Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-21

which met in May, and was not assembled
Ander the call of the original Harrison
county Convention.
Mn. IaNB-Did not the gentleman from
Harrison tell tue member from Fairfax that
he was not here upon our call?
Mr. CARLILE-I so stated, that be was
not here upon the original call. The fact
is, it is a Convention to-day of Northwest
ern Virginia.
Mr.. LAMR-It is perfectly immaterial,
Mr.. President. had no other object in
mentioning these things-certainly no in
tentioL of saying anything that might be
in the slightest degree dfspleasiug to my
friend from Harrison-
Mr.. CARLtLE-lt did not displease me at
all; not at all.
Mr.. LAMB had no other object than
for the purpose of explaining in such
method that it could not be contradicted,-
what had been The purpose and object Of
our movement here-that it was just that
that very thing that was mentioned in the
letter from the Attorney General of the
United Stntes-thnt from the beginning of
this movement, at least, from the begin
ming of this Convention, down to the pres
| ent time, it has been the object of major
ity of the members of this Convention to
furnish to the Union men throughout the
State of Virginia, that " constitutional
nucleus, around which the shattered ele-
ments" of Unionism throughout this Stale
could rally. Such was unquestionably
our object. The gentleman will recollect
that motion after motion was made in the
June session of this Convention looking to
; division of this State; it was objected to
and voted down, because it might interfere
with this great object. Yet all this is now
to be swept away. The Union men in
other portions of Virginia outside OF the
limits of the proposed State, after the
fourth Thursday of October next, are not
to be Mt liberty to unite with us; they will
have no longer a nucleus around which
they can rally. They will have no State
government within this State unless the
United States-as think the United States
will be pledged to do-shall encourage
the formation of another government for
the State of Virginia, after We shall have
swept of the present one.
There is one other subject which before
| take my seat wish to touch upon, but
very tenderly. 1t is the subject of slavery
in connection with this plan. Your new
State, Mr.. President, as developed in the
substitute last submitted. extending over
so large Il district OF territory will have
within its borlers according to the census
of 1860, l4,800 slaves, only. The slave
population of Virginia, is 1 believe, not
quite 100000. You select precisely that
portion of the territory that contains the
smallest amount of slaves for the pur-
pose of forming your new State
Aud gentlemen | have no intention
to impute design of the kind to any
member of this Convention, for do not
honestly believe that such II design is as
certained, but have heard it said, and it
will be said with such facts staring us in
the face, that this is nn abolition move
ment. According to the census of 1860,
the slave population of this new Statew
1900, and what is it now2 1t is consid-
ertbly less already. Yousuppear in Con-
gress, then, presenting this plan before
them, asking their acknowledgment of the
new State-asking their consent to the
formation of such Il State. You present it
to Congress iu the midst of troubles and
distractions which rest upon this country
for You will not wait for II momeut-you
inevitably raise the slave question there
With the facts have stated, gentlemen.
there can be no other result. They will
say to you: The slave population within
your State is insignificant; come to us us a
free StatGand you shall he admitted. You
know that when you present this State be-
fore them such facts will raise that ques.
tom aud do You want to raise such
question as that? Do you want to push
such question upon the councils of the
nation, II question of that nature in the
midst of the difficulties and troubles which
now surround us2 l hope you do not.
Mr. President, have as little personal
interest in this matter perhaps as most OF
you, but feel the importance of the sub
iect most deeply. fear if you press this
measure upon us ns you seem determined
to do, that It's only result will he woe to
yon and me and mine But if the meas
ure carries certainly shall join heartily,
fairly and honestly, in carrying out your
determination, my fate will be yours, and
can only hope, that whether veal or woe
come of it, may still he able, in any
event, to protect those that are dependent