Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-25

AAASO SAAS OAAOh. .a
to the House the reasons which will gov
ern the vote which Ishall cast upon the
bill which is now pending before this
body. AT the last session Of Congress, in
common with other members, had grave
doubts as to the propriety of the passage
of this bill, and / have therefore since
deration- My mind is now made up
clearly that we ought to pass the bill
and now, and desire briefly to give the
reasons which led me TO that conclusion.
Two things are required by the Constitu-
tion of the United States for the admis-
sion of this new States Rrst, the assent of
the Legislature ofthe State out of which
it is to be, formed; and secondly, the
assent of Congress. The decision then
turns to great extent upon the question
whether the Governor now acting as tue
Governor of Virginia, and residing at
Wheeling, and the Legislature to which
he communicates his message, are really
the Governor and Legislature of the
loyal people of Virginia. think they
are, and that the history of events in
Virginia viii prove that fact ~ ..'i y
When, in Fnbruary. 1861, the traitorous
authorities OF Virginia attempted to take
that State out of the Union, the people of
Western Virginia nobly resisted that conspi-
raey, and instead of joining with their
fellow citizen in other parts of the State,
they called together convention elected
BY the loyalists of that region; and some
other counties not included within the
boundaries of the new State. and adetermi-
ned 10 stand, atevery hazard and through
every; persacptiop, shY lhe Upion as u was.
That convention, speaking the voice OF all
loyal Virginians, called all the members
elect of the Legislature-chosen as they
were on ;he day prescribed by their State
constitution-whO would take the oath of
fealty to the Union, to meet at Wheeling /;
aud thus a loyal Legislature, chosen in
accordance with the constitution aud law
of Virginia, assembled and was organized.
This machinery of the State government
had been abandoned by Governor. Letcher
and by the Legislature which participated
with him in his treason. 1t having thus
lapsed, the loyal people of Western Virginia
took possession of this machinery in order
that all the State might not be driven into
this wicked rebellion. -r..li afa5 ha
The next question is, has this loyal Legis-
liature been reeogdizedi There are facts
lenongh in the action of the Varions branches
Iiof this Government to prove to us that
lthey have, one aud allr fully, and in various
ways, recognized ithisias the only true and
rightful government Of Virginia. Allow
me to present q few of them: - ~ -.
| First. The Senate of the United States
has recognized this Legislature as the
Legislature of the State of Virginia, and
admitted two Senators elected by that body
to fill vacancies caused by treasoui as the
rightful chosen Senators Virginia. That
was done almost unanimously by that
body. pe-as' sass. ds-ia-nR ~
Secondly. The executive department Of
the Government, and the big hest portion OF
that executive department, the President
himself, has repeatedly recognized the
Governor and the Legislature OF Virginia
as the rightful authorities of that Statetf -
Thirdly, The Secretary of the Treasury
has recognized that government as the
rightful government ofYirRinia, for he has
paid to them ont of the Treasury of the
| Union, without complaint and without
protest from any one of all the tWenty.odd
millions of loyal people of the United States
the Sax, 900 remaiping in the Treasury as
the share of the State of Virginia of the
proceeds Of the sales Of the public lands,
aud which the State of vtrginia had hither.
to refused TO take from the TreasuFy.seoi
ourthIy. The Secretary Of War has re-
cogniEed. his, government as the ,slawtul
government of Virginia, and Governor
Pierpoint as the righ htfnl Goyethor Of Viz
Rinia. byaaccepting his commissions of the
officers Of the noble aud loyal volunteer
! regiments of. Vfrginia, as commissions
emanating from rightful and legal authority.
. -Fifthly. The Secretary of the Interior
has also recognized the same thing in his
lcommunicatinR TO. GOVeFnor PeirpOint, as
the Governor Of Virginia, the Offioial notice
Of the congressional apP ionment Of 1860,
as required by laWass y as - -lil
Sixthly, This House Of Representatives
l-and j amklad to say that gent tlernen upon
the other side OF the House largely particle
pated In that act at the last session-recoE
nized Governor PeirPoint as the riehtful
Governor of Virginia when they admitted
the gentleman who Represents the district
Iaronnd Fortress Monroe, Mr. Segaf,1 who
came here and claimed admission under an
election ordered by Governor Peirpoint, al
though that is a portion Of .yirgipia distant
from thatWhich e now proposed to be adj
lmittedsas e State. The loyal people there,
n IA.