Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-28

When Mr.Stephens of Georgia, in March,
1861, in his speech at Savannah, declared
that slavery WAS s.the chief stone of the
| corner in the new, edifice" of Government
which the South had just reared, in def
ance of that which their fathers had fram-
| ed, he threw oHi all disguises, and laid
bare to tue world the cause and the spirit
of the revolt, in which he stands second
in rank only to ils desperate chief aa.r
Il is in vain to say, as
many do, that Slavery is the pretext, and
not the cause. Why do they seek the pre-
text? What should excite the disire for
| it? The spirit and intent of treason were
there; whence came it2 Is there yet some
other influence, not avowed, but more po-
tent than that of Slavery, and dwarfing it
into the littlenessof a mere pretext? No,
not SO. In that tHpeculiAr Institution" is
found, not only that without which the
rebellion wcpl6 neseE hAxe shown its hor-
rid front, bat the creating and vitalizing
power which give it life and hurried for
ward its blasting.steps. When the insur-
gents clnmor for "the right Of seLf-gOUsrR-
Dient," inIthc face of the fact that no gov
ernmen has ever been over them for an,
hour, but that of their own choice or their
own making, they mean self-goyernment
as Identified with slavery, sepnrate from
any possible form of government not so
Identified. When they yauntiugly profess
TO be lighting for orl"independence," il is for
Independence of the government of their
own free aud cordial adoption, because
1.-THE chief stone in It's corner" is not
Slavery. When they grind "the old Con-
stitutiOn' between their war-clad heels,
and over its prostrate columns erect an
other, it is that the blood-stained portals
of the new may he the perpetual refuge
and citadel of Slavery. When they re-
nOnnce the country of their birth, aud call
that part of it their country, which they
can cut oil with the sword, it means that
whers Slavery is not shall not he their
csuntry; and it says to Slavery: "Whither
thou goest we will GO where thou lodgest,
We will lodge; thy people shall be our
people; where thou diest, will we die, and
there will we be buried 1 5...r
DO me not tile Injustice nv friends, to
suppose that | thus speak in any spirit of
fanaticism against the institution of Slave
ry, or from any unison of sentiment with
;hosc who haveso long disturbed the cuun-
try with demands for its abolition. The
views ! lInve entertained for thirty years
on that subject remain unchanged. But
THIS WAR GgdiRst the CORStitHtiOH of am
country hIS DRIVEN me to the conclusions 4
hdrs oppressed, as il has tens of thousands
of others, who, like myself, were never as
sociated with any party which avowed an
tagonismto Slavery as an article of its
political faith. ] have uttered the delib-
crate convictions of my Judgment, on
subject which could not be thrust aside in
any discussion of tue present aspect OF our
national affairs and | should have held
myself faithleSs to the solemn require
ulenss OF this koer, if5s had failed TO speai1
what believe to be the TRUTH, lest, per.
chance, it set some teeth on edge, or bring
down imprecntious on my head.
What, then, it may be asked, shall be
done with tliis pernicious cause of revolt
and treason? Shall it, as some have ur-
ged, be snmmarily destroyed by the strong
arm of military power, and the nation at
once relieved from its baueful Influence?
In my judgment, Mol The nation need not
fear TO let it live out the remainder of its
allotted time, and is abuudantly able to
keePit within its Legitimate sphere, and
hold it in due subsection to constitutional
rule. This uccursed rebellion can and will
be subdued, without resorting to meas
ure which would involve the country in
endless complications, and for an indefi-
mite period make one half of the populated
portion of the eastcrn slope of the cont.
nent of little value TO US or to the world.
Aud we owe a need of Kindness to our
loyal and faithful brethren in the insurgent
States-mauy thousands in number-who,
overborne by the ruthless and despotic
sway which ever presides over rebellion,
have been forced to stand mute and tear
full spectators of their couutry's iishonor,
and to accept the bitter choice of impov-
erishment, perhaps death, or silent sub
Il. L.. u
prostration they will be the first to well
come. Let not the glorious old Stars and
Stripes in their victorious progress South.
ward, be the harbinger to them Of the loss
of what the pirate flag they hat, had spn-
red. Let them not be reduced to the level
of the traitors who have dominated their
land, nor made to feel that the country, for
whose triumph they havs sighed and pray
ed, beggars while it embraces them.
But let it ever be manifest that rebellion
cannont be otherwise subducd, and that
we are shut up to choose between our no.
BILE country, with its priceless constitution,
and Slavery, then, with every fiber of my
heart and every energy of my nature,
will pass along the universal cry of all
parties Down With Slavery ForeVcr~ I
would then no more hesitate which to
choose, than, in view of death, / would ball
ance between eternal Lille and eternal per-
ditiou. But, mnnifestly, the time is not
yet, when the American people must make
that choice. They have but just got ready
to strike the rebellion, and already the
monster recoils and stsggers under stun
ming blows. The power of this staiwart
nation is but beginning to be felt. The
hundred days which began at Fort Henry,
and have already recorded the glory of
Fort Douelson. and, with Gods help, will
be vivid with an nnbroken series of like
achievements, may suffice to strike of the
hydra's hundred heads but whether at
their end or after. tue nation will come
forth from the conflict 'Jnir as the moon,
clear as the sun, and terrible as an army ieith
banners"
Let US be patient like Washington, and
We shall triumph as Washington ] Let