Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-08
[ror DC IntellIgeneer.l
WHAT DOES 1T MEAN.

WHAT DOES 1T HiEANl
Editors IntelLigencer:-
There are certain things said and done
in this mixed up world of ours that sorely
! puzzle a plain man to. understand. One
of these things occur ed in the late Con-
| vention in this city, short time before its
adjournment; and as the'same body re-as-
sembles to-day, thought it would do no
harm TO call attention to it, rs l humbly
| conceive it to be n most dangerous and de-
structive error The sentiment allude to
is this, that treason and rebellion against
| the government of the United States is not
/ a crime III any sense whatever, bnt mere
matter of opinion; that man has con-
stitutional right to entertain and express.
! by word and deed, and that any attempt to
deprive him of this right is an act of tyr
amy.
But who holds this doctrine? The Con-
vention holds it. Mr.. Dorsey. of Monon-
gala, offered the following resolution:
ReSoiped, That the Committee on Bust
ness be, and are, hereby instructed to re,
port to the Convention an ordinance de-
claring racanttEe seats of all officeholders
in the Commonwealth who voted for the
Ordinance of Secession passed by the
Richmond Convention, which assembled
on the 18th of February last.
Mr.. CarliIe, of Harrison, opposed the
resolution, stating that snch resolution
violated the spirit of the Constitution of
the United States. as it was equivalent to
an er past facf0 law. He SAID it would be
Furnishing their own citizens for the exer-
else of AN undoubted constitutional right.
After Mr.. Gnrlile's speech, the Convention
either voted down the resolution or the
mover was induced to withdraw it, on the
ground that majority of the Convention
were Ofthe same opinion as Mr.. Carlilc,-
And this doctrine appears to be carried
out so far. both by the General and State
1 Governments, MS not n single traitor has
been executed, or punished in any other
way, since the commencement of the re-
bellion. Men stand aghhst and roll up
their eyes with holy horror at the bare
mention of executing few traitors and
their aiders and nbettors, hut they feel no
horror at the slaughter of thousands ofin-
nocent and loyal men on the battle field,
in Il war inaugUrated by these very trait
ors. According to this doctrine, it is all
right to require men to leave their families
and go out to the battlefield and he SHIN
by thousands. hut it is all wrong to intlict
even civil disability upon the authors of
This war.
Now it seems to me there is no mystery
whatever about this question. 1t is sus-
ceptible of proof as clear MS that two ad-
ded TO two make fOnr Either treason is
crime or it is not. II it is not, then are we
engaged in the most cruel and unjust war
that ever was wnged, a war upon men for
exercising n guaranteed constitutional
right That is according to Mr.. Garlic,
and Mr.. Cariile is an honorable man; so
are they all, all honorable men say. Ac-
cording to this doctrine, man has con-
( stitufiOnal right to vote to annex Virginia
| to Canada, or any other foreign govern
ment, and to do this at time when that
government is Mt war with the United
| States. This is precisely what every man
did who voluntarily and of his own free
| choice voted for the Ordinance of Seces-
sion. Every such person rs far ms his SYM
pathies ane concerned is to-day n citizen
Of jefferson Davis rattlesnnke confederacy,
and is not citizen of the United States at
all-he is n citizen by his own act of n
government now waEing war for the pur-
| pose of blotting out the very existence OF
I the United States from the family Of na-
| tious, and yet We arc told very gravcly that
he had right 10 do all this without blame.
Nov l take it upon me to say that until
this most abominable heresy is utterly re-
jected, the rebellion will never beput down.
l contend that treason is crime of the
most fearful magnitude, and the crime and
the punishment must be brought together
in order that men may see the turpitude OF
the one and fear the infliction of the other.
I This must be done, not as an act of vindic-
tiveness, but as an net of mercy, TO stop
the effusion of blood, on the ground that it
is better for one TO suffer than many.
As an illustration of what mean, let
nIn
hundred rebels captured at Rich Mountain
and Laurel Hill. These were all turned
loose, some on their parole of honor, some
after they were sworn, and others refused
TO swear, and sid they would come back
armed, snd fight on to the end of the war.
Now. in regard to the rank and file. some
of whom were Union men, and were COM
PEELED to join the army, and others were
deceived. there ought to be great leniency
shown; but in regard to the officers and
leaders, they should be hung or imprison-
ed during life. number of the Indiana
soldiers, on their return, told me that
while this course was pursued, they would
not come back. They said it was no use
for them to peril their lives fighting and
capturing men. TO have them set at liberty
Ito come and fight again the second or the
tenth time. l repeat it, If treason is a
crime, let the leaders rs they are caught
with arms in their hands, suffer the penal
ty of the law and fit is not crime,
hut il men harea constitutional right to
deSttoy the Government, then let the war
veaSe AZ once, and let the. Government be
tbroken 10 fragments. for it would not be
worth the powder that it would take to
blow it up.
There is one way in which the rebellion
Z NUT irF "a -
.it.six months aud in every other State in
twelve mOuths-and only one, as fur as
can judge =.