Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-12

HN "a Z III .
requires that all persons who are SO wick
ed as TO devise the destruction of good gov
ernment, or TO obstrnct the operation of the
laws, should suffer punishment suitable to
their crimesi" ssii fa.-.yI-sa M
1t proceeds to enact, ty5sul -t.
aThat if any person residing or being
within this Commonwealth, shall, from and
after the publication hereof, by any word,
open deed or act, adyisedly aud willingly
maintain aRd defend the authority, iuris-
dietioH or power Of the King or Parliament
of Great Britaih. heretofore claimed and
exercised within this colony; or shall at
tribute any such authority, jurisdiction or
power toithe King or Parliament Of Great
Britain the person so Offending, heingle
gally convicted thereof, shall be punished
with fine and Imprisonment to be ascer-
tanned by jury, so that the fine exceed
not the sum of twenty thousand pounds,
nor the Imprisonment the term of five
years" ri
The next section provides,
gThat afiy person who shall msIieiously
and adyisedlyf epdeavor to excite the peo-
pie TO resist the government of this Com
monwealth, as by law established or per-
suade them to return to dependence upon
the crown of Great Britain; or who shall
maliciously and advisedly excite or raise
tumult aud disorders in the State or who
shall maliciously and advisedly terrify and
discourage the people from enlisting into
the service OF the Commonwealth, or dis
pose them to favor the enemy: every per-
son SO offending, and being thereof legally
convicted, shall be punished with Cue and
imprisonment us aforesaid" rs
After prohibiting all trade with the ene-
my, under the penalty of forfeiting the
goods, wares aud merchaniize employed
in such trade, as well as the vessels i'm
porting or exporting the same, the law
proceeds to require "that this act shall be
publicly read by the sheriff of every coun-
ty in this Commonwealth at the door of
the Court House of his county, on some
court day on or before the first day of
April next; and also by every minister of
the Gospel, or reader, Immediately after
divine service, at every church or meeting
house where they officiatc, on some Sun
day within the said time"
When these laws were passed, Patrick
Henry was Governor, and Jefferson mem
Der of the Legislature. The opinion of
Washington in regard to the measures
which the exigencies of the times required,
may be gathered from his letter of No
vember 1875 to Governor Trumbull-
[Sec Sparks's writing of Washington
PIP. l5o.
Gas tits now very apparent" he wrote
"that we have nothing to depend on in the
present contest, but our own strength,
care, firmness and union, should not the
same measures he adopted in your and
every other Government on the continent?
Would it not be Prudent to seize on those
tories who have been, are, and that we
know will be active against us2 Why
should persons who are preying upon the
vitals of their country, be suffered to
skulk nt large, whilst We know they will
do US every mischief in their power
These, sir, are points beg to submit to
your serious consideration"
The men of that period knew they were
at war, and they felt the necessity, for the
safety of the people, of adopting such
as State of war demanded.
Alongside of the laws which were in
forse during the Revolution, the measures
of our National and State Governments
are comparatively mild and forbearipg to-
wards "the enemies of America"