The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1862-05-15
VirginiA a. She was, before the War, and
a. She will be after Il.

Virginia ~ She was before the War, and
a. She will be after IL.
From the Wheeling Va.) Intelligeneer
The present rebellion was commenced
in the interest Of very different end
from that which will be attained. 1t
was planned and started in the interest of
slavery, aud it will wind up against that
interest The State Of Virginia went
into it believing that the power of slav-
cry would be strengthened within her
borders The peculiar trade of breeding
negroes for the Southern markets, profit
able - it had been, would be, it was sup
posed, greatly enhanced in value. We
had more negroes than any other State in
the Union, and the interest was fast be-
coming an absorbing one Already it
it had controlled and shaped legislation
East and West for many years As cot
ton and rice and the Southern staples ad.
vanced in price, 50 did Virginia negroes,
aud ss negroes advanced, 80 did the slav-
cry sentiment Of the State wax bold and
exacting Religion and politics were
deeper tinged every year with pro SLAYER
yism and at tho breaking ont of the re-
belliou there was despotism Of opinion
almost Austrian IN its character.
There has come great change, and
there will come far greater one. Look
around in Western Virginia to. day, and
see it. Go to Washington, in the Dis
trict OF Columbia, and see it. Cross over
the Potomac, into Fairfax county, and
see 1t. Go into the upper end Of the
Valley, and see it. Go down to Fortress
Monroe, and out through the counties of
Elizabeth City, Warwick and York, and
sec it. Cross over into Accomac and
Northampton, aud see it, The change is
incredible. Where are all the busy scenes
of life that were visible in these localities
but few months ago? Where are all
the thousands Of slaves? Gone!
And they are going every day. The
front tier of counties on both shores Of
Eastern Virginia, and Of the valley are
being rapidly rid Of .heir negro popula-
tion. Some are taken South always to
remain there, while thousands are scat
tering and skedaddlDg for the North
They have focked into our camps and
through our lines and into the employ of
the war in one way and another, in vast
numbers. And still they are focking to
the edges Of the State every day, and arc
going and disappearing no one knows
where. And this, too, Notwithstanding
the fact that our army has scarcely ad-
vanced into the interior of the State -
If, therefore, this condition Of things is
found in "the green tree, what will it be
in the dry!' What will it be when ou,
army reaches Richmond and sweeps on
down with its extended line into the
South What will become Of the thou
sands Of slaves that are destined to be
left by their retreating or captured mas.
ters, and tho thousands more that. will
flock to our camps? This is question
far eosier asked than answered Our army
is not devoting itself to slaves. 1t Meth
or makes or unmskes slave. 1t takes
no cognizan,e Of the institution in any
way. 1t knows only the stern purposes
aud necessities of war Itgoverns itself
as oil armies are forced to govern them
selves in an snemy's country. II uses
all its advantages without reference to
other considerations than those Of hu-
manity.
This much by way Of preface. War
brings its compensations. And no part
Of the country will be more compensated
than Virginia; not rebel Virginia, but
Virginia as tract Of country with new
population and new ideas. Within the
next year, Virginia, as she was in the East
at the outbreak of this rebellion, will be
entirely changed. The process has even
now commenced Just as Washington
City has been revo!utionized socially with.
in the last tw live months, SO is the ada
cent country, as far as the army has pro-
gressed, on the Virginia side. And our
army will be more or less an army of oc-
cupation in Eastern Virginia for year
to come. 1t cannot remain there with
out affecting remarkable change Many
of the old owners of the soil, tired Of
the war; longing for escape 10 more con-
genial atmosphere; shrinking from the
change of style that wi set in !; filed,
many of them, with grief and disappoint-
ment, will only be too anxious to sell out
and leave. Contiscation will be a still
more sweeping agency. twill complete
the social revolution.
The old order of things did not pass
away from Spain half so fast as it is pass
ing from the State of Virginia. That
which was radical few months ago has
become conservative now, and that which
is conservative in the present April will
be effete before the next. In spite of
prejudice-in spite Of the natural timid-
ity of men to advance an opinion beyond
that which is ortlodox-in spite Of all
time serving-the change will be rapid.
Aiming the Slaves.
Noticeable among the items Of news
are two of concurrent tenor, that Gen.
Hunter had determined to arm slaves in
his military department, and that the
Secretary of War would cause arms and
clothing to be issued for them. This
news, if confirmed, will no doubt cause
immense excitement, not to say terror in
the cotton States, and quite possibly a
corresponding clamor from those in the
North who love slavery moro than they
hate a triumphant rebellion. A wall
will come up from South Carolina at the
"barbarism" Of arming slaves for o ser
vile war against the whites.
Shrieks of that sort will excite no sym
pathetic emotion in our minds 30 long as
We remember the worse than savage de-
vices resorted to BY the rebels in this
war-ths poisoning Of provisions-the