The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-05-30

BsaT The following letter from that ster-
ling Virginia patriot, John G. Underwood,
contains some thoughts that the rebels had
better be rejecting upon. The plan sug-
gested by Mr.. Underwood is perfectly feast
Bile, and, if adopted, would speedily restore
Virginia to more than her original greatness
and influence. We copy the letter in full
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 81, 1861.
The Tribune mas already given the benefit
of it's wide circulation to the proceedings of
our Western Virginia friends at Wheeling,
and deservingly commended their spirit and
patriotism.
The Wheeling Convention has adjourned
until the 18th of June, and desire to pro-
pose that they invite, at their meeting, the
attendance of Union men from counties east
of the mountains. 1t seems to me there is
a better course than to divide the State
The authorities at Richmond, by forbidding
the election of Congressman, and by trans
ferring all their power to JEFF. DAVIS, have
committed an act of .feLO de Se-have abdi-
Gated their own powers, and left the State
in a condition of anarchy. 1t would seem
to me, therefore, that the proper course for
the adjourned Convention, will be to make
a declaration of these facts, form Provis-
| ional Government for the whole State, elect
| a Governor, two United States Senators, and
thirteen Members of Congress, to act during
the extra session, and provide for future
election of these aud all other necessary Off
GERS by the people.
This action would undoubtedly be recog-
nized and sustained by the whole power of
the General Government and the Members
of Congress thus elected would be admitted
to their seats on the 4th of July. By this
I bo han ayaOonlp of cppnSCiOn
set by the rebel States would be avoided
The westerd part of the State would doubt
less desire to separate from the east, in or
der to escape taxation, incurred almost ex-
clusively for improvements in the east.
But this rebellion will extinguish our State
debt, not by a shameful reputation, but by
furnishing the means Of payment, together
with ten or twenty millions for a fund to
educate the children of the State, and also
for an equalization of our State improve
ments, enabling us to do justice to the west
ern portion. History is full of examples OF
forfeiture and escheat of the estates of reb-
els and traitors. The State, resnming her
| right of eminent domain on all occasions OF
extensive and fragrant rebellion, performs
the double duty of furnishing the highest
crime known among men and of relieving
in part, her loyal people from the costs, ex-
1t is true that many of the leaders in thi:
most unnatural war are as bankrupt in for
tune as in character. But there are many
exceptions, even among the arch traitors
, such as my neighbor, John A. Washington
whose grand speculation in bone-dust tht
ladies of the country have at least two hun
bred thousand real and substantial reason
to remember, and Col NOW GENERALLY LIE,
of Arlington, who, for the glory of being
Commander-in-Chief of the Rebel forces il
, Virginia, will perhaps be willing to surren
, der property, every dollar of which wa
derived from the bounty of a Government
be now opposes in open war.
We shall have some thousands of similar
s examples, quite sufficient to relieve our
selves from oppressive taxation, and plac
our good old Commonwealth on a firm
financial foundation. Let the rebels estate
be sold at public aIction, one half the pur
e chase money to be paid in State stocks
= at par and the other half in cash on reason
n able time. Let US amend our Constitution
D so as to vote by ballot, and adopting tn
-, policy of the Western States, give full citi
5 zenship and the elective franchise after
e short residence, and we will have such
: flow of wealth, and population skilled in art
and education, as shall soon sweep AVA
= our old emasculated and effete aristocracy
Y and adopting the liberal policy recommend
ed by Washington and Jefferson, we will
soon have the satisfaction of seeing our Clio
: rious State, so richly endowed by nature
o restored to her normal and original pre-em
= inence among her sisters of the Union.
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