Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-08

4
people could nd themselves Of their con.
nsctiOn With the other portions Of the
State Of virGinia, Asd rid themselves Al the
sane time VI this aeeurted Institution Of
slavery. They propose to do that Il 1t
wise iot usIo object 10 their proposiliOa
Ike the SQUAD Of the phrase that ny friend
from Massachusetts, AeekS 10 adopt, that
lbsie shall be neither slavery nor inVolun.
taIy SeFVilude IN Ihe State. am the
strongest advocate for placing that restriC.
ton on every territory, because without it
slavery eau spread OVsr the continent; bot
Whsn 4 slave State says to me, "lst me into
lhe Uaion under reformed constitution
that shall eE,irpAle slavery within few
years" it presents = very different state Of
things. Nor can believe that that would
DOT influence the members who may come
here. They viii come from State where
slavery iS nudeF the ban; where 1t Is mark.
ed for deSiEuetion; where everybody kuoWa
there would be 20 motive to cherish IL, be-
cause It Is WauiuE away, and must disap.
pear very soon.
Mr. SUHSER-LOok at Delaware now.
Nr, WADE-YeI, sir but have attempt.
I'd already 10 make the diblietiou. Della.
ware has but very lew slaves, and she Is
tenacious, above all things, 10 continue
what she has, and, II possible, Of having
more, II Delaware, with reformed con.
stitu,ion, should knock at our doOrs aud
say, let US toto tue Union on this reform
principle, putting slavery under the ban,
declaring that il shall be e1Iirpated As ua.
81 TO live, and be done as early as IL can
be done, as they propose 10 this ease, you
would hnd after that no representative
from Delaware on this floor who would
stand forth as Nn advocate OF an insliIu.
ton branded with the mark Of Gaia by bis
constituents, and about to die away. |
think that makes dittinction. 1t seems
TO me that State cherishing slavery, re.
IaSlng and resisting every attempt TO DO
away With It in any manner, treating every
proposition TO that effect with indignation,
scorn and contempt, will be actuated, aud
It's Representatives will be ActuRted by yery
different principles from community who
haVe coms up, as said before, aud voluu.
tAtily fxvd the mark Of degradation, Of eX-
termination Hpon the institution. think
they are different cases. Therefore, know.
iug that this community OF Western vir.
giniA have no inlerest ia it, and, as have
been assured by the principal men whose
influence is all potent there, but their lie.
gislature or the frst convention will repeal
II, do not think il is dangerous thing.
| do NOT think am stepping aside from the
great principles on which have stood so
firmly when let iu a State that comes here
saying, We will extirpate slavery, and when
their principal men, their Governor has
said to me over and over again, the frst
Legislature that conVenes will do away
with this thing; that is, as fast as Il can
be done, considering the prOpriety OF all
things.
Ny friend from Massachusetts,, by his
proposition, strikes this Institution down
at one dash. / should like to see il 70 /;
but must look little to sec what lis eF- |
feet will be, after all. Considering that
for years past there has been such fine
r1atket for slaves, aud everybody that own.
ed them has been tempted TO sell them
away, who does not suppose that The REM
naut that Is left In this community are
mostly old worn.out men and women, who
probably would not fud their condition |
bettered by the operation Of the clAnse
that my friend Sesks to put in here. They
are undoubtedly past the prime Of life, and |
they would be thrown, in their old age, on |
their own resources, when, ia fact, those
for whom they have labored all their lives
ought to be compelled 10 maintain them
throughout aud probably their condition
will not be improved il you adopt such
provision. Then there are, undoubtedly, |
many younger ones and want pro.
vision that shall not be quite so abrupt Us
this, which says that person born one
day shall be a slave forever, aud one born
the next shall be free. think there ought
TO be some provision made for them. As
l have already intimsted, ! shouldIike 70
see az amendment providing that all the
children who, 81 the time this constitution
takes effect, are fifteen or sixteen years old |
shall be free at such 9u age-twenty.One
or thirty-fye, or something like q gradual
emancipation. ThatI has been found 10
work very well IN the pId thirteen States,
aud | do not think the people Of Western
Virginia would object 70 It.
But do not propose now to argue this
question. lido not wish 70 argue Il any |
more than simply to e1ptess my desire that
the people In that region, all anxious as
they are for this law, NAL be gratiHed. / 4
Go not want this bill as II stands. It
takes part Of the valley ot Virginia, where
there ara pro-slavery men enough 70 give
color to the whole OF il, and oyerrule Ii, for |
aughtl know. They are entirely different
from the people on the other side Of the
Allegheny mountains. There there Is no
violent feeling in favor Of slavery. Down
in the valley they are as pro.slRvery as they
are 90 the sS1.coassr or anywhere else. III
do not think IL Is wise to put them IN. / |
never did assent 10 take those counties Ia
although il It were known that they would |
harmOnize with the Others, | should not
have any objection; but my opinion is they
would mot.
Now, sir, it-is said here by many that
this bill caunot become Z law at this ses.
sion. would endeayor 10 show, Il We
were not pressed for time, that Il was con
stitutlonAl but know that my friend IRON
Maine desires TO get up an appropriation
bill, and I do not like 70 stand 10 bis Way.
1 behave some Of the best lawyers In the
Senate believe that The project Of admitting
this State Is entirely IN accordance with
The Constitution Of the United States
That It is expedient, tbat the people re-
q1tre 1t nay, that they are all anxiety for
1t II. = T.. q .n . = ...N