Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-27

's7' 10 Inc EHeop1e
.I'5r5 North Western i: Virginia
Hnying submitted TO you the Resolu-
tions of the Convention beld at Wheeling.
on the 18th inst, with a brief address,
we now crave, your earnest attention,
whilst we discuss, yet further, the very
grave and important questions submitted
fur your consideration and action. We
are yet frecmen, Virginia freemen, in tile
fGllipossession and enjoyment of the sa.
cred and inalienable riglita guaranteed to
us by tho Bill Of. Rights and Constitution
of our State, 'and the Constitution of the
United Suites. In that character and
under those sanctions we now address
you, and it will remain for us in our fri-i
ture uction, to determine whether we shall
retain them or not 50
AS shewn in the Resolutions of the
Convention already submitted to YOU, we
have becn called to pass upon the acts of
one Of the highest and most solemn us.
sembinges known to our system Of gOy-
ernment;otL the representatives. of the peo-.
pla OF Eirginiarin Convention assembled.
I'VE must here correct an errOr of futll,
elect and consequence, which meets usl
ut tho threshold of our discussion. Tie
Convention of Virginia, which was cleo
ted on the 4th Of February lust, and
assembled at Richmond on ithe 18Th of
tile sanle month, was not the embodiment
Of tic sovereignty of the people Of, Vir-
ginia. They were. not clothed With the
powers, they have assumed to cxerciaeS4
else could they have ;Ind6re the Work of
oHr fathers bollshed our republican
form Of government, and re-ssttiblished
tho Grown of Great Britain as our sii-,
preme governing power. rhetAct Of our
Legislature, converting this COnyentiun,I
expressly provided, that the distinct ques.
tion Should be submitted to the people of
Virginia, whether any OtdinGlfce il any
manner affecting or changing our rela.i
tions to tile government Of the United
Stltes, OF the Constitution of our own
State, should be referred to the people. or
not. By an unusual, unprecedented ma
j0rity. the people decided, substantially.
that noLcllange should leamRde, either
incur Allegiance to- the Constitution of
the United States, or in our State Com
stitution, without having first1eccived the
sanction and approval of our people The
second articleO our Bill of Rights de.
clares, q thatsall power is vested in. and,
consequently derived from, tile people.
that magistrates nre their trustees and
servants, and ut all times amenSble tr
them Therefore, no Act or Ordinance
of the Convention, chansins our governs
ment, either State or FEDERAL can be u
any force or effect, until the people have
by u free, deliberate and unconstrained
vote, passed upon it-snd then only sub.
leet to the Constitution of The United
States. = y
his leads us to the next, and yetmore,
important question, us to tllepower, effect
and Obligation ufsthe Constitution of tle
United States Inthis address, we intend
to speak with perfect frankness and can
dOr-claimipg tOiunderstandiouri rights.
we know thut We are addressing those Of
equal intelligence, and who, whilst nm
derstanding their rights, have the courage
and manhood to vindicate and maintain
them. Tile Hon. j Jefferson Davis, Pfesi.
dent Of the eso.called Confederate St6tes.
on the 29th Of the last month, sent a mes.
sage to the Congress at Montgomery,
convened in extra session. IIehas ayRiled
himself of this occasion, as the. head and
chief of the States who have attempted to
withdraw thems YES from our Federal
Union, to declare the causes which. ims
pei them 70 the sepagntlOn,H lie SAYS to-
,the Congress- s,-s.f fhe pccnsiOn Is indeed
an eztraprdinqry sone, 1t justiies me in
a brief review Of the, relations heretofore
existing between us and the States, which
now unite IN warfare against us, and d
succinot statement of the events which
have resulted in7thiss warfare; TO the end
that manktnd may pass intelligent and
impartial Judgment ON its motives and
objects. Hhend our fathers declared
their ,country's independS Once it was not
the act Of one man ,dbut the instrument
bore the signatures of Men, the story of
whose lives is tho history Of the times IN IN
which they lived. This Message Of Mr.
Davis, is the'adth6titaIive declaration IL
the Seeding States, and ne receive it in
the character he has assumed for,it,t.
Ehe single, naked proposition, upon,
which rests the whole claim of the, right
OF secessiJd. Is distinctly Stated in the
second of the1'' Articles Of COnfedefdtion'gs
nduptedsb by thei Original thirteen States,
during the MaFuef the Revolution, as
framed BY the Dslegptes of the United
States of America in Congress assembled
on the 9tii of Juty,f 1TTT8! This article s
in these word Zach State retains Its
sovereignty, freedom and independence,
and. eypry power, jurisdiction and Ill,ghr,
which is npt by this Confederation, ex-
pressly delegated to the United States in.
Congfess assembled. Thiswps the! vital
Idefutt5iin tliei articles Of GJnfedefaticti.
.slndion the 2lss 'ofs February 1875 the
Congress afteFld dselaFipg the inss4eieacy