Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-16

Seceue. rOmcesholders may become trait
ors, but their acts are only individual net.
\ of disloyalty, and cannot change the sta
tus of the commonwealth orrelease its peo.
Pile from their constitutional obligations
! The Government of Virginia and the Fed.
eral Government cauuot be antagonistic-
each is part of the complex system of Gov
ernment, which, when rightly exercising
seVerally the powers confided to them
work harmoniously and happily together,
aud the unlawful conduct of officers under
either cannot affect the legal position it
holds to the other; hence, your enquiry
''What will become of the Wheeling Gov
ernment ~ is easily answered. 1t is the
| Government of Virginia, and as such, a
continuation, Of that Government made by
our fathers, COmprehending State and Fed
cral Governments to mdkeit complete and
the COuspirhtOrs that once held offices un-
der that Government will scatter and fly
before the armies of the Nation, and that
portion of the State that has been ruled by
usurpatlOn and a fraud, restored to its
position under the legal Government, as it
was quo ante beLLum. t u7dH
Il know this doctrine is strange to some
persons, who think as devoutly and pious-
~ that no law can emanate from any source
but Richmond, as MahOmmedau that
Mecca is the only source of religious au-
thority. But, proceed to notice your as
sertiOn that the ordinance Of tue Wheeling
Convention "prOCeeds to provide for the
| establishment of another Government in
Virginia, not even proposing or claiming
the right to. O.suPercede the existing Govern
ment-" How any man, unless he is - mere
quibbler or secessionist, can make such an
asscrtiou, am unable to determine. The
first ordinance declares certain offices va
Gated. sHf ptlfs iast laf
The second proceeds to fill them, leav-
ing the laws and Constitution unchanged,
except in the manner and time of election,
aud the seat of government, which were
changed by the Convention "er neceSsitj,n
and forced upon it by the dangers Of the
country and the impossibility of the peo-
pie calmly celebrating, discussing aud
voting, AS is clearly the appropriate way
in which to amend tho Constitution, but
which irregularity was cured by the sub.
scquent approval Ofthe people.
The remaining ordinances relate to fl
| nance aud the preservation of the lives
and diprOPerty of the people, the public rev.
enue, &C., all of which, except the ordi-
nance, concerning the board of Public
Works, are Legislative in their character.
So that your assertion that a new govern
ment was erected ut Wheeling is without
foundation. J0 aay
Iu conclusion, IwouId suggest you are
in u moro serious dilemma than the State
will be upon restoration of the Federal
authority throughout its borders, F.
You are either u supporter of the Wheel
ing government, the Richmond govern
meut, or you maintain there is no govern.
ment in Virgininia. ~"
YOu denOunce the5Wheeling government
as "N usurped overnment'-"founded in
force, !" in conflict with the Constitution of
of the United States" Ofcourset7hat gov
erment you reject. You are impressed
with tho legality of the government at
Richmond, though you pray for success to
the Rresident of the United States, in wag-
ing the present war to maintain the integ-
rity Ofthe Union which the Richmond gov
ernment says does not exist, and exerts
every energy to destroy, thus putting your
selfin the ridiculous position Of holding
allegiance to two governments that Nre
warning on each other, direct and deadly
enemies, an absurdity only egualled by the
secessionists when they claim to be the
constitutiOnRlists of the country. Bat if L
am mistaken as to your loyalty to Rich.
mond, you then must logically maintain
there is no government in Virginia, in
which 1 Ihumbly submit you Complicate the
'COmplication" andiincrease the embarras-
meut to point am unable to follow you;
but would recommend that you call upon
the statesman who understands the "cate-
CORY of the infinite" and between you res
cue this convulsed and governmentless land
from the abyss of anarchy and the horrors
that threaten US. But suggesting before
you make your attempt that you set aside
the four government now struggling in
deadly conflict for empire, and then you
of success in your enterprise. VINDEx.