Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-08-12
The Selection or candidares for Con


Sress-
In selecting candidate for Congress at
time ike the present, our first and chief
est care ough, to be TO do the fullest meas
ure OF Justice 10 the Government. then,
ue1t, the fullest measure of justice TO the
list of candidates All personal and party
considerations are as dust in the balances.
The only test ought to be, first, the fidelity
OF the candidate 10 the government. and,
second. his ability 20 aid the government.
II We fsil q: this time in the selection of
the RICH; men TO represent West Virginia
10 Congress, We fail az an exceedingly
dangerous juucture. The mex, Congress
has Speaker 10 elect, and that Speaker
viii have the appointment of committees,
The constitution of which committees will
be vital to the war. Every parliamenta-
riaa knows the importance Of the Speak
ship at all times, but especially at time
ike the present. The contest for the pc
siGiOn will be very close Several months
sgo sewell Informed newspaper predicted
that it would hinge on the elections in
West Virginia. This responsibility is
what makes our selection of candidates a
grave matter OF national concern and,
therefore. it is that we yesterday threw
out the caution TO Union men to see to it
that they did not through multiplicity of
candidates endanger the success of gen.
nine ticket
No doubt the Copperheads are watching
their chance. We have had already a sig
futf
not afford to disregard that intimation.-
In our opinion 20 time should be lost in
setting in train the preliminaries for Dis
trict Convention. In no other way can we
combine and concentrate the Union vote
upon proper man. We can, ia body
of that sort, make selection from all Who
in the meantime may offer, after we have
heard and read all that eau be said in favor
of each man, and we can also lay down q
platform of principles to the world and
thus let the country and our fellow citi-
Gems know just for what and tor whom
they are voting. Whoever is selected
ought to be pledged 10 the strongest posi-
sibIe manner to the support of the Gov
eminent. Let US not dare to run an
equivocal man on equivocal grounds, but,
on the contrary, let US know our man
exactly and understand precisely what we
may expect of him in all the contingencies
that are likely to grow out of the war dur
ing his term OF service.
The hearts of the people OF West Virginia
are strongly in sympathy with the presen:
Administration. Indeed it would be strange
if they were not, since it has been the hes,
friend they ever had, and since in the fu-
ture not less than in the past we are to
look to the Administration for fostering
care and protection. The enemies of the
government, in the last Congress, were the
enemies of Western Virginia. Look at the
vote for admission and see that fact. All
doubtful men ought to be forever mistrust-
ed and suspicioned after scanning that
vote. There is trouble ahead for us IT we
do not take cognizance OF the signs of the
times. Our hope for escape lies in the de-
termination of our people to crowd close
around the present Administration. five
stand by it, it will stand by us. 1t is the
best friend we have. Our members ought
to be its most devoted adherents. Depend
upon 1t u strong effort is going to be made
to break down this Administration in the
next Congress, and that being done the
next step will probably be an effort to uu-
do the admission of West Virginia as
State in the Union.
We bring this matter to the attention
of the people of West Virginia thus early
in order to thoroughly arouse them to the
importance Of the approaching election OF
Congresmeu. Let US have no confusion
and consequent decentralization at the elev-
enth hour of the canvass, but let US now
take time by the forelock and make all
ueedfuI preparations for the selection aud
election of men who will truly represent
the new State, and who will stand by the
friends OF West Virginia in Congress in all
dangers that may threaten either the gov
ernment or the new State What we have
most to fear is that class of meu cloakiug
themselves under the name OF .ieonserrd-
tires" Beware of that name people OF
West Virginia. In it turks a deadly poi
son. Outside its appearance is fair and
captivating, but inside it is full of subtle
deception, hostility aud pro- slavery malig-
nifty, the bud that is ever ready TO burst
into disIoyalty. Our new State has been
born into the world free State, and a
free State it viii ever remain, il it
remains a State at all 1t is no,
for pro slavery men TO represent West Yir-
gtnia in Congress. 1t is not tor those whose
political principles and sympathies date
back OF the new State aud who babitually
carry about them all the prejudices and