Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-10


place, we are where you and l and our
people wish us to be-disconnected from
the rest of the State, the connection being
an unnatural one, in contrayention to the
laws of nature. Ever since you and 1
have known anything of the workings of
the connection it has been prejudicial aud
10 our injury, under any circumstances,
in any point of view in which have ask
ed you to look at this question. Ny opin-
ions, formed years ago, in time of pro-
found peace, have been strengthened by
every days experience. 1t will be remem-
bered by the members of this Convention
that in our last meeting in June, while l
was then behind some of my friends in
this movement, and while l was pointed at
as having abandoned what 1 had uttered
before, in the former Convention, as the
mHtured convictions of my mind, L
pledged gentlemen that ifthey would wait
until their purpose really could be accom-
plished, that then We had no recognition,
no Legislature known to the Federal au-
thorities as such, that then we had no Leg!
islature that could give US the assent pro-
vided for and required by the Constitution
to be given to a separation-but that the
moment we had q Legislature, recognized
as such, speaking IN the name of the State,
whose assent should go to the Congress of
the United States and be respected us the
assent ola constitutional Legislature, then
promised you, gentlemen, would go with
| you at the earliest possible moment for
this division. am here to redeem that
pledge to-day.
1t is argued, Mr.. President, by some,
that action of this kind will not be taken
in favor by the Federal Government that
| IL may embarrass it in its present opera
tious. Will any gentleman tell me how?
| Ifit is regarded with disfavor by the Con-
gress of the United States, the war making
power, the power that must supply the
means to carry on this war, the power
| that must be used to assert the supremacy
of the laws, and maintain the integrity of
the Union, they will refuse our admission
into the Union, deny their consent; and
there is an end of it, and we are no worse
OH for having made the effort.
1t is said by some that we ought to aid
! the government in extending loyal gov
ernment over the rest aud residue of The
| State. Does this interfere with US at all?
Does this interfere with this Provisional
Government we have inaugnrntei here,
the government of the State of Virginia,
as fast as the arms of the Union sweep Sc
cession before them, aud when the Con-
| gress of the United States admits us as
/ new State? Surely not; surely notl On the
contrary it will have n most happy effect
on the Federal Government, by showing
to them the Importance of extend ng their
| military operations in other parts of the
! Commonwealth, whenever they are in
condition to do it. But is there geutle-
man here that for one moment supposes
thatif the armies of the United States, have
not swept secession out of the State and re-
lieved the loyal citizens of the state by De-
/ ,I, ,,,s11 10 -
long gentlemen do you propose to re-
main as you are2 Hsw long is the
! government to be employed in relieving
| from the evils of Secession, and the
destruction that rebellion has brought up
on the country, the people of this one State
If it takes longer period than the meet
ing of the next Congress in December to
sweep rebellion out of our State, how long
will it take to sweep it out of all the re-
belliOus States? Sir, when is this war to
end? We happen TO know that the only
( hope of east Tennessee as to relieving her
people, is in their organizing separate
and independent State government for the
loyal portion OF that Commonwealth.
Aud we do happen to know that the gov
ernment does regard with favor the effort
that is to be made there as soon as the ad-
vaucing columns of the federal army shall
march into that region of country and en-
able its loyal citizens to perform the deed.
But, Sir, it is said that our boundaries
are not sufficiently large. Iavoided, in
tentionally avoided, in drawing up those
resolutions, including within the limits of
this new State ~ single county which do
not believe, by large majority of its peo-
Pile would desire to be part and parcel
of it, except two. There are two counties
named about which have the slightest
doubt rs to the sentiments of their people,
and they are so situated that it is abso-
lutely essential that they shall belong to
us; and necessity for their belonging to
US justifies their being included within our
limits. Their interests, like ours, are iden-
tilted with those of other States than the
State of Virginia. The great thorough
- e between this and the Atlantic passes
through them, and we never can, we new
er ought, it would be unjust to them and
to us to, allow that territory to be included
within the limits of any other State.
Then tits said we have friends from Fairfax
and Alexandria who would like to go with
Ius One of the resolutions secures you the
way. If Alexandria and Loudon desire
let their people speak, and an ordinance of
this Convention will provide for their ad-
mission. But, Sir, there is II bill now iu-
reduced into the Senate of the United
States, and for which intend to vote un-
less otherwise instructed by the gentlemen
who have honored me with place there,
declaring the law ceding Alexandria eoun-
ty to the State of Virginia uncoustitution-
al and p nullity, and providing for its re-
turn to the District of Columbia. This is
but in compliance with my own views, ex
pressed on tue floor of the Senate of Vir-
ginia some years ago, when the question
Of the admission of a delegate in the
House was determined fayOrabIY under the
retrocession of Alexandria county. iu-
troduced resolutions into the Senate then
which would have exclnded him, and de-
nyinr the constitutionaiity of the act; but
it was the first winter of my legislative ex-
perience, and / was prevailed upon to let
the go-by be given to them. have no
doubt, and have always believed that this
District was selected by the Father of his
Country with view to placing the Capt.