Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-04-29
The Ordinances OF seoeaslon,

The Ordinance Of Secession passed by
this State 90 the nth inst, was received
hero on Saturday morning last, in the Ball
timore Friday evening papers. 1t was, of
course, the subject of street talk for hours
afterwards. On all hands, so far as we
heard any expression of opinion. or heard
Of any, 1t was pr0nouucedtu he the most
infamous asarpalion Of the rights of
free people, of which history affords any
record. 1t provides that the proposed
Congressional elections in May, in this
State, shall be abrogated, and that moth
ing but the ordinance itself shall be voted
upon. Aud, in order to make sure Of the
ratification Of the ordinance, itia provided
that elections shall be held sin all the mill
tary camps of Yirginia volunteers, avhssher
ia or out cftke State"
Fellow citizens, language fails US in our
desire to put the whole height aud depth
Of this stupeudOus infamy before you. 1t
speaks for itself. Read it, aud rc-read it,
and see what a mockery and scOrn has
been made of your decree, solemniy re-
corded by majority Of sixty thousand on
the 4;h of February last, that no ordin-
ance Of secession shall be binding until
passed upon by the people, and ratified by
them. Instead Of this, all the power you
reserved to yourselves has been usurped.
! MOreathNn a week ago, before the or
dinnuce itself had leaked out from the
dark recesxes Of that Star Chamber
Of despotism at Richmond, you were
told by the Richmond Enquirer that
the ordinance was to be submitted, ..but
simply as = matter OF fora aud not Of
cORtest." And, sure enough, twill be but
matter of form,a form having neither
substance, essence or life, meaningless,
empty, cruel counterfeit, that like the
Dead Sea apples will turn to ashes at
your touch. Every traitor outside the
limita OF Virginia, wherever camp can
be pitched, be he conspirator from
South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Flor
ida, Mississippi, Louisiana, or Texas, will
crowd 10 aud vote. The Oxford and Nc.
Gee candle box stuHfIugs In Kansas, inga-
nous and execrable as they were, will be
as vhtid's playtO the despotte machinery
that will be- put in play to pass this OTli-
nance. There is no possible chance for it
to fail, and it would be of 10 earthly ae-
count to the Union men of the State, If
even in despite of all this high handed
treaso" and usurpstton, it were voted
down. The State Is in revolution now.
The ordnance Is worded to take effect
from It's passage. It's as much 10 effect
uOw asit ever will be. Under il our Con.
gressicSal elections have ali been abolish
ed. aud long before We will havs.achaucs
TO vote on it, It IL deereel by Initiative
Ohalluot.vOte for1he Congressman whom
Ne have nominated in this district.
Fellow.e:tiEeps, as ne said above, all
apEdago fails US to expreSs our abhoe.
renee Of this iRsolSpt sad aesposic usdrpa.
ton. II we Gao 4.Almly brook it aud con.
template IL thsd are Ve dead and reldy
for the aaaaeles which are nov claaSing
in opE ssrs. By this ordinance sYeFy res.
tise Of liberty oudftaachise-sysry attri.
bate OF free eitiEenshtp-rSll that We hare
held dear - free.aea-all sbst we Gao hone
or expect Ia the future, is blasted aud
blotted ont, qaless the strozg arms Of
she Government, united With our own
outStTetcbed hands, can save uD, We are
lPSt-S6pslsSslV aud trsit1ityably bound