Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-04
nIIr NEw sTATE AND sLAvERY,



The Convention appointed to form a
Constitution for the proposed New State,
has met, aud fully organized. and IS pro
ceedin1 with the business before 1t
The subject of slavery has not yet
FulIv come before the Convention; it will,
however, claim a full and thorough IN
yestipation before that body. But how
It will finally be disposed of. is not GER
tainIy known.
State: are for incorporating slavery into
fine Constitution as q part of the organic
law of the State Others are for a free
Stote. the Constitution prohibiting sla-
very forever after a specified time fixed
hv the Conventions; and again there are
others who are for leaving the whole sub
iect of slavery out of the Consultation,
and committing it to the Legislature of
the State. All, however, agree that the
New State must and will be free uiti-
mately.
should turn upon the question: Is sla-
very a blessing. or is it q curse2 There
can be no middle ground; it is one or the
ot6sr. If slavery tends to the peace,
prosperity and happiness of people and
nation; if it tends to the general good of
humanity. then let the New State be a
slape State. But if the reverse are the
tendencies of slavery; if bitter strifes
and discord at home, and burning re-.
proach abroad, and civil war and blood
shed, be its legitimate results, then let the
New State be made a. free State.
This whole subject should be frankly
and thoroughly discussed by the Con-
yention, that wise and Just conclusions
NAV DO arrived ut This is not the time
for shrinking from responsibilities; let
the issue be firmly met It is very gem
orally admitted, that the whole system OF
American slavery is founded and perpet-
uated in irii;stice, lcroug, OppresstoSI, ee.g-
TaddtiogL cruelty and inhumdnity How,
then. can it be attended with the bless
ings Of heayenP Henry Clay said, "Sia-
very is curse to the master and a grteU-
oiS ,oronq to the slaye." Thomas Jefer-
son holds that there is no attribute in the
Godhead that sympathises with American
slavery, and expresses himself as trem-
bling for the fate of this nation on ac-
count of slavery.
DIR Henry Ruffner, of Kanawha, pro-
found scholar and STAKEHOLDER himself,
and who is thoroughly acquainted with
the subject, in his address to the people
of West Virginia, on the subject of sla-
very, referring to its desolating effects
upon the old slave States, says: What
has done this work of desQLdtionYs Not
war, nor pestilence; not oppression OF ru-
lers, civil or ecclesiastical; but slavery,
curse more destructive in its effects than.
any of them" Terrible must the chrSe
Of slavery be in his estimation-worse,
even, than war, and God knows that IS
bad enough.
"Our own Western Virgins" says he,
"Furnishes conclusive evidence that slave
nv, in all quantities. aud degrees, has per-
nicions influence on public welfare. II Is
a truth, certain truth, that staUerg driUes
free laborers, farmers, mechanics, and all,
aud some OF ths best of them, too, out of the
country, and fills their places with ne
eroes." Referring to tue evil effects OF
slavery upon the Valley of Virginia, Or.
Ruffner says, "What a pity that SO rich
and so lovely a land should be ath'ctea
with this yslto,O fever aud this 6tHeis yo S
How dreadful must the curse of slavery
be. il iit is the .tyeIlOrg fever and black yom-
III combined.
Again, "!SIdUery Is Demonstrated to be not
only unprof td6le, 6Et deeply Injurious TO the
public tgelfare.n
= nSome Virginia politicians Pro'tdty-yes,
proudly, fello " citizens, call our old cou-
mon wealth the Mother Of States These eH-
4iyhtsasd patriots NIGH pay her asttll high
er compliment, by calling her the Grand
mother of States. For our part, we are
grieyed aud mortified, TO think Of the lean
and haggard condition OF our venerable
mother. He black children have sucked
her so dry, that now, for long time past,
the has not milk enough for her offspring
either black or white.
Il tbisvgere true ofvirginia twenty-four
wears ago, is IL not more terribly true now 4
Two grand armies have invaded her terri
tory, aud have dreuched her soil with the
blood of her own citiEens-desolation and!
ruin relgning with horror in her midst
What spectacle does the Old Dominion
present. Seemingly, sheis under the curse
Of God and man.
What is the cause of all this What has
brought about this TERRIBLE state of thtngsE
answer, is net slavery the cause of It y
Has not slavery formed this dark and deeply
la,d conspiracy for the overthrow of this
great Republic7 Isit Rot the CdtdtiHe that
that is seeking 70 destroy our glorious
country? Vac will for moment doH0t
this? Certainly, no one.
But what shall be done with slavery =
Treat it as any other traitor-let II be eTe-
euts9. Provide for It's utter extirPation.
The jurisprudeuce Of Moses, the divine
Law-giver, furnishes the principle govern
ing this question:: "But il theox were wont
to push with his horns in times past,
and it hath been testified to his owner,
and he hath not kept him in, bat that he
hath killed a man or a womanS the OF
shall DO stoned, aud his owner also shall
be put TO death"
This or, this Bull of Slavery, fHrioEs,
desperate, is plunging his horns to the very
heart of this nation, and seeking its saer
distraction, Alreadg, his horns are red
with human gore, and the hairs of htsibody
are dripping with the blood Of our best
81 -. 4 -, A aarnR1a yveaith de8-