Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-18


lordly masters to keep up ur3tespectabili.
" and define what shall be the respect
Eslid e. those who toll with their hands.
~ ny this leech- ike institution far exeeeds
20 tenaeity the ancient friend of Slnbad
ne was hnally in an pnguanled moment
shaken Oh, but We are to be doomedsfor
ever TO carry this bliRhting bodyofi death
upon our shoulders. Why do they seek,to
band as over bound hand and footf WHY
not permit Us 70 apply the knife at the
ballot box, aud cut away if we can, this
ioadi 50 that asa young State, we NAV
enter the race for happiness and wealth,
with our loins gtrtand with one less evil
70 oeset Us assWe keep step to the music OF.
eignteen sister States, who have proclaim
81 e 70 thet world that lahorsshonldi he free.
aust " De said that q new State of SOC, 900
souls Is to be fettered and hindered for nll
time to come, because of 5000 slayes in
onr midsti Who would envy.onr posi-
tionf Is 1t not rather one of pity2
I u members Of Convention submit tile
Oonstltution.Rs they propose; ignoring the
qnesuon OF slavery, wtll'ws be admitted TO
this Union3 Will not members of Con-
gress understand, as we'll as I'VE do, that
that Is tantamOunt to a guarantee. that
slavery shall exist aud be protected aud
while that body would apr6bably admit a
state formed from R,territory, with afslave
constitution, If the people SO desired it,
never will they sanction the creation of
Two slave States out of one. We NAV MS
well understand this fact at first as at last.
Not one member from free State. fVal-
iandighami probably, excepted,) woulG vote
tor' any propositions. Aud il is folly
even to carry to that body slave constitu-,
ton for West Virginia. Iqshould be sorry
TO lose the many good features which this
Convention has Incorporated into the Oou-
s9tntlou which they arc now. forming, bHt
Win thts tnoubus of slavery we caiuoter-s
pect TO be received into this Union, nor
should we be betteredif we should.
This great rebellion is crMmbling and in
a few months will be numbered with like
natures that have occurred in the history
ofother lands. Eastern Virginia will then
have great day of reckoning. And
where will be the vast majority of the
masters of these 100000 slaves in our
Statea 5lufthe list of those who have fed,
thetr country oror those who will be tried
tor tue highest crime known to our Can-
sutution. Aud when Justice shall be me-
ted out, tempered as il always should be
with mercy, who will become the plrchas-
ers of their lands when sold by The Gem
eral Government for the benefit of fntuted
loyal men aud for repayment of the expenses
of this unholy war2
Mlllp9tthe iirst electiOn,ever held after
these sales reveal the fact that an over.
Whelming majority of the whole State are
IN favor Of free labor and free schools,
equal taxation and equal Representation:
In short, in favor OF all that has already
bappyi
Persist In making our new State a slave
one and they who are opposed to this plan
VIII prefer TO run. the chances of obtaining
what they desire by awaiting the fate ,6f
4irginia in the way have iGimated
~ RiEs ma tbs ppfprluhity To vote
upon this smapcipatidn ieatdrG, IS 4 sen.
hTate proposition, and We are Fatisied to
60 with you in obtaining tho new S;ate.
so far as We are warranted BY the national
Constitution. fTi
We are Virgiuians, aud have a right TO
talk about aud act upon this subject,
Then let us do it like men, despite tue cry
that is raised, of abolltionisin, by men
too poor in most casrs to own slave and
too Ignorant to appreciate benefits which
other States have enjoyed by the adoption
Of free institutions.
AS wise men and true men, let us take
tue wave at Its flood, az would have done
our Virginia fathers had SO clear n li0bt
shtned upon their future. Remembering
the example Of our beloved Washington
aud tue precepts of Jefferson, Madison,
Henry and Clay, Yirginians ali, let, MS do
our duty to our country, TO ourselves and
70 our posterily by so shaping the institu-
tions OF our coming State as to insure all
the prosperity and strength of those States
which have SO proudly taken the course
We now propose. HEyny.i
HANCOCK Co., Va, Feb. I4th, 1862.