Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-07-20
A Card from NJ. NJ. Dent, Editor of the
.g morgnntOVFn Star,

A Card from NJ. NJ. Dent, Editor of the
morgnntOwn Star.
NeSsrS. Editors: was an ardent advo-
cate of the election of Stephen A. Douglas,
and fought the BreCkinridge party with
! greater virulence than ever fought any
! party before, because believed its leaders
/ intended disunion, though was we'll
aware its rank and file, particularly in this
section of Virginia, did not so intend By
their support of Mr.. Breckinriigc. The
people of Monongalin, by unanimous
vote. sent Mr. Wiley and myseIfns their
representatives to the State Convention,
where co-operated with the EXTREMIST of
/ the loyal delegates against secession until
/ the ordinance was passed. thenimmedi-
ately returned to Alonongalia, resigned my
seat in the State Convention, and advocated
( with all my zeal aud ability the formation
of Il separate State, to be composed of the
| loyal people of Northwestern Virginia
Civil war deemed inevitable, and howeY-
cr much | deprecated it with all its devns-
! ting effects, sincerely believed that If the
war WAS vigorously prosecuted and brought
/ to q speedy termination it would he Agreat
blessing TO Northwestern Virginia. for the
| reason that it would compel her people to
I do what they never would have done un-
/ der any other circumstances, namely: form
a separate State composed of the counties
/ belonging TO the valley of the Ohio. The
! loyal people OF Northwestern Virginia were
awake TO their interests, and called II con-
! ven!ion TO devise ways and means for a
I separation, which convention met at Whee-
I ling on the 18th of May. This spontane-
Gus uprising of the people WAS cIamor-
GUS for the formation of a new State;
but upon full deliberGtion they came
to the conclusion that it would be pre-
mature for them to act at that time but
passed resolutions and published an ad-
dress "To the People of Sorthcestern Vir-
ginia.n The citizens of 80 IVtStern Virgin
ian were recommended to vote for mem
bers of Congress. 1t was resolved, "That
1 in TieW5Iof sthe eogtaPhicaI, social and
commercial interests of NorthlcesteyH Vir-
1 ginia,n its people could never SUBMIT TO the
ordinance OF secession, &c. II was re-
solved, '.Tliat innsmuch as it is conceded
/ political axiom, that government is found
ed on the consent Of the governed, and is
instituted for their good" and 'as the
course pursnea.by the ruling power of the
State is utterly subvcrsive and destructive
of our Interests, we believe we (the people
of NorthresteTh Virginia) may righuullyz
and successfully appeal TO the proper Gu-
thorities of Virginia to permit us peace
fully aud lawfully to separate from the
residue of the State and form ourselves
into Il government to give effect to the.
wishes. views and interests of our constit-
uents." 1t was also resolved, THAT the
public authorities be assured that the peo-
Pile of the North1ceSt will exert their Mt
most power to preserve peace" &c. The
people were recommended, in case the or
dinAnce passed, 10 elect delegates to 81 sub
sequent Convention to meet on the nth of
June, at such place MS the Central Com
mittee should designate. ], feeling that
had done all the good / could do in West.
ern Yirginia, for the Union aud the new
State-at least, until after the vote on tue
ordinance-went from the Wheeling Con-
vention to New York City, not to solicit
aims and aid for Western Sirginia, las
many unauthorized beggars have been
doing in the Northern cities, and very
little to our credit, too,) but on a
private enterprise, which, il success
full, was intended TO be made use
ful in the New State movement. While at
New York learned with unbounded sat
isfaction of the slmost unanimous vote in
Northwestern and Western Virginia against
the ordinance of secession, and of the
subsequent assemblage Of the Convention
at Wheeling. / watched the proceedings
ofthe Convention with the utmost solicit
tude / wrote to at least two of the
members, urging upon them the formation
of the separate State But I also saw with
great regret that all the papers of the Nor
thern States were opposed to the separate
State. I found out that the holders of
Virginia bonds were very naturally oppos=
ed 10 adiyision of the State, and also that
many Northern men we're opposed to the
making oftwo States out of Virginia; be
cause it would increase the slave repre-
scntatiou iu the United States Senate.
Ialso saw that notwithstanding the for
mer Convention seemed TO relate TO North
western Virginia alone, that delegates
were admitted from the counties of Fairfax
and Alexandra, in Eastern Virginia. And
! haze beeu informed since ] arrived in
! Wheeling that some twelve or fifteen per-
/ sons, the chief Of whom WAS John G. I'm
derR0od, composed of exiles from Eastern
Virginia, who held a meetiugin Washing
ton city, aud appointed themselves dele
gates from some ten counties in Eastern
| Virgins, applied for admission as dele
| gates to the Convention, but were re-
/ jected - the COMMITTEES. on Credentials.
Nov, however much may sxppathize
with the poor unforluuates who weee ex-
i lied from their homes in Eastern Virginia,
do not believe they will ever facilitate
our getting separate State out of North
4 Western Virginia. On the other hand,
believe they viii only ,beR clog on our ac-
tion.
| Finally the eConveption,iecided to restore
the State government. This news j re-
Y eeivcd with sorrow, because / thought
could see in it defeat of the separation
ofthe State, and an utter prosrratiun of
all the hopes Of thepeople OF Northwestern
Virginia. With these feelings imniedi-
lately returned to Wheeling and wrote the
editorial alluded TO and pu6fishcd in the