Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-31

cate than the evil of slavery; which fact
may perhaps be accounted for in its being
somewhat entwined with our social con-
cerns and iu9fts pEoverbiaI disposition to
put itself forward inthe path Of political
reformation as something sanctified and
sacred. More especially is this the case
In this country. Other nations can
open their eyes and look with clear
perceptions upon the cause and evi!
denCes Of their humiliation; but while
England points with just pride toithe sub!
lime fGct of her legislating the bondsmen
OF the West Indies into the glorious light
and liberty of freemen, our own nation
kneels with reVerential awe before the
tdolatrohs shrine of her own iufamy. Let
as not be deceived by tho vain hope that
IN the course Of future years no Vestige of
the destitution of slavery shall be seen in
the precincts of our new Statet IF il is
once sanctioned and upheld by our mu4
ntciPal law, twill cling to us with the te-
nacity with which a miser hugs his gold
It will dtstil its deadly poison into theVil
tals of our true prosperity and growth and
leave ius but the shadow Of that greatness
which should be the possession of the
State.E gdl- ils,4asnsJ . lHnu55.fsi,l
II is claimed, moreover, lthat the slave
population may be emancipated hereafter
by legislative enactment. No one ques
tlons that the legislature has the power to
accomplish this object, but the hope that
they will thus act is not only predicted
upon the supposition that Congress will
admit our proposed new State into the
Union, but that future legislation will
bear an antagonism to the existence of
slavery in our midst. Each are but the
tratlest possible material on which to
hang our hopes. 1t is the opinion of our
leading statesmen and the most ptOmi-
nent public journals that Congress will
not content to the division of one slave
State In order to admit another slave
State into the Union. The political
complexion of our present Congress is
decidedly an!i-slavery, and there is
every reason to suppose that this will
be the character of our national legis-
lature for many years to come. How
ever willing the Representatives of North
ern sentiment in onr Federal Congress,
may be to sacrifice cherished opinions and
party principles upon the altar of the 4
'unlonitt cannot be expected of them to |
cast aside their repeated declarations of
opposition to slavery and give their aid aud
support in adding one more slave State to |
the power of the South. It shows a won
-derful State egotism fofus to present our
selves before Congress with the expectA-
ton that in the face of all this known
character of sentiment we will be admitted
upon terms of our own dictation. These
objections would all7haYe been obviated If |
our prospective new State had inserted in
to her Constitution plan for the gradual
emancipation Of her slaves, because then
the Northern opposition to the admission
gilmore slave States into the Union, would
be silenced by the fact that we had innng-
urated principle which would eVeutu0te
In the establishment of Free State.l luias
Under the suppOsitiOn that the rebel
states will be brought back to- theirI an-
,cieut allegiance to the Federal Govern
ment and that the proposed new State of |
West Virginia will be admitted into athe |
Union, surely the South has cause to re-
Joice; 1t is to them a great victory. AL |
ready Carlile and Wiley have taken their
seats IN the o. s. Senate to represent the
Rro'siayeryt element Of our population
They have already proved themselves
ready aeciples in copying the plantation
manners the ultra sentiments and the do
mtneerlng spirit Of their famous predeces-
sors. Thus far we have gained nothing
1y tie change we have made. When we
consider the relative altitude of our State
affairs and the manner in which our new
State project will probably eyentuate, we
cannot butthink that all the, efforts which |
have as yet been made 10 the way Of
change and reformation will be unprofta-
BILE and fruitless. We want West Virgin |
ia TO establish system tending to the ex- |
Termination of slavery in her State limits. |
We want her to become free State, and
If this desirable object cannot be attained
let her remain united in the ties which
bind her to the Eastern portion of the old
Commonwealth, let US have no separation.
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