Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-12

have refused to take the oath of fidelity to
the same, and it may be dangerous to al
low any recusant 70 have such opportu-
nifty to injure the public; Be It fttTtker en-
acted. that if any inhabitant of this Com
monwealth, who hath not heretofore ia
ken the oath or Affirmation of fidelity to
the same, shall, after. the fifteenth dag OF
March next, carry on any trade OF COM
merce whatever, either by himself or any
person in trust for him or for his use or
benefit, or in partnership with any other,
he shall forfeit and pay the full value OF
his merchandise in which he shall so trade,
unless he, before the said fifteenth day of
March, take the oath or affirmation of f.
deity to this State G
The amount forfeited was to be recover
ed by action of debt or information in any
Court of record, oae-half to the informant
and the other half TO the use of the Com
monwealth. ~
Such were the. laws respecting those
who failed to take the oath of fidelity.
For those who took more active part in
opposition to the new government estab-
lished by our revolutionary fathers, heavi-
er punishments were provided. We do not
refer particularly to the law passed at the
session of October, 1878, declaring what
shall be Treason, (see Hening's Statutes
at Large, page 1885, by which persons nd-
herring to the enemies of the Commonwealth,
aud giving them aid and comfort, were to
suffer death. There were other laws to
restrain and punish such offenders, by
So"usSu''0H @ttoH v
property. Thus: "An ordinance tor es-
ta6Eishing a mode of pnnishnent for the enc
MI, ~ ,,:,;.,, 3, ,5;, ,,Lo,.,, ), y,s ,as,e5
= ~. :,
~ Iue ssesslon Vi 'ue So1lFeti'lon :" peSepi-
ber, l775, e Hening's Statutes at Large,
D. l0l,) tho preamble and first section of
vb;.b ore M foIIovs.
III. .,..,,
ueLeas, I i,- tus i'ost tous II
neSe oeeu so!ne petsotS - .n.s
tie Ti t
" 'ne 'nuAc'.aIs .1. auu sM.eFess' y ue-
u auts '..is
s!S ~ SI'' st D:ss.ts, ~ .:.I.,1
oseA iI, y. 49,
- - .,,st Jt. L;n,
u !. ttuu .t5.l s.utl "
, o.1 70 lnIs IVuniy nnu iue =, .l.'.a-
nuu 80, - III
s'1 - ,bo enS .a,"Ior nj nnoJ..
et s W q ~ s4S Suu = ;StsL III
=. r;ti', and ;":,;.a "a Sn,inistared 10 al
s.;,,,;0 ia ,s,Ion.,
Pe'soo'ts t''''
Hbettt theret0Fe oraaiI1ea iGy me De!sgates
Of ne People GSse'H0te9 m General C0n9ea-
iioa, ana u . sheregy oTGdfasa oy ithe d4tnor-
ttyct thei same Ihat u any Whlte person
or persons who have oeengln arms against
this colony, snail lalI 10 surrender nimseit
or themsettee-so Tue oonrnlttee OF seiety,
withih Two nohLhs IIoin tho opuoilS"Uohol
this ordinance; ANA IL any wulle person
or persons shaM hereaiier I a'u OF ASSAst tle
enemy by enitsting soldiers, giving INTEL
hgence, or iurnlshlng Lnem WIN arms, pro-
vision or naval stores, or snail bear arms
against this colony, oil ana every snch
person or persons SO having borne arms,
or hereafter Offending IN manner Aforesaid,
shall, upon being convicted as hereafter
tncI.loneu, s W na 70 e ,ta nou'n,;,,oa
of % Safety shall diree:s And proner .per-
sons shall be appointed by the Committee
of Safety, 10 take possession of their es-
Iates, ootn reai ana pessoaa, l. anu 70 eul. aI5
nav nav the he profts r thence arisipr into tie bands
of the Treasurer of this colony for the
time being, to be disposed of towards sat-
isfying the just debts OF such delinquent,
Ss sn ann 'Ss the nahic
in such manner as the said Committe shall
think most for the advantage of this colo.
ny. And the principal estates shall be sub
ject to the future determination ofthe Cons
vention.
provided, nevertheless, the Committee
of Safety shall have full power and au-
thority to pardon such as have heretofore
been or shall bein arms against this colo
ny, or shall otherwise offendas aforesaid,
upon being satisfied of his or their repen-
lance and desire to be restored to the con-
fidence Of this colony, and returning to his
or their duty; and in all such cases the said
Committee of Safety shall state the case of
each offender to the Convention, to enable
them to determine what should be done
with their estates.P