Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-11-27
a Remarkable Article.

The Present Action OF the People OF
NI MSst VT M and the y Aatt3EtS q that
Three Years Ago.
! The following remarkable memorial, ad.
dressed bya number OF citizens Of Augusta
county tothe CONVENTION that met in Rich
mond in the year 1890, we find in MfIes'
Register for that year, copied from the
Stanton Spectator. II is powerful ap-
peal 10 that body to take such action then,
in regard to Slavery, as the people Of west
Virginia are endeavoring to take now. We
commend it to the thoughtful attention OF
all Intelligent citizens.
Abolition or slavery.
From the stannton Spectator.
Memorial 10 the Honorable Convention of
VirginiG, held IN ftchmond, Ia October,
1929. q fIaoIf rliaz5E sdr
Seeing that the people Of this Common
wealth have deemed it necessary to reform
our existing constitution Ofgovernment, TO
supply its defects, and to remove number
of evils which were thought 70 press heaV-
ilYupop the community We, the subscri-
bers, Inhabitants of Augusta county, can
not but Congratulate ourselves and the
public on the seleotion of so many Of our
highly distinguished citizens for. the per-
formance of these solemn and interesting
duties. Distinguished as you have been for
gravity, prudence, and wisdom, we cheer
fully accord 70 you our eonfidence, In the
important and ardpous station to which
you are called; aud trust that you will em-
ploy your wisdom and prudence in that
way which will rebound most 70 our COM
mon welfare. a..-.--... b ir.
There have been many tOpica of reform
anticipated and discussed among the ,peo-
Pile. We do not mean to meddIe with any
Of them or TO express any opinion on their
merits. Our purpose Is respectfully to call
your attention to another subject, which
we regard as one Of paramount importance;
and respecting which, ii nothieg be done,
] we apprehend that your other laboEs thust
prove comparatively nugatory. We ask
4 your attention to the existing slavery of
the negroes in our State, and 70 some con-
stitutional pFoVisionifor system of eman.
Eoipatfon.----- ---.-s-----s-.ss ------
Tits 0bisctsd, indeed that our proposition
Will give alarm to our eastern brethren,
who are Shareholders ON q larger scale than
/ we of the west, and that they arc eyen al
ready alarmed at the Anticipated power of
| the west to impose unlimited taxes ON this
species Of property. To this latter objec-
| ton we answer, that We are willing 70 see
you provide any requisite guaranty against
an undue exercise ofsu0h power, that thus
the fears of our eastern brethren may be
| quieted. We wish for nothing that is uu-
fair. To the former objection, We say that,
In a political view, We esteem slavery an
evil greater than the aggregate of all the
other evils which beset us; aud that we are
| perfectly willing to bear our proportion of
1.-The burden of removing it,. We ask fur
ther, WhaTis tho evil oi auS such alarm rs
our proposition may possibly excite, in
minds unnecessarily jeaious compared with
that of the fatal catastrophe which ulti-
mately awaits our country. aud the general
\ deprivation Of manners which slavery has
already produced and Is producing? These
We think sufficient answers to objections
mentioned above. J
In laying this subject before you, we are
not lnsensible to its magnitude or its Diff
culties. We arc aware, too, of the rooted
prCjudiees which we encounter, growing
out Of old habits and preseut real OF sup
posed interest, Nor are we indifferent to
those impuIatiols pf epth thusiAAH gnd rash.
ness which will probably be cast upon Us
in no sttnted mGas1rc But we knoF that
no great good Was ever achieved without
strenuous Efforts; aud that such Efforts
have, always been subjected 10 Teproaehful
iimputations. We must, therefore, patient
~ ySu0mtiVO guemi Conslueftug Inetut IN our
turn, MS the ebhlitious of needless passion
oIlpcompromisfng seli5hness. The aw-
ful weight of the subject forhids any ap-
proach to It In the spirit OF leSity; aud We
feetassnred that We approach sit With as
much caution as those observe who turn
away and refuse TO look It in the face, But
we Should esteem it moral aud political
coWardiee,in Us 70 remnin silent on sub
liect 30 deeply interesting to us in all our
| domestic aud political relations; one which
intsFmingles itself with every interest and
teoleeru Of life; productive, perhapssI pfra
few transient benefits, but certainly of an
inanity OF evils, now pressing upon us, and
pOrtendIng general desolation In future.
We waive, OF present, the eousiderations
of reii sipn and humanity which belong 10
this momentous subject; and present it as
a naked qnsbtion of political wisdom and
safety. WhiloFo believe that the pubic
fmoFals and general prosperity, Whieh Il Il
| the province Of government to q great ez.