The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-05-16
THE GATE CIT.
From the Nheellng tva.l inlsllirencer


From the Wheeling tva-l Intslligencer,
Virginia ne she was n efore the war
and ex sShr Wilih r a fsGr ~.
The present rebellion was commenced
in the interest of a very different end from
that which viii be ssiaiued. II was plan
ned and started in the interest of slavery,
and it will wind up agaiasLelat interest
The State Of Virginia went into it be
lieying that the power OF slavery would
be strengthened within her borders. The
peculiar trade of breeding negroes for the
Southern markets, profitable as it had
been, would be, il was supposed, greatly
enhanced ia value. We had more ne.
grocs than any other State in the Union,
and the interest was fast becoming an alb
sorbing one. Already it had controlled
and shaped legislation East and West for
many years. As cotton and rice and the
Suuthsrn staples advanced in price, so did
Virginia negroes, and as negroes advanced
50 did the slavery sentiment Of the State
wax bold and exacting. Religion and
politics were deeper tinged every year
with pro slaveryism, and at the breaking
ont of the rebellion there waa a icspnt-
ism.of opinion almost Austrian in its char
acter.s y ''.S '1a
There has come 8 great change, and
there will cefne far greater one. Look
around in Western Virginia to-day. and
sec 1t. Go to Washington, in the Dis.
trict of Columbia, and see it, Cross over
the Potomac, into Fairfax county and see
it. Go int the upper end Of the valley
and sec it. TO down to Fortress Monroe
and out through the counties OF Eliza
beth City, Warwick and York, and see it.
Cross over into Accomae and Northamp-
ton, aud see il. The change is incred-
ible. Where are oil the busy scenes of
life that were visible In these localities bu,
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 rapid. y. rid Of their negro popula.
ton 5. me arc taken South always to
remain theie, while thousands are CATER
ins and skedaddling North They have
locked into onr camps and through our
lines and into the employ of the war in
one way and another, in vast numbers
And still they are iocking TO the edges
oi the State every day. and are going and
disappearing no one knows1 where. And
this, too, notwithstanding the fact that
our army has scarcely advanced into the
interior Of the State. If, therefore this
condition Of things is found in .',he green
tree, what will be in the dry2" What
vii! II be when our army reaches Rich
nosd and sweeps on down with its ex
tended line into the South? What will
become Of the thousands Of slaves that
are destined to be lett by their re'rea,ine
or captured masters, aud the thousands
more that will flock to our camps? This
is a question far easier asked than an.
swored. Our army is not devoting itself
TO slaves. Ii neither makes nor unmakes
slave. 1t takes no cognizance OF the
institution in any way. 1t knows only
the. stern purposes and necessities Of war.
1t governs itself as all armies are forced
TO govern themselves in an enemy's coun-
try. 1t uses all its advantages withou,
reference to other considerations than
those of humanity.
This much by way of preface. War
brings its compensaiions. And no part.
OF the country will be more compensated
than Virginia; not rebel Virginia, bur
Virginia as tract Of country with new
population and new ideas. Within the
next year, Virgins, as she was in the
East at the outbreak of this rebellion, will
be entirely changed. The process has
even now commenced. Just as Wash.
ington City has been revolutionixed social-
y within the last twelve months, SO has
tue adjacent country, as far US the army
las progressed, on the Virginia side -
And our army will tie more or less an ar
my OF occupation in Eastern Virginia for
q year TO come. II cannot remain there
without efaeeting remarkable change.
Many OF the old owners of the coil. tired
Of the war longing for escape to more
coDgeaial atmosphere shrinking from
the change Of style that will set 10; filed,
many OF them, with grief and disappoint-
rnent viii on BE 700 anxious 10 sell on,
md leave. uon6sca,ion will be a still
more sweeping agency. 1t win complete
the social revolution.
The old order Of things did not pass
away from Spain half so fast as il is pas
SING from the State Of Virginia. That
Which was radical only few months ago
has become conservative now and thar
which Is conservative in this present
April will be effctc before the next. In
spite OF prejudise--in spite of the natural
,ilhiany OF men TO advance an opinion
beyond that which il erthodoz-in spite
OF an time-serying--the change will be