flock to that COIN
try's standard in this hour when she needs
strong arms and valiant hearts. They may
never have the chance again to show the
world they are soldiers. I believe firmly
this contest will be decided forever in less
than one year from to-day. Many wise
men think in half the time. Be that rs it
may, rely upon it if you obey your coun-
try's cali, your children in long years to
come will proudly say, "My father. too,
was soldier, and helped to quench the
great rebellion in 1861" PATRIOT.
General RutIcr Enlisted for the Xvnr.