Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-17
[From the cIneinnafl -comnsni.l.1

lEtoul tue Cincinnati Commercially
Sensitive Loyalty I'm the Western Vir.
Slnl1 LegIslRture.
In the afternoon session of the Western
Virginia Legislature, at Wheeling, ON the
llth, Ar.fFARNsWoRTH, from the Special
Committee appointed to consider the Gov
ernor's Message, reported bill to fne all
persons in rebellion against the United
States aud the restored Government of Yir-
ginia. Also, M act to fine all tax payers
who refuse toItake an oath to support tue
Constitution of the United States aud tho
restored Government Of Virginia
Simply, this was proposition to fine
persons in rebellion, aud those who refuse
to take the oath to support the Constitu-
tion0f the United States. One would sun
pose ahat the loyal men of Western Viz
Gtntg who have suffered so deeply from
the rebellion, would not think it a fearful
thing to impose fines on the authors of the
cAlamtties of civil war. But Mr.. Farms.
worth raised a hornets nest about his ears.
Mr., PATRiCH said: ~
'The passage of these bills would occn.
sion nothing but strife aud anarchy. He
had.uever known anything so odious pre-
scented to an enlightened body. Itw6uId
be unbecomirR any Legislature represent
ing a civilized people. He wanted no
reign of terror. No one can conceive of
tue evil which these laws would bring
about he had no Language to express his
adherence ofsuch proposition,
Mr.. Vance agreed with the gentleman
from kanaWhR. We have already voted
down bill like this. The bills ara odions.
toiAny people. No such laws were ever
enacted ia any country ON the face of the
earth. Governments were instituted for
tle benefit Of the governed, and when tho
tfghts OF 6itiBens wores taken avEag. m
teoAer tie GOpsrnptent Ishiek does t6is e
destroye3, de better =.
Mr.. Davis said he could hardly trust
himself to speak upon the bill. He felt.
like expressing his condemnation of the
recommendation of the Governor and
those who favored it upon this door. The
9ills were too odtOus for contemplation. IF
ptfs body passes tksss bills, LiglH 90 Iao,lg
tyy People and Tesist their execution. 4 viii
not only reSist lie Lalas Elysei bEt tgilE council
ny people % SesiSt them. Nothing so abom-
Unable ever came from the French Diree-
tory: You don't propose 70 punish men
for crime. You punish them becanse they
refase to take an oath. There never was
such an attempt made to invade the con-
sciences of men. he desired 10 see this
rebellion crushed as earnestly and as cor
idtally any man here uPou this floor, but
no would not add fuel TO the flame and stir
up bitter strife inthe country. These bills
were prompted by no other motives than
eowardtce. Ihets i0trt AuRdreds of qoedI
iGnd loyal meR who i5iit reGHSe to .taEs dtese
oaths3 aud yet for sneh refusal yoa take
away their property
And Nc. FaenswOrthis proposition 5hs
rejected - Ayes 8, Noes 49,. This, It must
be confessed, is.not very promising state
OF ahdirs. 1tindicates the presence of an
eiementin the Western Virginia LeEisIa-
has elsewhere developed itself I'M psn-
treason. The differences, Indeed bet,Iesn
theSsortnf loyalty and the treason 81 die
cottod States. Is only that In opportanity.
The patriotism Of snehi men a. AIsssfs.