Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-07-26


that Convention deemed il inexpedient.-
But one thing do know, they argued tue
inexpsdiency upon the ground that there
was no Legislature. and Gs the assent oil
the Legislature was essential, they conSe-
queutly could not consunmateI or even
take the inttiatory steps at all, tow'lrds
division. They must wait until we could
I get Legislature. Aud further state
that heard many gentlemen say that when
we had Legislature of Virginia, recog-
nized as such by the powers that be down
at Washington, then would he the proper
time TO agitate this question and then We
could and Hould have q division of the
State. Sir, that time has arrived We
I have Legislature of Virginia, recognized
~ the Legislature OF Virginia for al! Pur-
] poses necessHry to carry out the wishesanu
/ desiSas of gentlemen who wanted ssP1r1-
tom snd 10 this respect-in respect OF
carrying out these designs aud wishes, tbs
is tie Legislature of Virginia. But now
when you come to act upon this point, or
/ upon points that do not exactly meet the
| desires of gentlemen, then, sir, they would
have you to oelieve that this - not the
Legislature of Virginia; that this Is the
| Legislature Of but little corner, OF less
| than one-thiTd of the State. Well, now
have to say: II this is the Legislature IN
I one respect, il is ia another respect If 1t
is sufficiently so to unable US TO legIslhte
for the people OF Eastern Virginia as we
have been doing, Il is sufficient TO legislate
| for Il division of the State. We have
reorganized the State Government. The
Governor called this little body togetheri
it proceeded TO elect two United States
Senators, who have been recognized by
Congress. and thereby have given MS dt-
rect recognition that this ia fhe Legislature
of Yirginia-the most direct recognition,
10 my estimation, that we have bad or
could have as the Legislature Of Virginia.
We proceeded u iegiSlate just for one
third part Of the State, did we, eh2 TWAS
perfectly just, WAS it, for Us to assume to
iegisIate for the entire State of Virgin
iA upon all subjects, and upon
every point save this QUE point, u division
Of the Slater When it comes 10 that point,
then sir,-why it is unjust, unreasonable,
aud wrong 70 attempt to legislate ON this
subject because so many OF our fellow
citizens are not rcpresentedI Sir, this Is
prep1sterous in my opinion. We create
tbs legislature and invest it with certain
powers and it is tho legislature Of tee en-.
| tire State, qualified to legisiRte not upon
| one but upon all subjects alike for the
| whole State, But when it comes to that
one subject OF a division of the State,
thea, sir, il ia 50 unjustl Are you 81 I'M
| grateful, that you this little body, would
\ attempt TO legislate on that great and par
amount question: / am, / acknowledge,
| sir, Just that uugrIteful. II am not a
| member of the legislature in one respect
want to he IN neither; and If AM not /
wish to know it pretty soon, and will re-
| sign and go home, for have no business
here if this is not the Legislature OF Viz
GINA. =
Wish here to refer to another point.
! We are making appropriations, and no
doubt collecting the revenues OF the State.
Well now challenge any man, either in
this body or out OF it, to tell me the day,
the hour, if you please, when We will col
lect a thousand dollars revenue out of all
| Eastern Virginia. Look 81: that .hing, ii
! you please. We have government here
| that must be sustained. and the constitu-
elts of this BODY have got to ''fork over
! in order that il may be sustained. E'stern
| Virginia pays not dollHri yet at the
| same time, we say we are le%islnting for
! the entire State. Can we legislate for ii
a people whom our laws do not reach
, Or laws do not affect them, AMI | know
not when they will.
Gentlemen say the object is to troll back
this dark cloud of trensOH.f Sir, we have
/ played thunder in rolling back this cloud.
4 IL it had not been for the army of the
! Government, that "cloudn would have
rolled us back; and if il were not for the
strong arm of Uncle Sam, we would yet
| play Just as much thunder Tin rolling
! back" that .cloud." Ii the federal forces
/ were withdrawn we would be hung to the
/ 6rSt limb, or make our escape by the feet
ness of our legs across this river. SirS,
! We are not go strong AS many gentlemen
| seem to suppose. The force that routed
| secession from our midst was uOt our force
I It was the force of the General Govern
ment. It is not Ee that are driving back
secession.
! But, sir, as Was romarking, our con-
stitusnts have got TO support tbis govern-
ment, and it is'H government for the whole
I State at the same time. 1t is right nice
thing to pay gentlemen $3.50 mileage and
! 81 per diem, to come here torIefeat the OBJ
jects of our people in seeking separation
| whose constituency pays not dollar into
the treasury of the government-and /
challenge any man to say what day or
/ what hour they will pay dollar into tue
treasury.
/ In view of these things, am constrain-
1 cd, as an honest man. wishing to represent
the wishes of my constituents. to advocate
| a:division of the State. Not TO "precipitate"
that event, as gentiemen are pleased to ar
| que. Every man on this duor, who OPP
poses the measures now before US. init
I mates that thnse Wno are in favor of it,
desire to ''precipitAte" the thing. / deny.
I for one, having any iatentions to precipi-
tate. l deny. err, further, that it can pos-
sibiy be preeipita;ed.
do not know, Mr.. Speaker. but there is
an idea in my heHd,-aad trust in God
| It is not correct. remarked on a former
occasion, and do belieYs-with all re-
spect TO every member of this body
that an arrangement is going on to
sell me and my constituents. We have
tseeu outside pressure and inside pres.
sure brought to bear in the last few
4 days. even the saying to members from
the lips Of foreigners: "Ah /! you want