Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-22

| this region but it may with truth be said,
the loyalty of the present hour is the
growth of almost exclusively the last
year. The old tree had well nigh rotted
away.
The present shoot is of different
growth, and is distinguished by the hearty
vigor which the other long since had lost
The Union feeling of to-day has been
born at the last hour, and while its pos
SCISSORS were standing on the brink of Sc
cession. They stood upon its yawning
mouth, and, looking down, saw something
of the confusion and anarchy that would
| follow an eruption. This made them re-
coil and if they are not many in numbers
as they wish to he, yet it must be admitted
the patriotism of this class of uncondi-
tional Unionists cannot be surpassed by
that of any other portion of the State. 1t
must be borne in mind that the expression
of Union sentiments has been, and still con-
tiuues to be, attended with fearful risks.
Secession stops not with rebellion. The
incendiary and the assassin are on the
track of Union men, and they know full
well that should the Confederate troops
gain lodgment, their lives would not be
worth the purchase of an hour. And yet
this class of men are bold and outspoken
ever ready to assist our trooPs-ever
make sacrifices to promote tie triumph of
Federal arms, aud never found wanting IN
any of the characteristics of devoted 10y
atty.
Between these two classes, the uncondi-
tional Union men on the one hand and the
avowed secessionists on the other, is
third class, and by far the larger one of the
three after the inland counties have been
reached. There are undecided men, who,
from some cause, from fear, from timidity,
from conflicting prejudices, from opposing
interests-are Yacillatiug, pausing, anXi-
ously trying to conjecture the issue OF the
conflict. 1t is false to say they are indif-
fcrreLt in this matter. They tccl intensely,
hut they have farms to lose or retain, they
have houses that are at stake, they have
families til 1t must have shelter. and what
ever may be their sectional proclivitics or
otherwise, these practical questions will
come in, and will have paramount inlu-
encc in the ultimate decision. The smpa-
thies of one portion of this class is with
the Cunfedcracy; but they cndeavOr studi-
ously to conceal it. The sympathics of
another portion of this class are with the
Union, but they do not suffer it to become
active.
For the control of this great class a
struggle is going on between the decided
Union men and the decided seccssionists.
Union men complain bitterly of the dis
advantages under which they labor. The
difference lies mainly in the enactments
respectively of the Union Congress and
Confederate Congress. The latter outlaws
all Union men and Confscates every arti-
Gle of property they possess-lands, houses,
stock, slaves, &C., without exception and
without mercy.
The former, on the contrary, contiscates
nothing but what has been actually used
for the purposes of rebellion, and by the
terms of its provisions throws the burden
of proof on the Union itself, to furnish NIL
the evidence that the property has been so
used by the rebellious master. This
amounts to just nothing ut all, for how
are Union men to get within the lines of a
Secessionist cncampment to report on the
work that may be done there by some Sc
cessionist property.
The consequence of this is that there is
large body whose preference for the Union
is undoubted, but who are really bribed by
our laws to act the traitor against US
They reason thus: If we should lend our
support to the Union men and the COnfed-
eracy should succeed in the end, we shall
lose everything and perhaps forfeit our
lives. But if, in yielding to the pressure,
we should uphold the Confederate Govern
ment and the Union men should triumph
over them, we shall ut most lose but such
things as our enemies can prove we have
used against them.
What Union men need is the enactment
of laws or the PRONUNCIATION of DEGREES that
shall give them fair chance with their
bitter Secession opponents. If treason
shall be punished by the con6scation of
everything, we shall soon see very differ
ent state of things west of the Alleghc.
nics The undecided will at once take
their ground, and by far the vast majority
of them will array themselves on the side
of the Union. w. a.