Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-31
sham VIC nars a Ns,r s,nts,

Editors LRtslLyeHeer .a-
The new State question is now reduced
to very mario IS limits. With the people OF
West Virginia themselves rests its decision
The other party to the contract, the Uni
ted States Government, has already signed
the bond, aud it only remains for US to saw
amen. Shall we do it? Who can doubt.
that remembers the degradation imposed
upon as 10y Eastern Virginia? The reali-
cation of our long cherished .lream of re-
lief from the oppression and tyrannr of
that section Of the State, is now within our
grasp. For long and weary years have we
asked and prayed for justice at the hands
Of Eastern Yirginin; begged as supplicants
for that which it was outright to demand.
But demands and prayers were alike una
yailing. and we were denied, coutemptu-
ousiy denied, just participation in the
Government- Our efforts for equal repre-
sentation and equality of taxation without
which free government is a moekery) were
derided, and as Vassals have we BEEN held
m boudage. At last, however, has the
hour of deliverance come; aud West Vir-
ginia needs now but the assent OF her own
hardy sons to become what she should long
since have been, great and prosperous
State.
Shall We, then, say the word .thst soon
will doubie-aye, redonble-our popuIa-
ton; that will develop our unsurpassed
| mineral wealth that will fill our borders
With workshops, factories and towns that
will change to productive fields our vast
unbrokeu forests; that will diminish our
taxes, whilst increasing imrneasurably our
ability to pay; that will create wealth
where now is poverty; that will give us
the control and Conduct of our o Hn affairs.
that will allow Us the expenditure for our
own benefit of the taxes we pay; that will
lift US out of our degrading Tassalage to
Eastern Virginia that VIII command for
u. respect abroad and confidence at home /;
that Wtil make us'a soversign State ofsthe
Union, homogeneous in population aud har-
moniOus in interests2
That such will be the result of opr ssv-
erauee from Eastern Virgins. r ucns can
| doubt who will intelligently ana dispas-
sionately consider the matter. Shall we
then secpre-to ourselves and our posteritv
such AdIantsges, and many others that
result from a-sepGrate State organizatiop.
or do We prefer to remain degraded an
pendage of old Virginia, deprived of politf-
cal equality, and despized even by our on
pressors. On the one hand progress. pros-
perity, wealth aud independencs-on the
other decay, poverty, and degradation
Such IS the issue. To US Ell, it is simply a
question OF self interest OF self preserTa.
ton, in which party politics have no part
And yet there are those who would organ.
ize opposition 70 a new State By insidious
appeals to party ties aud prejudiees. Be
ware of such!i Remember bow. THROUGH
party organization and influences, political
/ trieksters endeavored to seduee rs into re-
bellion against touT,, beloved Government; had
they succeeded, it Is apparent now, that
ouI destruction vas inevitable. Has not
West Virginia been sufficiently cursed al
ready by the blighting influence OF such
meu-and shall She be betrayed by them
now Men Of West Virginia, this IS not
the occasion. nor the time, TO be sh.ckled
by party or tinf1euesd by Shallow preiu-
dice as practical, sensible people. whose
every Interest Is at stake. let as decide this
question for ourselves, regardless of mere
politicians, who seek power aud influence
only for their own aggrandlzement-who
living Of the Psopts, are etready 10 sacrf5
hee them az any, time % their-oEn selfish
PaFposes- We have hut 70 put fouih odt