Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-23
a YEAR AGO.


YEAR AGO.
Que year ago this day, the voters OF Yir-
giniA vent through the solemn farce Gf
there can be such thing ms a solemn
farce OF voting on the Ordinance OF Sc
cession. That election was farce and
muckery, because the secession OF the
State was long before practically accom-
Plished. so far as could be. The rebels
were already organized, armed, and deter
minrd to resist the authority OF the Gov
ernmeut. Tue preparations for war had
heen going on for months iu the greater
part of tue State; the machinery of the
entire State Government fully controlled,
and legiOns of Southern rufFains imported
and ready for ac'ion-so that it mattered
little bow the people voted, (where they
dared vote as they pleased,) or-,whether
whether they voted Al all they we're Sc
curely GOunL aud handed over to, the
Southern Treason in arms against the
United States. 1t Was solemn because ii
MAS the last step deemed necessary to COM
plete that stupendous falsehood, the pre-.
tended submission al the question OF Sc
csssiOn to the people OF Virginia, AMI por-
tentt0ns OF the dire events that have since
Iranspired, and Others much more threat.
sning.
One year age, very general alarm pre-
Vniie'i. The huge proportions of the re-
helIiOu were looming up to view, and each
dsys Developments inspired apprehensions
of others more startling. we were Just
finding out how thoroughly the conspiracy
WAS organized, how wide spread its rami-
fcatiOns, how secret its workings, and how
desperate and determined its purposes
The bloody events in Baltimore and ST.
Louis had inspired sickeuing fear
OF similar scenes in other cities. SUM
ter had fallen, aud the South was
wild with the war frenzy. The militia
10 northwestern Virginia were organizing
10 obedience to Letchrr's orders. Gonna.
nies were mastered armed with the old
Stale mnskeIs, 10 Harrison, Marion, Bar
bOmr. Randolph and Surrounding counties.
Bill Thompson, With his gang, had occu.
pied FettermSn, and killed Bailey Brown.
\ company OF Letcher's militia from Ro-
mines mills, in Harrison county, had made
their appearance in Clarksburg, and been
disarned by the Union men. The First
Virginia Regiment had been organized and
located at Camp Garlic" on the Island,
and Renj. F. Kelley elected Colonel, inst
one year ago yesterday. Union men in the
Interior counties were threatened with
hanging, and alarmed not without good
reason. Porter6eld aud his mob were ON
their way TO occupy Grafton. Morgan
town aud numerous other places hal been
frightened out Of PEOprieIy, and very un
easy feeling prevailed generally. The mass
Convention, called to deliberate for the
safety Of Northwestern Virginia, had done
its work, and the Central Committee was
hard at work preparing an address to the
people of Northwestern Virginia. Here in
Wheeling things were in ferment. The
rebels were impudent, and the Union men
excited and savage Secret enlistment Tor
the Confederate army was going ON, and
various prominent men were beginning to
show their hands.
How great change Was wrought 10 the
0veuts Of the next few week How inf
niteiy greater by those OF the succeeding
yeari The State government rsOFgsnized
and in successful operation for ten months;
the movement for new State almost con-
summatedi Northwestern Virginia cleared
of rebel troops, and rebel sympathtzers st-
fenced; the rebellion everywhere long
since past its meridian, and not only de-
tclthiug, but absolutely % its last legs.-