Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-15
LETCHER,s nIENsAGE.


He prOnOunces the Confederate Con.
denounces the Wheeling Govern
meht ana symp1thiGeS with the pc o.
| PIE OF Western Virginia.
| From the Richmond Dispatch, May7l
ExEoUTIvE DEPARTMENT, May ).
Gentleman Of The Senate
and House Of Representatives.
| Since your adjournment the Confederate
Congress have passed u CONSUMPTION bill.
which relieves the General Assembly, in n
| great measure, from the necessity Of fur
ther legislation in regard to military mat
tiers. This bill divests the State authori-
| ties Of all control over the troons of Vir-
ginia and vests in the Confederate govern
ment the power to enrol all persons be-
tween the ages of eighteen and thirty.five,
organize them, commission the officers, calls
| them into service, and dispose of them in
such manner as they may deem advisable
1t is my deliberate conviction that this
act is unconstitutional, but, taking into con-
sideration the peculiar condition of affairs
existing at the time of its passage, for
bear to debate the question at preseut.-
When the war is ended we can discuss these
questions, and so settle them as to preserve
the rights of the States. Harmony, unity
aud Cancellation are Indispensable to sue
SS9S INV duu NlilS uS tLue Executive OF
the State protesting against it as au in
fringement of State rigbts), acuuiesce in
its passage, and respectfully and earnestly
urge upon our people, as have uniformly
done, prompt and cheerful response to its
requirements. Drive the invader from our
soil, establish the independence of the
Southern confederacy, aud then we can
mork, clearly and distinctly, the line be-
tween State and Confederate authority,
Since the Convention entered into be-
tween the Hon. Alex. II. Stephens aud the
committee appointed by our late State
Convention, was ratified by the two gov.
ernmenis, the absolute aud exclusive con
troll OF our military affairs have been con-
tided to the Confederate government The
State authorities have had no power to di-
rect military movements, or in any way to
/ control the disposition of our troops. This
arrangement was deemed necessary TO Sc
cure the unity Ofaction which, in military
matters, is regarded by military men ns in
dlspensable to success.
We have had some reverses recently.
hut instead of disCOuraging or dispiriting
our people, they should produce exactly
the opposite effect. They should stimulate
US to increased efforts, to redoubled ener-
gies, and should arouse throughout the
cOnfederacy IL more determined. uucom
promising and uuyielding spirit If every
man will determine that the South shall
not he subiugated, the work will be more
than half accomplished. a people such AS
we are, resolved to be free, can never be
reduced to slavery.
After stating, i'll direct cOntroversion to
the history of the past few months, that
"there is no cause for gloom or desponden-
cy" on the part of tho rebels, the Govern
or deals in the following chimera:
Onr policy must be changed. We must
make this war of invasion, and we must
push it with zeal and energy eunal to
that exhibited by our willy enemy Mary
land must be redeemed. Accomplish this.
and the way will be opened to the invasion
of the North and rs we progress thous-
ands of armed men will arise on all sides
who will most cheerfully unite their deS-
TIMES with ours, and will cordially CO.
operate in carrying our flag to those sec
tiOns in which it has not yet been seen.
We must increase our fo;ces in the Valley
of Virginia. Jackson must be largely re-
inforced. He must have the power to
clear out the Valley and make attacks at
points in the enemy's territory most likely
to intiict upon him the severeSt reIrlbutiOm.
An invasion of their territory will bring
the Northern people to their senses, and
will enable them to feel and appreciate the
disadvantages and evils UI ii war such as
they have so unnecessarily brought upon
the country. They inuSt bc made to feel
these before we can hope for permanent
peace, and the sooner they are made 10 feel
them the sooner peace will come.
Let cur Generals have nu ndequlte force
to loosen the tyrant's grasp upon Maryland
relieve her subiuga,ed people, and enable
them to unite with those whose interests
and institutions are Identical with their
own. This done, aud thousands of her
best citizens will at once rush 10 the
standard of the Suuthern COnfederacv, and
will prove themselves efficient SO ldiers
/ as thei- brethrea now in service in Eir-
gini:l and other states OF the COnfederacv.
Another result of no: less practical i'm
portnce will follow. The reasonable or
ganizHtior gotten up ut Wheeling will fall .
The domination of the law will he again
felt in that pnrt of the State, and the loyal
! citizens will again enjoy protection for per-
sonal property. This is u result greatly TO
be desired. aud the policy which promises
its accomplishment is worthy OF trial.
lnnugurhte an aggressive policy, and
with judicious use of the means whi.h h
! Providence has intruSted 10 u9 our revolu-
tion will be a success, our connection with
the North will he dissolved, aud our gov
/ ernmeut established upon an enduring
basis
We have IN important work before us
important to ourselves and not less impor-
tant to posterity. We have a great object
in yiew-an ohjest which should be cher
ished by al!-the establishment of liberty
and freedom aud independence for the
South. Our success will accomplish great
results for our own people. and unless l
am greatly deceived, our example will have
its influence, sooner or later in bringing
about the overthrow of the Lincoln despot.
ism, -
.tnd finally, we cannot prosecute tbi.
war and support our own and the army o
the enemy within the limits of the South
ern COnfederacy We have the means II