Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-28
The Po.ItIon OF the NsvT state ouss-
0Iou.

1tOms
We print this morning a communication
signed by mAny citizens of Marshal conn
~, which is chiefly interesting, as showing
the temper Of the public mind on the ques-
tion OF free State ia West Virginia.
Practically, the document can avail nothing
with those to whom it is addressed. viz
the delegates fIOm that county in the Legs
latur-- The Legislature will assemble in
this city On the clh of Nay coming, and
their sole and Only business can be, Eheu
they get here, to assen, or dissent to d.
vision. That body can hate nothing TO do
with the Constitution or =auy of itz pro-
visions or shortcomings, further than the
Constitution bears upon the merits and
dement's Of tine division question. The
Legislature that meets will be the LegisIa-
ture Of the whole State of Virginia. and it
is called simply in pursuance OF that ar
Iicle Of the Constitution of the United
States. which requires the consent Of the
Legislature of any State previous TO a new
State being formed out of such State.
IT Is awistake, therefore, to suppose that
the omission of the COn,ention-tbe great
and serious omission which that body
made. when it refused to submit the free
State clause To vote of the people-can
be re0e,lied by any power short Of that
Convention, or one similarly constituted.
The Constitution as it is. without all
ditiOn or Satisfaction, must go to Con-
gress, and it vii! be for that body TO say
whether or no they viii take the will or
the people of West Virginia as Informally
expressed at the recent election, for the
deed, and in considerations of it, receive
the new State into the Union.
This is the way the whole question now
stands, and we are sorry tor it. We did
our bestto forewaru all whom it could
concern, of the Predicameat in which we
now find ourselves We affirmed what
has overwhelmingly proved true, that the
new State people of West Virginia were
free Stste people; that they meant a free
State when they voted for division, aud
that nothing short Of a free State would
ever satisfy them, because nothing else
would be of any nse 10 them. But we
hA'i all sorts Of higher and lower influence
to Sight on this belief, and 10 an evil hour
our free State members OF the Convention
suffered themselves TO be drawn into
blind that completely oYersIaugbed the
whole effort.
The only thing that remains for US now
to DO, is TO seek au admitlauce from Con.
gress as VIC stand. We are not entirely
without hope tina. something can he dope
in that direction. The prospects are no,
hAttering, nut we trust that the temper of
debate in the Legislature will be such,
when it comes together, as TO brighten
them. Much at this crisis in our affairs
will depend on the way in which that body
acts with refereace to tue free State uues-
ton. The members have it in their power
to riVet the good effects which the vote Of
the people has undoubtedly produced on
Congress and the loyal States, and they
also have it in their power to ueutralize
that effect by resurrection in debate of
all the Olai;tale pro-slaSery cant that was
used 6y such 'anti.new State and anii-free
State people as the Wheeling Pres, before
the recent election.
We hope for the best from the meeting Of
the Legislature. We hope for a short SEES
sion and harmonious one. Breyi,y and
unanimity are what are wanted. Letps
go to Congress viii, all tue propitiAting in
flnsnce We can. wswill need it all.
Time1y ana UseroI Work