Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-21
North Western Virginia

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North Western Virginia
In obedience to the 18th resolution Of
the Convention, which met in this CITY,
on the 18th inst, We earnestly coniuro
you to enter actively and Immediately
upon the great work of preparing your
neishbors and friends, rs we'll ms your
selves, for the firm, stern and decided
stand necessary to be taken and adhered
to at all hazards, and maintained at any
and every cost, if we5would preserve to
ourselves and transmit 70 our posterity,
that unity of government which consti-
tutes us one people. which we Justly re-
gard as tho palladium of lonF liberties
and the main pillar in the ediGoe of our
independence. In this way, and this
way alone, we can save ourselves from
the innumeruble evils consequent upon
secession and all the horrors of civil war.
Why should the people of North West
ern Virginia allow themselves to be drag,
ged into the rebellion inaugurated by
ambitious and heartless men, who have
banded themselves together to destroy a
government formed for you by your pat
riot fathers, and which has secured to
you all the liberties consistent with the
nature of man, and has, for near thrce-
fourths of century, sheltered you in
sunshine and in storm, made you the i'd
miration of the civilized world; and con-
terred upon you title more honUred, re-
spected and reyered, than that of King
or Potentate-the title of an American
citizen. Will you passiYely surrender it,
and submit to be used by the cOnspira.
tors engaged in this effort to enslave you,
us their instruments by which your en-
slayement is to be etfected2
Freemen who would remain free, must
prove themselves worthy to be free, and
must themselves first strike the blow.
What is secession? a deed not to be
accomplished in tho broad glare of u
noon day sun, but deed of darkness,
which had to be performed in secret con.
clave, by the reckless spirits who accom-
plished it, in cOntempt of the people,
their masters under our form of govern
ment, but who the leaders in this work of
destruction lave determined to enslave.
What is secession? bankruptcy, ruin,
civil war, ending in military despotisnl.
Prior to the adoption of the Ordinance of
Secession in Virginia, and to the passage
BY the Legislature of the bill calling a
Convention, all was peace, and the great
business interests of our State were 1nin-
terruptcd. From the hour. that it was
proclaimed the Ordinance of Secession
had been passed, business of every de-
scriPtiOn has been paralyzed, State, cor
pOration and individual credit is pros
trHtc, and bankruptcy and ruin stare us
in tho face, and war, civil war, with all
its attendant horrors, is upon u.s. Seccs-
sion, all now sec, is war. 1t is preceded
by war, accompanied and sustained by
war, ushered into being byswar
Who are to stand the brunt Of this con-
test. Will it be those who have clamorcd
loudest for secession, md who have done
the most to bring on the present crisis |?
These are the first to flee from tho very
approach of danger. They hurry in ev-
cry train and by every coach from the
anticipated scenes of disturbance Will
the diSunion majority of the Richmond
Convention come into tho ranks and
shoulder tho musket5in tile strife which
they have innugurated2 They will Keep
ut a respectful distance from DANCER =
They will fill the lucrative offices and Sc
euro the rich appointments which amer.
tain to the now order of things. They
will luxuriate on two or three or four
hundred dollars per month, With horses.
and servants, and rations to match. whilc
the Union-lOving people will be called
upon, for tho honor of Virginia and two
shiIlings per day, to do the fighting and
undergo the hnrdships of war. We arc
all Nirginians, say they, the State must
be sustained, and, right or wrong, NO