Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-06-08
Tpor the Intelligencer.l

u YsssEs E1itoTS:-A correspondent, over
the signature OF 1T, in your paper of
Yesterday. makes some suggestions in re-
gard to the arming of cur home militia,
( by the new State Government Such a
measure would be desirable in many re-
specrs, but Mt the same time, like every
measure which may be presented to the
| legislators of Western Virginia, in the
I present emergency, requires careful and
/ patient consideration.
| Our best. most reliable, and most consti-
| tutionaI military support is. undoubtedly,
that furnished by the United States Gov
ernment Its efficiency has been most
signaliy demonstrated in the events which
have occurred within the last two weeks.
| A series of successful, and even brilliant
movements. have been made. in the face OF
most snfavorable circumstances. Our
LIST Virginia Regiment, imperfectly organ
ICED and badly equipped, Mt moments
notice, went forth nnhesitutiugly, to crush
ont the force so suddenly arrayed in hos
tiIity to the loyal people OF Western Wiz
ginia. While the writer is free and cor
dial in his acknowledgement of the aid af
forded Col. Kelly by the Ohio and Indiana
regiments, he is at the same time earnest
iy disposed to congratulate the penple OF
Western Virginia, that the pioneer regiment,
the "advance guard of the grand army
or the United States, in the late bril-
liant movement upon our soil, tcaS composed
of our o1on citizens. The moral effect of
this fact upon our own citizens, and upon
those of the interior districts, cannot be
too highly appreciated
1t is subject of regret that we have not
to-day three or four Virginia Regiments
instead of one. 1t is especially subject
of regret that the interior counties.
r..I, ,l,o nfT uxrInr all hnunr I'm
noble Taylor and her brave sons) are not
reprcsentedin the grand army of the United
States, by membership in any Virginia
regiment.
This, in the judgment of the writer, is
o ing, not to any want of devotion to
the Union, or of allegiance to the Federal
government, on the part of the people of
these counties, but to the TACT that the
idea hats been given out among them that
they would he supplied with arms under
rhe organization of Home Guards" The
result is that the citizens of these counties
in the hour of danger, are helpless. They
would have been so, even if supplied with
arms; for of what avail is a force of few
hundred militia, undirected by central
officer, scattered hither and thilher over
the counties, AS opposed to solid column
of organized soldiery? Had Col. Porter
field met with no more serious obstacles in
his westward way, than loosely organized
Home Guards, ht would have swept
through TO the Ohio, leaving many II
bloody track behind him. As tits, he ga
Tiers his shattered forces on the mountains
of Randolph, and gloomily turns his back
upon a people determined to be free.
Whatever the new Government may do,
it cannot constitutionally raise an army,
and make war on its own account. Its
volunteer forces are necessarily placed I'M
der the direction of the General Govern
meut, when called into active service.
As the General Government offers to
rlothe and equip our volunteers, at its
own expense, it is certainly not wise in the
new Government, weak as it will be finan-
c:ally, at the beginning, to incur an unuc-
cessary military debt. Has your cores
pendent considered these facts?
The institution, OF Western Virginia
Government, urgent as is its necessity. is
surrounded with many and serious diff
culties. not anticipated by those who have
not reflected upon the subject.
Every cilizen should examine carefully
every measure presented by himself or
others, bearing upon the interest and des-
tiny OF Western Virginia. y.