Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-09-27
cases that shouid be made examples.


And follow 1t to Death or Fame.
Gases that should be made examples. |
A few days ago we published several
important papers recently come into the
possession Of the Provost Marshal General.
Our readers will recollect them as being
il part letters from obas. ". Russell of this
city and Robert Johnson of Clarksburg,
both members of the rebel Congress. They
will recolleet that tue burtheu of the cor.
resPondenee between these two WORTHLESS
aud the rebel Secretary of War, was this
viz: What was to, be done in the case of
those citizens of Western Virginia recently
arrived in Richmond, who had taken m
oath either to support the United States
Government or not to bear arms against
it7 We're they subject to serTe in the
rebel army, just as those who had not
taken the oath? The rebel Secretary Of
War answered Messrs. Russell and john
son, that all such persons would be subject
to military duty-thaL is actual service in
the army-just the same as other persons.
These papers are very important docu-
ments-much more so than ordinary. They
reveal the fact that an oath taken by per-
sons who for instance travel over the Bal
timors road, the penalty for violation Of
which is death, tif the person who takes it
ispfterWsrds found in arms) is not respected
by the rebel Government, aud their secre.
tary. of War writes.to Messrs Russell ard
Johnson, that tho violaters twill be pro-
tected by this government If they fall into
the hands Of the enemy, as If they had la.
ken no such oaths or made NO such promf-
sss."
What gives these papers special impor-
lance is the fact that number of Western
Virginia prisoners who have taken the
oath not to bear arms against the Union
have recently been captured and fallen ia
to the hands Of the Provost Marshal Gem
eral, who has them now confined at Camp
Chase. Among the prisoners are one or
two. oficers-Capt A. D. Woodley, Lieut.
KittIe aud others-Who, of their own &C.
cord. took the oath of fidelity to the Uni
tsdStates, and whose oaths to that effect
are now 10 possession of the Provost Mar.
shal. Not long after taking the oath they
went to Richmond, seeking commissions in
the Confederatel service, and got them in
the guerrilla department of the detesta BILE
service. They came back ,to Western vir.
giuiA, TO Upshur county, recruited men,
got them armed, aud then commenced raw
ages and ambushes and assassiuations up.
on Union citizens and soldiers. In the fall
tide of their career, they were taken pris.
oners, aud are now confined, awaiting trial,
atoamp Chase. The Provost Marshal has
reported their cases fully to Washington.
and is now awaiting orders for SQUIRT
martial TO try them. Its fall time that
he had beard from the War Department MS
to what is to be the policy in reference to
such captiyes.
IhereIean be no question among loyal
men in Western Virginia as to what the
the public voice demands in regard to these
fellows. There can be no doubt as TO
what SCALED for as an example. These
men did, of their own accord, for the pur.
pose, IN fall likelihood, of carrying. ont
their Internal schemes of murder and plum.
der, come. forward and take the oath not
to bear arms against the United States,
the condition of4saidf oath, in printed let
ter, being shat If they violated it they
should suffer! death. They have violated
it. Not only that, but they have induced
scores of others TO violate similar oatbs.-
They have tFeyersed the hills and valleys
otswestern Virginia, aud especially Up
shar county, sedueing men, not only from
theirloyalty, but their oaths, by en,rea.ies
a9dyhreatss Aad haze banded them tSgeth-
er under their commands, and used them
as deadly Instruments against their friends
AID, nsighboEs, whose only crime was at
taehment to the Union.
Shall such men escape. Are they to be
treated as prisoners of war, aud to be ex-
changed in purchase of men who couduo-
ted their warfare according to the recoR-
mixed principles of Christian nationsi-
AssGredly not. Ifsuch men go uuhanEedi
then Is society in the borders in jeopardy
indeed. Let it be known that men eau 90
from their counties, after having taken an
oath. not ts bear arms against the Union,
and after having subscribed 10 the death
penalty, and obtain commissions at Rich
mOnd to come home aud way. lay and muir
der their old acquaintances, and never be
punished for it except as ordinary prison.
ers of war, aud there is an end to the frail
sense of security which has peryaded wcs-
tern Virginia for more than year. There
is no security. for us a single day or night.
Any citizens house may be entered-his
goods tskeh-aiS horses stolen-his cattle |
driven of-his barns ged-bis grounds
laid waste, and himself and famiiy ,.ksn