Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-16
20 Prom the PniIadOlphla North American. d
The New state and VIrEinia state
RiRhIa - - ---.-

The New state and VirEinia state
Rights. faHi --
The admission Of Western Virginia as a
new State will do much toward reducing
the extreme State rights pretensious of the
malcontents whose headquarters, for half 4
century past, have been at Richmond. Their
doctrine, -WasI almost froml the beginning,
Inconsistent with the discharge Of their
duty as citizens Of u common government
with other States. What Virginia should
think no law nor no authority would be
allowed TO contraveue; and this not SO
much because their interests on any prac.
teal point were involved, but because they
happened TO fix their will that way. They
we're willing to fight for the mere dogma,
and for thirty years past the ultra State
rights men OF the whole south have been
seeking for an occasion to try their
strength with the general government
They believed their time had come when
Mr.. Lincoln was elected to the Presidency.
and Immediately set about ''resuming the
sovereignty" which they previously per.
mitted to be delegated to the government
of the United States"
But this great coup fetat, which was to
pat dozen or more State right clioues into
supreme power, each over itself and over
all the others at the same time, will be the
utter ruin Of the whole State rights doe
triue as construed at Richmond. A jeal-
Gus solicitnde for the rights OF the people
in all sections of the Union will be, ard
ought always to be preserved; and then
our State authorities will be considered the
natural exponent of their wishes, but to ex-
alt any such authority over the people Of
all the rest of the Union will hereafter be
out Of the question. The State authority
OF Virginia has always been welded main
~ In the interest Of the people east Of the
mountains, and their leaders have cared
very little for the rights of the people west
of the mountains. We now repair thisiu.
Justice, and enable the people of Western.
Virginia to enjoy true State rights. The
kind of legislation suited to them they can
now obtain without fighting UNEQUAL and
variable battles with different interests in
Eastern Virginia. TT GOO o5f
Il is worthy OF note that the most des-
Potie spirit has always been manifested Nv
ultra State rights men over everybody else
when once ia their power. Eastern viz
ginia has been tyrannous in the extreme
over Western Virginia during its entire
state rights career, Much as the Richmond
junta hated submission TO the Federal au-
thority, it never refraiped from acts OF in.
Justice to citizens OF its own State who
were not large SlAYeholders, aud had not
L-A Nv soAASSS vi Au6 tAbkGEur plains. State
legislation with them was 50 shaped Al to
compel conformity, and TO crush out ali
non-contormity. Slaves constituted an
immense property to be protected, but not
TO be taxed, Slaves were wealth TO the
eastern counties in every form but that of
supporting the government. In short.
Virginia State rights OF the Richmond nat.
tern meant the right to all the adVantspes
OF government the burden Of maintaining
which should fall mainly on Others. .
The whole State rights aud secession
has Indeed generally maintained the bosi-
ton with g. eat PertinAeity aud great sue.
cess II dealt Wtththe rest of the Union az
Eastern Virginia dealt with Western Yir-
GINA. Isruled rs, and At the same tin,a
made rs pay almost the whole bill of az
Penses- lta rights were invaded the mo-
nent we tried TO make power, and the sup-.
port Of power work EQUALITY, and then II
bristled up in defiant State soyere;1nty
TIE Southern States We're too soveFeign 10
pay for the territory they wanted, and we
paid for it They were TO SOVEREIGN 70
contend with the saTages 10 those terrific
RES and We paid vast sums to- fight them
AZ SUBMISSION, and kept armies in the field
many years 10 protect Florida and Texas.-
Florida and Texas were, apparently, for
Ieese reasons among the very frst 70 ''re-
sumo the power delegated" &c. Indeed
the mingled farce and tragedy Of NM
State rights passes all example in the his
tory Of governments, aud IL Is high tima II
came TO 30 end. With the rebellion IN the
aggregate, il viii perish in the .aggreEate,
bntit i great pleasure 10 be able TO Ion
on one OF the hydra heads Whlle the great
: serpent Is still living, and. can feel the
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