Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-07-02
The new government In Virginia.
The Address OF the Wheeling Con-
- III. New YoEk Tinss.l

The Address OF the ~ heehhB SOh-
ventIOn.
Prom the New York Times.l
The address to the people of Virginia by
the Convention that las just reorganized,
at Wheeling the Government OF that STATE,
has come to hand in Official form, and will
be found in the Times to-day. We COM
mend it to general perusal.
If any man has dOHbled the propriety,
the expediency or the full Justification OF
the step that has been adopted oy the
Northwest Convention in a6juring the Gov
eminent at Richmond and setting ur new
one in its place, we beg him TO read TINS
Address. Il will be found calm aud mode
rate in tone, but exceedingly clear ana
able in argument 1t sustains the position
taken at Wheeling by force OF reasoning
and pertinency of appeal to Precedent
aud authority, that does the highest creait
to the ability Of the men that prepared 1t.
The points made and provedby the facts
of history, iu this address, are Ms follows:
First. the Richmoad Convention THAT pass
ed The accession orlinancel was called i'm
properly by the Legislature, last January.
In snnmoning Sovereign Convention to
consider the public safety, the Legislature
abdicnted Il position that themselves had
been elected to fill. Second, the ConTen-
ton was elected by vote that instructed
its members against secession, and that re-
quired, specifically, any ordinance chang
ing the relation Of the State to tue Nation
al Government, to be submitted to the pop
ular vote, and be ratified before it should
he elfectual.
In defiance of this popular instruction,
the Convention, in secret session, passed
an ordinance of secession, and before II
was done gave orders 10 seize HarpersS
Ferry, and obstruct the channel leading to
the Gosport Navy Yurd-thus putting the
State in hostility to the Federal Govern
ment, without ;he required popular assent.
A vote was ordered to be taken on the
ordinance of secession, in conformity with
the letter of the law, hut Judges OF the
State Courts charged Grand Juries that II
would be treason to cote against 1T and
armed partisans everywhere, by lawless
aud summary vengeance on Union men,
deferred them from expressing their free
sentiments. 1t was proclaimed after the
election, that the ordnance was approved,
but for weeks no evidence OF the fact was
given.
A revolution begun in fraud was thus
perpetuated by judicial intimidation aud
terrorism and a fragrant usurpa'ion of
power By the Convention ripencd into
military despotism; so that loyal Virgin
ians had no alternative but To succumb
and be slaves, or resist, depose the usur-
pers, and he free. They resolved on the
latter course, and the Wheeling Conren-
ton has executed the popular will. This
Convention quotes from the Declaration of
Independence II reScript OF Western Nir-
giuia's complaint against the Richmond
usurpers: "They have abdicated Govern-
ment by declaring US out of their Protec-
ton and wAging war against U.s."
"The legislative powers, incaPa-
BILE of humiliation, have returned to the
people for their exercise"
And so the people of Northwestern Vir-
ginia, acting for themselves and for loyal
Yfrglniuns all through the State, whom
they declare they know to exist, resume
the powers that their former representa-
tives at Richmond betrayed, and have
committed the same to Government that
is the rightful expression Of the popular
will.
The announcement of the Wheeling
Convention, in regard to the State debt of
Virginia, will lave special interestin New
York.
The country IS glad to know that, two
days ago, President Lincoln caused the
New Government of Virginia, formed Mt
Wheeling, to be recognized as the true one,
and all the States have been notified ofttci-
ally TO this effect.