Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1861-04-11

| sbusony uornADE, April Ill, 1861.
Speech Of Mr.. Waitman T. Wiiiey.
In opposition to the policy Of secession upon
the part Of Virginia. Mr.. Wiley. OF Mononga.
| lia. said:
Il wish particularly to direct at,ennoa to
our Western border; 60 down to the Kentucky
line-to the lower end Of Wayne county, and
follow our border from Wayne, by Cabeii.
BY Mason, by Jackson, by Wood. by Pieasants,
by Tyler. by Marshall. by Ohio. by Brooke. by
Hancock nearly to Piusburg-two hundred and
6hy or perhaps three hundred miles Of hostile
border. upon which lies one Of the most powerful
States Of the Union. Ohio. And then we TO
back by Hancock. Brooke. Ohio, Mar.hail.
Wetzsli. Monongalia, and Preston. which s..
hibit one hundred and sf,r or two hundred miles
more Of hostile border. upon which lice the
most powerful State in the Unioa-the great
State Of Psnnsyi'ania- Look bow We are thus
hxed-stuck in like wedge between the enc
emy and the Red sea-450 miles Of hostile bor-
dsrs surrounding Us. liable to be swept from Dor
der to border. by the range Of an Armstrong
gun. Tor one hundred mil-s Of our territory,
Now sir. look At our position. Between IN
and you there is the almost impassible barrier
Of the Alleghany mountains. and you. gentle
men. Of Eastern Virginia have not seen proper
TO give us enough Legislative aid to transpieree
these mountains that We nigh; have direct com
munica,ion with you. We arc cut oG frou, the
Eastern section Of the State. How would We
stand in . Southern Confederaeyi Why. sir.
We would be swept by the enemy from the fare
Of the earth before the news of an attack could
reach our Eastern friends. Will you leave us
in that conditioni Will you drive us out Of
the State and leave us TO the mercy Of our enc
miesi
Will you place Us in this extremity Will
you bring this desola,ion upon u.l Will you
expose our wives and children to the sword to
the ravages Of civil wAr!-to the perpetual
seourge OF the interminable raid which will IN
evitably follow upon the dissolution Of the
Union! You see that we shall be the weakest
point Of Southern Confederncy, and therefore,
the point OF attack. Will you make Nor,h-wes-
tern Virginia the Flanders Of America, and
convert our smiling valleys into the slaughter
pens Of as brave and loyal people as dwell in
the "old nouiinion." hope not think there
exists sufficient fidelity TO US to justify me in
saying no. you never will. What then must
you do--sbould you take the alternative Of &C.
eession! The Legislature. / understaEd, are
about appropristipg . million Of dollars for the
defence Of the State. A million Of dollars -
Why, cir. have eonspltsd With . military GER
leman On the sabject Of the probabIs eost of
pa,tihg the State in . proper eondition Of Do
fanrs AL Iaff s,L AZ II L..
tile border uhieh We had to defend. sad the
difficulties Of access. and other like eonaidsEa-
tions necessary 70 be tAksn iaio tks ssiimais.
be said that it would require rot lsss thsn oEs
Aundred rsiHfons e( doaats 10 PIT ths St.ss of
Virginia in = proper state of defence.
Nov, sir. II secession ie-pliss ths pstiing Of
The Stats Of Virgins upon = var footing. thsn
I appeal " this Convvnsios 20 cay whsshsy ths
people are prepared 70 meet ihs burisss nsces-
sary 70 put hsr IN tha, eosditioa. what - our
asbt asz' Porty millions Of dollars or ,ksrs-
sbouss Will our people suffer ssy DoFs tara
tioaf Ars esntlsD~n rvady bers--h Il can bs
avoided without dishobor; withoas dsgradation
to impose such crushing weight sf taSatiOu :
Are they wiliins % send back 70 tSs people an
ordidanes of sstSsion which will imply that
thsy shall BE- subjeeisd 70 millions sglsr nil
lioas for ths purpose of plaeiag the State On =
var footisgi Ths people will never endure a
4 10 shopld b dons. They esRnos shdsrs it,--
/ They have nos The ability 10 sndsre u.
wi.h kad strrngsh M. Prss,dsnt 70 ~
/ pay Tie kind attention q he Coaysntioa 70 ny
Tsmarks ! vill only Ask th<iF fsrthsr tssial-
evne.. ~h'Is present sRo'bsr 'dsa 70 sS.isso~.
s,dsrs,ioo slluds "a The far hat IN Ne
Uaioa. Virginia is oeatrai STATS, Ous oi he
| Union she would b boFd-v Suts. Look ~
bsr position bOs. ] hass sftsu looked ~ 4. -
asetsd over u And ] confess ihst ] fsit psida,
/ E=a nss a sttis wonder. ss coatesplssed hsF
gr,st aAyaatagrs 10 point - rssosrees, aad sii
/ ths facilities co. coaneFoial aed aesafnctsyi.F
sntsrpriss Look ~ beF is4nssss ssa-bsar1.--
Look 81 Norfolh. vhseh possesses he noss $50.
Aikesns kasboy % he fsos q fbs ssrtA. wkk q.
@igAsy ara u tas Chssspeahs sssesekisg fsgih
- grasp ths tr.ds q shs NsrsA, dFaeias i y.
vArds this ersst ssaPsrt Look "a ~ ang
nisssat ehanpaiga sssssgy, iayisiaz ths sesrsiu.
! s.a ~salsA - So sapls.Iiss. ~ e. es.ssgse