The Kingwood chronicle. [volume] (Kingwood, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861, 1861-05-04

Communication q the Mt. Itel2lyrncc.. :"
Recognition of "Confederate States

SMITH COUNTY. frEN APRIL. 1861
To The Editors ef the Nat Ifeligencer:
In your journal Of the I'D Of March last
you take position in regard to settlement
lowing language Ifthe developments Of the
ensuing year sluV hate 40 e!nult respecting
the determination Of the people in the Secc-
ded States to maintain their present attitude
towards the United States We shall advocate
the policy Of thcirrecoynition by our Govern
ment. and this. among neothcrqucstions. might
be referred to the arbitrancnt Of national
Convention
| beg your careful consideration Of ny rea-
sons for an opposite position. The great
ability long controlling your paper may well
cause me a private citizen, unknown in the
political world) to hesitate to advance views
opposite to yours | sensibly feel the Unequal
ity of the contest and the inequality II made
more evident BY the consideration that where
ever your positions have been opposed re-
member no instance which did not end in the
complete reftlatlon OF the antagonlstic posi-
ton By facts, authentic records, and great
fairness Of argument, you have sustained
yourselves against them all hence would
not presume to utter word if some able
statesman would discuss the matter with you
But time advances, your opinion is having
great influence, and no one has yet come for
ward Ny interest iii the general welfare
must bc my apology.
Though the whole secession movement is
unjustiliable III all respects concc 'e it would
be unwi>e to attack and conquer the sccedcrs
and force them into the Union | conccde
that republican government cannot be sus-
tanned by standing armies and perpetual force
| admit that civil war in Republic is the
greatest of all social evils, and should be
avoided in all cases where self preservation
will permit. But insist that we ought to be
slow, very slow and reluctant, to acknowledge
and allow IN independent sovereignty in our
territory | cannot forescc any permanent
good to the seceders or to the United States
admit that there is desperate and overpow
ering necessity for such fatal step. 1t may
come, but we ought to hold out, resort to all
prudent measures, and exert our utmost en-
n ergy and wisdom before we admit 50 dire a
4 necessity. because this will DC the last death
B struggle Of liberty | hold to the following
propositions:
lst. Our duty to the private citizens of the
Seeded States does not require or permit us
to acknowledge their independence.
3D. They will be certain to come back. and
do it sooner, without recognition.
3d. Our own safety would be endangered.
our rights impaired and our Government
would bring on it the contempt Of the world
4th The recognition would not prevent
war, but would insure it; it would not make
US and the seceders friends, but permanent
enemies; and it would abolish slavery
5th There is no safety or prosperity Of the
seceders or US but in restoring the complete
integrity Of the Union.
lst. On what ground can it be claimed that
we are under obligation to allow the seceders
an independent sovereignty within our terri
tory? Have they any good cause to demand
IT We're they oppressed? Al know that