Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-09-11
..Neutra1Itr,, = Deeeption.

If ANYTHING were needed to demonstrate
the falsity of this thing called neutrality
in the Border States, it is shown by the
relentless certainty with which the neutral
States become the seat of war. There has
been no real neutrality thus far of the
Border States, and they are finding out to
their cost that there has been none.
When the President issued his procla-
nation for 5000 men to defend the Capt.
tai, Maryland aud Virginia protested
against it as coercion; they did not SYM
thize with rebellion: all they wanted was
that the South should have its rights, and
they proposed to take neutral, conserva-
tive position and bring about a reconcilia-
ton between rebellion and the offended
law. This it is well known was the po-
sition of the major part of what then pro-
fessed TO be the Union sentiment of these
States. Such was the position of the
great Union majority in the Virginia Con-
vention This was all very well and
served its purpose. 1t led the Govern
ment to believe that this was the feeling
of the loyal element in those States, and
10 respect it by carefully nbStainiug from
sending any force into them to protect
them against rebellious assault. Thus
things went on until the rebellion was
ready and then they with no such tender
scruples invaded Virginia with their armies
and threatened the Capital. The invasion
of Maryland by like force was prevent
ed by the rush of Federal bayonets to the
protection of Washington, and nothing to-
day but their presence saves her from be-
ing made, like Virginia, the theatre of de-
vastatiug war. Thus did an attitude of
pretended neutrality in Virginia pnralyze
the Federal arm in the State aud help
bring on our present condition.
In Missouri the progress of events has
been so nearly identical with those in Vir-
ginia that it is unnecessary to specify
The pretended land many rea) friends of
the Government adopted course that
thoroughly tied its hands until rebel
hordes could get ready to oyerrun the
State Where is Missouri to-day? Placed
under martial law aud in a State of turb-
ulence and strife that fully warranted the
act.
And Kentucky, "the dark and bloody
ground" loyal at heart we believe, has
made no less fatal mistake. She, too,
has at last been invaded by the army of
treason. This is the reward for her ucu-
trnlity. The army of tue Union rushes to
repel the attack, and thus the contest,
which she, by her own inbecility, has in
voked, is about to begin on her devoted
soil. Beautiful as are her rivers, her fields
and valleys, they, too, we fear, must be
REDEEMED with the tide of war, which now
threatens to roll in upon them.
How much longer will it be before we
shall all realize that there is no safety.
much less conservatism, in neutrality
With the enemies of the Union there is no
neutrality; and bow can there be such a
thing between treason and loyalty? The
friends of the Government in the border
States may not beablc to realize this until
too late to save them from present ruin,
but sooner or later they must find it out,
as many other things are learned, by dear
experience.
The Sympathy OF Russia.