Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-30

Atuclbuhtl IonlaPfFsGt.
Virginia She was Before the War
and as She Will be After It.
The present rebellion was commenced in
the interest of a very different end from
that which will he attained. 1t was PLAN
ned 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 slavery would DC
strengthened within her borders. The Pc
ealirr trade of breeding negroes Tor the
Southern markets, profitable AS 1t had been,
wunli b-. it MAS supposed, greatly en-
HANGED in value. We had more negroes
than any other State in the Union. and the
interest WAS fast becoming an absorbing
Que. Already it had controlled and shaped
Legislation East and West for rnany years.
As cotton and rice and the Southern sta
pies advanced in price, so did Virginia ne
groes, and as negroes advanced so did tho
slavery sentiment of The State WAX bold
and e1acting. Religion aud politics were
deeper iinsed every year with pro-slavery-
ism. and at the breaking out OF the rebel
lion there was desporism OF opinion al
most Austrian in its character
There has come great change, and
there will come 4 far greater one. Look
around in Western Virginia to-day, and
see 1t. Go to Washington, in the District
OF Columbia, and see it. Cross over the
Potomac, into Fairfax county, and see it.
Go into tue upper end of the Valley, ard
see it. Go down to Fortress Monroe aud
out through the counties of Elizabeth
City, Warwick and York, and see it
Cross over into AccOmac and Norlhamp-
ton, and see it. The change is Incredible
Where are all the busy scenes of life that
were visible,in these various localities but
few months ago? Where ara ali the
thousands OF slaves? Gone!
Anl they are going every day. The
fruat tier Of counties on both shores of Eas-
tern Virginia, and of the Valley are being
rapidly rid oftheir negro population. Some
are taken South, always TO remain there,
while thousands are scattering and skedad-
ling north. They have Rocked into our
camps aud through our lines and into the
employ of ,he war in one way aud other, in
vast numbers. Aud still they are aocking
to the edges of the State every day, and are
going aud disappearing no one knows
where. And this, too, notwithstanding the
fact that Our army has scarcely advanced
into the interior of the State. IFthercfore.
this condition of things is found in 1.-THE
green tree, what will it he in the Dry
What will it be when Our.army reaches
Richmond aud sweeps on down with It's
extended line into the South. What will
become ofthe thousands of slaves that are
destined to be left by their reireating or
captured masters, aud the thousands more
that will flock to our camps: This is a
question tar easier asked than answered.
Our nrmyis not devoting itself to slaves
II neither makes or unmakes a slave. 1t
takes 40 cogDiEance of the institution in
any way. Ii knows only the stern purpo-
ses snd necessities of war. 1t governs it.
self AS all armies are forced to govern
themselves in an enemy's country. Ituses
all its advantages withou; reference to other
considerations than those of humanity.
This much by way oil preface. War
brings It's cOmpeusatiOns. And no part of
the country will be more compensated than
Virginia; not rebel Virginia, but Virginia
as "A tract of country with a new popuIa-
ton and new ideas. Within the next
year. Virginia, as sue was in the East at
the outbreak of this rebellion, will be en-.
tirely changed. The process has even now
commenced. Just as Washington City has
been revolutionized socially within the las,
twelve months, so is the adjacent conn
~, as far as the army has progressed,
on the Virginia side. And our army
will be more or less an army of oc-
Cupation ia Eastern Virginia for year to
come. It cannot remain there without
efecting a remarkable change Many of
the old owners of the soil, tired of the
war; longing for escape to more cougeniAI
atmosphere; shrinking from the change of
style that will set in filled, many of them,
with grief and disappointment, will be only
too anxious to sell out and leave. Con6s-
cation will be a still more sweeping agency.
1t will complete the social revolution.
The old order of things did not pass
away from Spain half so fast as it is pass.
Jog from the State of Virginia. That
which was radical only few months ago
has become conservative now, and that
which is conservative in this present April,
will be efete before the next. In spite of
spite of the natural timidity
# men to advance an opinion beyond that
which is OrthodO4-in spite of all time
lerVing-the change viii be rapid.