Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-06-22

original Constitution OF the OLaLe1 huu
have clung to it with the utmost tenacity
ever since; they have collected heaYysta1es
from US, and have spent large sums IN the
construction of railroads and canals in the
East, but have withheld appropriations
from the West; they have refused TO make
any of the modern improvements by which
trade and travel could be carried on from
the one section to the other, thus treating
US az strangers; our people could not get
to the Capital of their State by any of the
usual modes of travelling. without gong
through the State of Maryland and the
District of Columbia. The East and the
West have always been two peoples. There
has been little intercourse between them,
either social or commercial. Our people
seldom visit the East for pleasures The
farmers do not take their stock, grain, wool
and other agricultural products there to
sell; the merchants do not GO. there to sell
or buy; the manufacturers have no market
there; indeed. we have had nothing to
do with the Eastern people, except that
our Senators and Delegates have gone
to Richmond to sit in the Legislature,
and our Sherifs have gone there to
pay in the revenue as an annual trib
ute from this section of the State for the
inequality and unfairness with which we
have always been treated by them. Our
markets, our trade and our travel are North
aud West of Virginia, through natural
channels, or those constructed through the
enterprise of our own people, or such
means as they could procure. The noun
tains intervene between US, the rivers rise in
the mountains and run towards the North
west; and, as If to make the separation
more complete, Eastern Virginia adopted
the fatal doctrine of secession, while the
West spurned and rejected it as false and
dangerous in the extreme. Thus nature,
our commerce, travel, habits, ussOCiAITUus,
and interests, all-all say that West Vir-
GINA should be severed from the East
And now, to-day after many long and wea-
ry years of insult and injustice, calminat-
ing on the part of the lst, in an attempt
to destroy the Government. we have the
proud satisfaction Of prOcluiming toithose
around us that we are seperate State in
the Union.
Our State is the child Of the rebellion;
yet our peace, prosperity and happiness,
and, not only ours, but that of the whole
country, depends on the speedy suppress
ion of this attempt to overthrow the Gov
eminent of our fathers; and it is my duty,
as soon as these ceremonies are closed, TO
proceed at once to aid the Federal author-
tiles in their efforts to stay its destructive
hand. . do not intend to insult your 10y
atty or intelligence by discussing before
you to-day the dogma of secession. Its
bitter fruits are to be seen all around
us. 1t is like the poisonous Upas
tree that blights and withers every
thing that comes within its Influence. We
have seen and felt enough Of it to know
that it is fraught with evil, and that con.
tinually. The politicians of many of the
Southern States, having an inUrdinate de-
sire for place and power, Nnd it becoming
apparent that the great North West was
improving and increasing in population so
rapidly that the controlling influence ofthe
Government was soon surely to be with the
free States, and that the South must sur
render power which they had so long ex-
erted to majority of the people according
TO the principles of our Government, they
became desperate, and determined if
they could no longer control, they would
destroy the Government. . By fraud aud
talsehoOd, and by iucendiary speeches, they
Influenced the public mind in the South
and induced them to believe that they were
suffering great injury from the General
Government; that the rights of the South
were not only disregarded, but trampled
under foot; that Mr.. Lincoln was section
nj President, and thntt'is election was the
GROWING act OF insult and injustice; that
ii they suom'ttedto it they were reduced to
q state of degradation worse than slavery
iitseiti andi fearing that the people still had
some reverence and zrespeGs fosfl'o zoe
5e;.SSo' taey ln aIi t"uget tue
,...sn;ess uocttine 'nat peacaDie secession
""S III I Sonson" .t w.'n Tue Eonst'tut!on'
anu "osolveu lnem rom all thelr ohllgn
alo9s 10 support tDs government ,', All this
nuu tnucn more OF IKE character they
s"us s,'a uutsl tney succeeded 10 prevailing
gu Tue "u!nor'I'es ID many OF Tue states to
~ !, int into ne S S1G astept 10 car
~ II into execution, ana mus tNey lnaugu-
t ray !. W. war OF reoeilon' ana have prosecu-
.s 80. :. 'or over Two years with zeal and
e e"e,sy "3 s Oh osttef cause: IL has
ns ss1a 'c%rluL PrcPorIIons' ana 1t de-
ln%us M Tue energies OF the Government
aaa. anu Oh tue loyai people TO de-
's". ITS F".''"uS purposes
Under these circumstances what course