Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-08-02

Now, how will we maintain that opinion (?
have pledged my word that that was the
fact. have pledged you to that fact; and
1t IS with you to carry record up to the
next Congress to show that did not mis-
represent you. [Cries of, ''we'n do it
Well do itl''l We hAye got to stand fast
where we areas the saying is with boat
uient along the river sometimes, "hold on
to the willows" CLaughter.l
| There are reasons existing now for di-
vision of the ancient Dominion tha. never
existed before. wish TO advert to few
of them. And first, will get this question
out of the way here: Have we right to
say that mans slave now IN esSe, under
ten years of age, shall be free a. twenty
one2 Have we right to say that his slave
between ten and tWeuty-one shall be free at
twenty-fiYe2 FelloW-citizens, it is knot
ty question. can tell my friend here Mr.
Crauel that while go for orprosecuting this
war with ALT power of the nation until
fiuaI success, believe there is no necessity
under all the pressure of circumstances
upon US, to violate solitary principle of
the constitution. Not one. II may be a
fault of mine, bnt am essentially and nat
urally a constitutional man; aud would
not violate q solitary principle of the con-
sutution, at least for any personal advance
ment, aud under any pressure of circum-
stances. except under that higher law than
all laws, that the supreme law of the land
is the safety of the people. There may be
some doubt whether we have right to take
away mans property under circumstances
of this character-that is absolutely-but
there is no doubt about it with this condi-
tiou: We may take the property of man
for the public good, upon making due com
pensation. And If tue service of a slave
from Que to twenty-one and from ten to
twenty-five IS not sufficient compensation
for raising him, then we have it in our
power to make the additional Compensation
if the pGblic good requires. But imagine
there Is hardly a man here that would not
take a boy and have him bound from one
to twenty-one, be glad to take him perhaps;
especially from ten to twenty-five. If be
not sufficient compensation, the State itself
has ample means to make the compensa-
tion. As for those that are to be born here
after, that are not now IN esSe, we have bot
to look to the example of all the old States
north of Masou's and Dixon's line, except
one, which adopted the plan of gradual
emancipation. There can be very little
difficulty about the abstract right with the
conditions to which | atlude.
Aud then, fellow-cftizens, how many
Shareholders are there within the limits of
the proposed new State7 There are TWEEN
/ ty-hve hundred, | suppose. Let US look at
| the state of facts, then. Are we to stand
/ with twenty-five hundred Shareholders
! land stau1 by them so far ns they have
any rights under the Constitution.) Their
interests, for arguments sake, we will ad-
NIT, are opposed to those of all other cit
liens of Northwestern Virginia. How do
we stand2 1t is right, it is necessary and
it is proper, where there is slayeholding
| ~ IA nj
regulations that are not adapted to com
munities where slaves do not exist We
have laws to-day in Virginia, numerous
laws, and character of policy, adapted
and necessary and right for East Virginia.
where slaves exist, that are embarrassing
and injurious to West Virginia, where
\ slaves do not exist Now the question is,
whether in the portion of the State where
slavery not only does not exist, but where
| by the laws of climate aud geographical
position it never can exist, we and our pos
lerity must forever be put under the influ-
euce of system of municipal laws and
regulations adapted indeed to the sIave-
holding portion of the State, but not adap-
ted to us, who are u-slaveholding por-
tiou of the community 1 think not.
The question then comes up, do we injure
East Virginia by asking for this division2
| think not Do we injure the trade of
East Virginia by this separation Q want
to know how much trade we have had with
Eastern Virginia l want to know if we
have had $4,000 Of produce or purchase
within the last fifty years Not at all. In
what respect, then, do we iDjure East Vir-
ginia It is said we have been the chew
era of wood aud drawers of water for
her. This objection applies to some ex-
tent, but instead Of being reason why we
should remain together as State, it is
reason why we should not, so far as it is
true. She has no right to claim us in that
! relation, as a kind of subsidiaries or satel-
lites TO her. rf q. i l'ta ~ ia. a
But there is somewhat of mistake here.
1t is urged that we have paid taxes expeud-
ed east Of the Mountains. In that, per-
haps, they have some advantage, but it is
not so great as you imagine. That is not
the only reason why we call for redress.
1t is just as bad to keep a man in poverty,
SO that be cannot avail himself of the re-
sources and benefits that surround him, as
it is to overtax him on the resources which
he has. And here, in point of fact, is the
wrong of which we complainant so much
because we have been overtaxed as because
by the peculiar policy of East Virginia,
the immense, the-invaluabie and inexhaus-
tible resources Of wealth aud power in our
midst, over which we are travelling every
day, lying undeyeIoped beneath our feet,
never have been developed and never can
be, as long as we are attached to the east
ern section of the State. Why, to say
nothing of the fact that eastern Virginia has |
neither the win nor ability to send improve
meuts into our midst, It Is enough for rs 70
know that if she bad both, it is matter OF |
impossibility ever to send any into our
midst that would be available to her or us.
What is the use for US to penetrate these
ranges of Allegheny Mountains that lie |
between us aud the East2 What adFan- |
tage TO give US q railroad to Norfolk or
Richmond7 Itwou1d be carrying US past |
markets nearer aud better. We all know |
that Eastern Virginia never viii give her
fuuds.to make these parallels of Improve /