Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-01-15
rPor the 1atollIropeer.1 /,


To the People OF Western Virginia.
If there was ever a time for the freemen
of Virginia to think Seriously, and then to
act, il is the present. If We heedlessly
follow in the mad career of the seeding
Statvs-link our destiny with theirs, we
are doomed to submit to tyranny and op-
preston, equal to, if notsAEorse than that
of amy government of EuroPc.=
VirginiHns, before we are led further
further ON in treason against tile frees.
government on EARTH, let us pnusc aud re
fiect one moment. For our own sakcs !. for
the sake Of our posterity, let us think be-
fore We aeI{ t6ink before we take step
that we eau never retrieve; think before
we sacrifice forever that liberty which we
now enjoy, nnd which should be the in
heritNnce of our children; that liberty
which was purchased for us.with the price
;of'the blood of our fOref,tthers, We may
guard and keep. But il VIC now cast It
from us without cause, it will never again
be ours.
Freemen of Virginia, upon our decision
now, aud our Immediate action, much de-
pends as to whether We shall longer retain
our name and character as frcemen. by
restless, aspiring ambitious nien-politicnl
lepders-we are asked, aye demanded, to
resign our right to that blessing which
God has SO eminently bestowed upon our
country-liberty. The public mind is
ruled BY reckless politicians, by. fearfully
wicked men, who, that. they may arouse
and'in1ame it to pitch of ftnaticistn and
trenson, are laboring with u zeal worthy of
better cause. They come with the cry
OF oppression, I'M Justice and misrule.
Labortng men .of, Virginia, when or in
| what respect has the Federal Government
depressed you more than uruwn State
Government has2 Has not the Federal
| Government thrown its strong arm Of pro-
lection around us in common with the
people of other States? Does any inter-
est, then, of ours demand thai we shall
rise in rebellion against it7 Will it be
our interest to rise at the command of
aspiring men and traitors, and take up
farms against our country? Will it be
your interest to forsnke your homes and
! fresides,r tight and. die ON the battle
field, that they may attain their ambitions
ends? Willfitb be your interest to render
your homes desolate-tO- make them the
abode1Of misery ahdtwaut, that you may
create monarchy out of u part of our
great Republic2 Will il be your interest
1 to engage in the most terrible civil war
with your fellow countrymen, to re-enact
the bloody scenes of Mexico in our beloved
Couqtry2 Say, Yirginians, will it be your
interest to change from peace and pros
/ perity to all the horrors Of civil war, pes
thence and famine, to crafty suehsn,en ne
fancy, keit, .Rhett and other ambitions
asPirdnts, who, after they had engaged
you in deadly conflict, will be far, far
enough frotu the scenes OF dagger? In
the hour of deadly conflict, those who
are now urging yOu into treason. aud
who aTe leaders in the,strife of words and
braggadocio, will fOrsake you, for 5brng-
! CARTS arc towards. Aud when yon, in
obedience to their command, have iedden.
/ ed your fields that have often teemed with
growing grain, Gods gift to man, with
human blood when the strife is ended /:
when the bones.o Of yonr-h brothers will be
/ bleaching on the hill tops and instlie val.
leys of your hitherto happy country /;
when you return to your desOlated homes,
to combat with poverty aud want, tile in
eyitable result of civil war, then, again,
viii they be your leaders and your masters.
How anxious arc the disu1io6ists that yir-
ginia shall secede for well do they3know
that Upon her soil, and by her hardy sons
lfot labor, ,5 will he enacted the fearful
j'scenes of revolution, while In the far dis
tahcei and reposing in security, viii be
the originators of the strife. Laboring
| men of Virginia, these are thoughts and
| facts which are not preseuted to you by
disunionists; their interest "a such forbids
FL. But be moi, deceived, forY from the
honr in which We sever our connection
with the union, We shall he plunged into
NnArchy and confusion, from which, if out
OF the Union, we can only be redeemed to
become the minions of ma oligarchy. =
Lam Am enc Of EOar. class ;7by the sweat Of
ths brow ~ earn my daily bread. Ny in-
tereat ts;youFs.g | speak "a. you the honest
cOuvictiops of my heart -cnnYirtious
forced upon me by what, LIiGilygses and
| beer arOuGd me CouVietioa5 ,tShlek will