Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-02-08

the country in whose service his whole life
has been spent, and he thinks that unless
the troops he has concentrated there, are
infected, he will be able to defend the
Capitol and protect Congress from
the rebel forces
There are many true patriots and
friends of the Union in Maryland and
! Firginia-no doubt maj ority Of both
these States-but their voice is un-
heard in the clamor of the Secessionists.
1t is these Union men however, who are
most feared, and it is of the utmost impor-
tance to the success of the plotters that
something be done to increase the ex-
citement in these States so as to silence
efectually these friends of the Constitu-
ton and the Union. And to this end,
we do not believe the ingenuity of man
could devise more appropriate scheme.
To effect change of the Constitution
requires the vote of "a States--a con-
tingency which could hardly be hoped
for in the calmest times, and utterly i'm
possible in the present excited state of
the popular mind. Under these circum-
stances, Virginia passed her resolutions,
appointing the 4th of February for the
meeting of Commissioners from all the
States, to agree upon such amendments
to the Constitution as aoiW be satisfactory
to the SLave States And this she accom-
panies with programme Of what would
be satisfactory to her. Among these
are the propositions that the U. S. Gov
ernment shall not enforce the laws in the
seeding States, nor reinforce the forts
therein, so as to prevent the secessionists
from seizing them; and that the Consti-
tuition be so amended as to establish
slavery torecer, against the po,oer of Con-
gress or the people, IN all the Territories
mo,0 o1oned, or hereafter acquired, soesth
Of thirty-sir and q half degrees north lati-
tude; to annul the Constitutions and
laws Of all tie Ere, States so as to allow
the Shareholder to bring his slaves into
them at his pleasure, and take them
away again at will, with many. other
changes of similar nature. And for
the purpose Of enabling the State to
comply with these demands, Virginia
magnanimously allows ten days for the
States to appoint the Commissioners and
have them at Washington.
Now, as stated above, it requires the
concurrence of "a States to effect a
change in the Constitution But six
! States have declared themselves out of
the Union, and California and Oregon
cannot, by telegraph even, be notified of
the demand ere the time will have
passed. 1t will be seen, therefore, that
unless every Free State acquiesces in
the proposed amendments, they must
fail And there is not sane man in
the world who believes that these de-
mands will be aeceded to by any Of the
| Free States, much less by all OF them.
But if the Commissioners of any State
object to the demand, the disunionists
will have accomplished their purpose
They can then appeal to the already cx
cited passions Of their section, and with
the hypocritical plea that the North has
rejected all plans of compromise, they
will be able to override the Union senti-
ments of the Southern people, aud so
effect their purposes.
How any one, who has kept his eyes
open to the passing events of the day,
can fail to see the design Of this trap,
surpasses our comprehension. And yet,
majority of two in this House, com
posed of all the Democrats, and foar
elected as "old line Wings and ''con-
sentative Republicans, seem to see
things differently, and have voted to
send Commissioners at the time named,
and without instructions, expressly
stating that ''any suggestion, even, of the
sentiment Of the people Of Ohio, might
embarrass the Convention.
The Republicans voted for resolutions
which we think were respectful to Vir-
ginia, and all the States 1t may be
proper to say that these resolutions are
in accordance with the wishes of the
States of Massachusetts,, New York,
Pennsylvania, Indiana and Illinois, as
expressed through the Governors of
those States, respectively, to the Cover
nor of this State, by telegraph, since
their introduction. They were voted
down, however, in this House, as stated,
by the unanimous vote of the Democrats
and conservatives. They are now, with
those passed by the House, before the
Senate, where the whole subject is now
under discussion. The resolutions are
as follows:
WHEREAS, The State of Virginia has
sent special message to the State of
Ohio, inviting her to appoint commits
sioners to meet commissioners appointed
by the State of Virginia, on the 4th day
Of February next, at the city of Wash
ington, to take into consideration, and
if possible to settle the unhappy differ
ences now existing between different
portions of our country: and whereas,
the State of Virginia has directed its
Executive to extend the same invitation
to cash of our sister States, therefore,
Be 1t ResolUed by the General assembly
Of the State Of Ohio, That we accept with
pleasure the invitation extended to US
by our sister State Of Virginia, in the
same fraternal spirit in which it is Of
fered; and the Governor Of this State is
hereby directed and empowered to7ap-
point five commissioners in behalf of the
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