Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-27
IFOE tie IntelllEenoer.
The Nov ConstItntIon.


After careful examination of this locu
ment, ] must say am well pleased with it,
excepting the clause in relation to slavery.
shall not pretend to counsel what the
iriensts Of II new State should do in the
dilemma into which they have been en-
Trapped, but If a few plain remarks can lie
OF any benefit, or will succeed in calling
out some able friend 10 the cause, who will
be successful in making our dnty plain in
the present trouble, they are welcome to
them
The clause to which refer, has been
called a compromiae. But is there in it a
eoauession of single point or privilege
heretofore enjoyed blythe slnvcholder2 Il
simply says that no more slaves shall be
brought into the State. This'is no surren-
der OF any practical privilege enjoyed be-
fore, MS Virginia has not for century
needed to Import slaves. She. raising
them for sale, never desired to buy. The
clause is, then, merely subterfuke to
make the public believe that some sacrifice
has been made in order to meet the free
State mon.
We ask that slavery shall be placed in
such position that we can Claim to be
virtually - free State. willing, in order to
itaEe nGay .cvory appearance of =harshness,
tlatsuS bnNl extinction shalllnot occur I'M
til ia the life time of ON, children, whilst
tins clause leaves us to raise and sell and
trathe IN slaves tor all time toSome. And
does this arrangement deserve the name Of
compromise 1t is such II compromise as
that system ever proposes.
II we examine the closing proceedings of
tne Convention, We will see that q number
of that body were opposed To a new State
4nuer any consideration whatever, and
whose whole endeayor was to defeat tho
movement They knew (what Is gener.
etX believed by the public that Congress
VIII never admit US with that Constitution,
tnns makitg too slave States out of one,
ANA they souGne to strike the final blow
6y 9d1opFning the Convention without day.
the friends Of the new State, some in ia
Nof OF the proposed Constitution and
some 10 favor Of a free State, by uniting
their forces, have provided TOR this ex-
pected obstacle by leaving in the hands of
e certain committee, the power to re-as-
sTet i npte the Convention, should the LegislR-
IuEe refuse a separation, or Congress re-
1oSs edmittahSe into the Unlou.i
NOW, what should the friends Of a free
State do in the coming elecIion9 / for
one an. &C . loss to know. hope we may
nave this matter discussed until we can act
adytsedly and in concert.
Let each voter ask himself this cues
ton Would vote for the admission of
West Virginia with slave Constitution,
mad 1 a seat In CongressP II, bearing
A1ls as Congressman must, as Affecting
the national interests, we are forced to an.
sWer IN the negative, then / ask, is{it
right, IS 1t generous TO ask Congress to do
that which We would not do if We were in
their place.
Suppose We vote for this Constitution
unanimously aud Congress refuses to adj
NIT us, knowing that alarge portion 1t not
. majority In the proposed new State, are
Eopposed 70 this slavery clause, knowing
that the privilege of voting upon that
feature In separate resolution Of graduRI
emancipation had been, denied, the people,
Who win be accountable for the agitation.
that win epsqe for the cry that viii ibe
raised about Cougr essional tyranny Oh the
one hand, and Of popular sovereignty ON
the othArSG ls3sEsF = jss}sfys -
Suppose again We vote that eonstit tuition
ldoWn, or at least show that is far from be-