Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-06
wEsPERN vIRaIN1A.
Her Policy and Her Duty In thls
CRISIS.
lFrom the MoFglntown staF.l

WHAT ARR We NOW 10 DOT WHAT IA
WESTERN VIRGINIA 70 DOT THAT'S THE
QUESTION.
In answering this question we shall me-
cessarily do SO briefly, as we are reminded
that the editorial space in this weeks pa
per-is very limited. Our opinion formed
after mature and painful delibeFation, and
with full consideration of the conse-
quences, is that Western Virginia should
declare herselfu separate and independent
State-should protest against this unholy'
war between her brethren of the North
and South, and nee her influence as u
mediator for the peaceful settlement of the
difficulties which now bid fair To bring
the two sections Of our country in ColIi-
sion. But before we give our reasons in
favor of this separation, ne shall express
our opinion of the effect oFsl quiet sub
mission on the part ofWcstern Virginia to
the powers that be. We also give our
views of the effect which must follow the
advice ITO wait and pray" ifNcted upon,
which is given ms by some goOd-meauing
men in this section of the State. The
effect OF the difference between the con.
duct of the Union men aud the SeCes-
sionists in the Convention, is good ex-
empliRcatiou of that which follow Guiet
acquiescence in tho plans OF the seces-
long nB the Union men lad majority in
tho Convention, the doctrine WINS wait,
keep, cool, fiddle diddle, anything at all
which old fogies could invent to postpone
the impending storm. How was it when
the secessiOnists found they had majority?
They iRWsdiatriy went into secret session,
passed an ordinance of secession, declared
war against the Federal Government hy
taking possession of all the Government
property within the limits of the State ex-
cept the Custom House, ut Wheeling, re-
pealed the law for the election of members
to the Congress of the United States. hitch
ed Virginia to the Southern Confederhry,
passed laws putting the State on !, war
footing, and the Lord and the secessionists
only know what all the Convention has
done to tax the people, to intimidatc them
and TO bring on civil war. Let us now
follow out the secession programme of
doing nothing till the 4tll Thursday in
May, inst On that day minority of the
voters Os Tirglnia, under the present ex-
cited state OF feeling sill vote in favor Of
the ordinance of secession, and then Vir-
giniL is IL member of the Southern COnfed-
eracy, and Invites upon her own head the
blows ofthe Federal Observation-Disclosures
ters all this WAR to her own bosom. This
will devastate the Eastern portion of the
State, destroy all the negro property aud
cause the burden of the State debt, which
is now fnrty.tive millions of dollars, to fall
upon the people of the West. The people
of the West, already Overburleued with
taxes, will have to bear the expenses of
war TO which they are opposed in toto -
The Suite government will be bankrupt,
its bonds now worth but S36 on the SlOO,
Al,
tbs authorities will be compelled TO make
forced loans from the banks, and will draw
out all their specie. For 400 miles of
Pennsylvania and Ohio VIC would have
detenceless border, and be at the mercy of
those people to whom we would have de-
ctared ourselves enemies, should we snb-
nit to be dragged into this Southern Com
tedernry. Seeing tue certain destruction
which would await our section of the
State, on going into such war, in our
defeuceless condition, with two such pow
crful States to the North of us, all OF our
poor men and small property holders would
desert gas, leaving the large property hold
ers prey to AN overwhelming foe from
abroad and to the rNpaGioms demands of
tue officers conducting "a civil war at home.
This Is but a faint picture of the ineyit-
able consequences of submission to secea-
siOnisrs plans. On the other hand-de-
clare our independence and we transfer
our hostile borders to the mountains East
and South of US, aud make allies of the
Suites of Chic aud Pennsylvania. we get
rid OF the expenses of this war, which, for
the mere preparations, NrS enormous. We
retain all of our citizens with us, aud ma
ny of tue wealthy inhabitants of the wiley
and Eastern YirgiuiN, who never will live
In Southern COnfederacy, will come and
settle with us. We only wish we had the
space to euumerule the many blessings
and advantages which the people of West
err Virginia would derive from this separ-
alton.
And why not divide the Statc2 Should
not the people of State beeH homogenc.
GUS peOple2 n people with like interests
and Institutions, aud requiring the same
laws2 What interests have We in Eastern
Virginia. Do we sell them ANYTHING or
buy anything from them2 All our trade
IS with pennsylvania, Chic aud Maryland.
Shall we be attached to a Southern Con-
federacy2 How could our lumbermun get
their timber there2 How could we get
our horses and cattle there2 How could
We get our manufactured articles there -.
We can't get to the capital of our State
without going through Maryland and the
| District OF Eolumbia;N and now we cannot
reach there at ,Lll without pass from the
Governor. YUnr Representatives in the
Convention endangered their lives because
they represented your views, and then
were compelled to procure passes from the
Governor before they were permitted to
pass Gnmoles'ed through their own State /!
Is this the kid Of people with whom we
would continue our associations and rCla-
tious2 a people whose Interests are so
aulagonisticsto ours? Did they ever make
any efforts to foster and develop our in-
tcrests7 Year RFter year our reprrsenta-
tives have come away from the capital of
the State empty of appropriations. When
we ask them fur equality of taxes, they say
We are lOw~lived set to ask such thing
now, and postpone US from day TO day,
ana. from HenE 10 year Mhar - 10.