The Kingwood chronicle. [volume] (Kingwood, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861, 1861-05-04

they have not been oppressed by the Govern
ment Of the United States, and have no good
cause to dissolve the Union Their leaders
professed to fear the Republicans, but had
the power to prevent injury and refused to
use it. But recently the Republicans have
voluntarily voted an amendment to the Con
stitutlon, making it forever impossible to in
terfere with slavery in the States still the
seceders go on in their desperate scheme Of
destroying our Union This is the work Of
their lawless leaders They combined secret
" and conspired to destroy the Lnioa, while
most OF them were under the solemnity Of an
oath to support, protect and guard the Union.
They deluded their people, and rushed
them out Of the Union without their deliber-
ate consent, and usurpcd all powers military
and civil, and now their people are ruled BY
despotism. Their burdens are grievous,
while they are denied the liberties they for
merly enjoyed in the United States Ger
tainly we do not owe the recognition to orr
traitors and opprcssors; nor can our human
ity permit Us to abandon their oppressed peo-
pie to their hard fate. This would be cruel
on our part
! "a. 4 return Of the seeded States will be
more apt to take place without our recogni-
! ton than with it, and this result will be soon
| cr In most Of the seeded States there is
ample proof that a majority Of their people
1 n.,nnrnI +1 yrlif, -, AL +ba
vote was carried BY the most fraudulent man
agement. and the people were dragooned and
dragged out without their deliberate and free
consent. Now they are awcd BY powerful
armies, threats and ordinances Their spirit
Of liberty is smothered and quoted for the
present, but is not conquered, and will GER
tainly rise and triumph whenever they shall
see that success is in their power II the
pressed people cannot and will not submit.
but will rise up, burst their fctters, and re-
turn to the Union Time will open their eyes
and cmancipate them. They will then come
back Here is my only hope Of safe sou-
ton Of our difficulties and all our efforts
4 should concentrate to this result The op-
pressed people know they haze gained no
thing and lost much by secession. and the
only obstacle in the way Of their return to
] the Union is the power Of their oppressive
rulers If one hundred Of their most inhu-
cntial rulers would stand aside, Or leave the
country forever, the Union would be made
whole in sixty days Then LET our Govern
ment 50 act as to induce the seeded people
/ to return let us fix all blame on their lead
ers. and excuse and plead for their oppressed
people Let Us greet our oppressed friends.
and cxhort them to bidc their time, but hold
UP their heads in hope Let the patriotic
men Of the North say to the oppressed Of the
South: DO not listen to the false tales Of your
rulers about US We have no desire to harm
you. We, on the contrary, promise to put
down our denlnyoyues who keep up 4 quarrel
against you We ewould even come and help
you to throw off your oppressive burdens
did we not know that your rulers would de-
ceive you into the belief that we come to
make war on you. Therefore we will not
come to your aid, but we are certain you are
able to put down your bad men without our
help Come back, and we will agree to any
amendment Of the Constitution that viii in
sure permanent peace.
This is now the position Of a large majority
Of the Northern people, and needs only to be
put into form, SO as to reach every Southern
citizen Iii short time this will be done
This will do much to dethronc Southern des-
potism and restore the Union.
But if we recognize the Confederate States
this will depress and appall their people -
They will despair of return and submit to
their fate On the contrary, 50 long as their
destiny is not fixed they know they have
thousands of friends in the Border Slave
States who would fly to their rescue when
called by their cries Of distress. But after
the recognition they would be restrained by
treaty stipulations and prevented
Sd. By recognition our own safety would
be endangered, our rights impaired, and our
Government made contemplate, and possibly
oycrthrown
Our harbors. forts, rivers, roads, in short
all facilities of commerce and means Of de-
fence in the bounds Of the Seeded States
will be encumbered BY restrictions or their
use withheld from the United States. These
are facilities and means Of safety and defence
which are Of great Importance to u.s. and
some of them Of prime necessity.
The Confederate States would be free to
make commercial relations and form alliances
with foreign nations to our great injury, and
possibly to our ruin. Can we safely give up
our means Of defense to be used against us BY
any Of the Powers Of the world? Can We