Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-17

victiou WAS then that the success and
prosperity of the new State depended upon
stopping at the ridge of the Alleghanies,
aud Of making ours free State; and the
votes of the delegates from Hampshire aud
Hardy afterwards, upon the emancipation
clause, confirmed that conviction.
We believed then, and are confident now,
that that was the only way to harmonic
the views of our own people and Congress
so as to insure success and the failure in
this is the very rock on which the enemies
have hoped, all along, to wreck tue entire
new State project.
The instructions by the people, as pro-
posed, and the fidelity and courage on the
part Of the members Of the Legislature that
reside on this side Of the AlleghAnies, can
alone save It from such q wreck.
One word more and we say it with pro-
found Difference aud respect, touching the
important duties it will impose upon these
members of the Legislature. Whilst they
are members Of Legislature which repre-
| sents all the loyal people OF Virgiaia, they
will be under the instruction OF their i'm
mediate constituents the loyal voters OF
the Cis-Alleghanies. We should scorn to
ask or expect them TO do any act that is
not just and honorable to the whole State.
But if the Instructions shall be such as to
evinee conviction in the minds of a ma.
| Iority Of their loyal constituents that the
gradual emancipation proposed is neces-
sary to secure the success of tle new State
in Congress, they will not shrink from the
| responsibility OF adding it absolutely, as
the authorized agents of snch constituents,
OF subject TO a subsequent ratification by
the people.
The idea that the people on this side the
Alleghanies ought to shape the internal
structure of their government to suit the
tastes, prejudice or whims of outsiders ex-
cept so tar as shall be necessary to insure
the approval of the Legislature and Con-
gress with their own best interests simp-
" absurd aud will only excite the dcris-
ion ofthe old and other border States, thus
| sought to be coueiliatcd. Let the people
simply be true to themselves aud their own
best interest, aud they will secure the es-
teen and respect of the loyal and good
everywhere,
We perceive that the Schedule makes it
1 the duty of the Commissioners to submit
the Constitution 10 the qualified voters of
hfty-one, instead of the forty-oue counties
which comprise, according to theordiuauce,
/ 1.-The proposed new STATE" and also the llih
/ Section of the Schedule commands the
Commissioners in case the Convention shall
be re.conveued, to take the necessary steps
TO secure a representation from the my
one counties in the Convention, all of
which is in direct violation of the Ordinauc
passed the goth of August last and there
tor void and, il our reasoning is correct,
the Legislature has no power to give it va.
hdity. These provisions were inserted in
the Schedule after we LEFT the Convention.
/ What pity, that after rearing so goodly
structure the friends and the foes should
have united in keeping out the key stone
of the arch, on which the whole depends.
The Legislature, IN obedience to instruc-
lions we confidently hope aud expect to SEE
given, viii have the high honor of putting
IN its place the 'stoue which the builders
rejected, and thus avert the impending
fall of structure that has cost so much
and on which so much depends.
Let the people then rise in the majesty
and strength, with which God aud the
wise and good fathers have clothed them
vote, one and all, for the Consultation and
the proposed instructions aud if any enc.
mics oppose, remove them.