Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-19

their opinion The people could at that time
vote appoint an election on the first Thurs
day ia January, to obtain an expression as
to whether the new State could be formed
or not.
As to boundaries, if tae people would
vote for it in those portions OF the State,
he would like to take all the territory pro-
posed blythe ordinance reported by the
Committee; but he did not want to take in
counties that might aid in voting down n
new State altogether. He should not
~strenuously object 70 the fixing of bound
aries now, but he believed it would be bet
ter to let that matter rest until the meeting
of the Legislature, when they might he
able to obtain more territory b II would
be thought now advisable to take in
In reply to the question, how does pre-
! ~cipitate action embArrass the General Gov
lernment, It wonld for one thing introduce
the slavery question into Congress. If in
troduced, there and the Constitution shonld
be rejected, it would be said they refused
il because it was a Republican Congress,
aud it was slavery CONSTITUTIONS and it
would foment such NJ excitiment in West
ern Virginia as was never before witnessed.
Mr.. LEWIS inquired whether that same
difficulty would not have to be met, even
if the application were not made till peace
was restored.
Mr.. BoREMAE said it would not then be
so embarrassing because the government
would not have so man and such great
difficulties upon its shoulders, n it would
then be n very different question. Just at
this time it was livery unpropitious mo-
ment. If wenowundertake tostrike n line
here as proposed would it not go forth
that we were trying to aid the South, that
this Wheeling government had abandoned
its position and were preparing for a dis
solution of this Union. Besides this move
ment then loses all its prestige in the other
States. This is an auxiliary movement
to aid the Government ofthe United States,
aud what must be the effect in Tennessee,
and Alabama, and all over the country
They would say we had acted hyPocritic-
ally, covering up the selfish design OF
building mp u State for ourselves. ltwould
} be used by the secessionists everywhere to
} embarIass the Government and strengthen
their own position, and would destroy the
/ moral force and prestige of all we nave
} done here. This proposition left all this
responsibility of acting upon the Legisla-
ture.
Suppose they did divide the State, which
was the old State and which the new State?
Reorganize a new government here and
what becomes of tue old one? II revolu-
+ TONNES this part, it drives ont the old
government. He would leave tue question
for gentlemen to answer it for themselves.
This might be the grand reason why all
secessionists were in favor of a divisioni
because i: would prevent the loyal people
Of the other seeded States from following
our example in recognizing the whole
State government. It would demoralize
the whole movement.
: The gentleman from Upshur had said
some members here were opposed to the
whole movement for q division. He had
not heard any members SO express them
selves; but he had heard them all say just
the contrary. For himself, he was acting
in good faith, and whenever the conditions
wonId allow a vote TO be taken he would
go for a proposition for Il separation of the
State; and he intended to go home and
support whatever decision this Convention
might arrive at, let hat lie what it might.
Mr.. GATHER followed, and in reply to
what had been said about precipitate ac-
ton said that none of them were for the
taking of the vote ut once. His own
proposition was for the 4th Thursday of
November. But he would vote for any
measure looking to u division of the State.
He would favor some measure that would
compromise their differences.
Mr.. Johuston believed that this question
ought not have beenintroduCed here. This
was not the proper body to a this ques-
ton of a division into consideration. He
took substantially the same grounds occu-
pied by Mr.. Foreman. He alluded to what
had been said about the possibility of the
success of the Southern Oonfederacy, and
/ saidfthat the establishment of a boundary
at this time between the loyal and rebel
lions portions of the State would be the
drawing Of the first line between the Nor
them and Southern Confederacies. He
made the point that inasmuch as the Con-
stitution of the O. s. guarantees to every
State a Republican form of government,
Congress could not admit a State which in
its creation destroyed the only republican
form OF government there was in the State.
He charged that the thing of taking adyan-
tage of the East, which many gentlemen
proposed, would be dishonorable. Be-
sides it was a revolutionary measure be-
cause it could not be carried out according
to the spirit of the Constitution.
Mr.. DORSEY, moved the previous ques-
ton.
Mr.. LEWIS suggested after the question
was put that ATecess be taken.
Mr.. HARRIsoS called for the yeas and
nays on the main question.
Mr.. WEST hoped the House would vote
down the motion.
The vote was taken and the main ques-
ton ordered to be put.
The main question was upon the sub
|, stitute of the gentleman from Tyler, Mr..
Foreman.
Mr.. FRosr moved to reconsider the vote
by which the main question was ordered,
I which he afterwards withdrew.
Mr.. STEWART moved a reconsideration
and the President decided it out of or
1 der.
Mr.. STEWART appealed from the decision
] of the Chair-and on that Mr.. Van Wrinkle
> called for the yeas and nays.
Mr. WEsr moved to lay the appeal upon
: the table, and upon that Mr.. Frost called
: the year aud nays.