Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-17

u4''"u Vi western Virginia through the next
ten years. 1t was generally understood
that an effort would have been made in the
State Convention of 1855 to iuaugurate
steps for new State. AT any rate that
question would have come up. 1t would
have been fiery struggle, that we all know.
The debates. in the Conventions of ls29-'3O
and of 1861, and between times in the leg
islatiTe hall at Richmond, show how i'll
concealed was the deep rooted uncongeni-
atty and Jealousy that existed between
Eastern and Western Virginia. We were
people radically separated from Eastern
Virginia. We had nothing that was uatu-
raj in common with her people. Their poll
icy was not our policy, any moro than their
climate and their soil aud their provincial
isms and their systems OF production and
labor were not ours. They wanted to fas-
ten 'heir views of the elective franchise on
us, their programme OF taxable exemptions,
their policies of internal improvements
We were unwilling. We were democratic,
they were wholly aristocratic. They were
steadily Teering to property power, and we
to Individual power in the State. At each
succeeding conflict We wreuched some
thing from them, but always at the expense
of the feeling between the two sections.
This was the condition in which the re-
belliOu found US. That was the great event
that rallied our people on the one side as
it rallied Eastern Virginia on the other
Then men saw fully who had only partly
seen before, how wide was the dissimilari-
ty between us and the East. Seeing this
and also seeing themselves dissolved by the
choice of Eastern Virginia (made despite
our Votes aud our protests, in joining her
self to another flag and to Numerically
antagouistic system of sympathies aud in.
terests) from all governmental relation with
her, our people with unprecedented unan-
unity realized that it was necessity as
well as choice with them to enter at once
upon the consummation of their long can
vassed intention to, some day or other be-
come a new and free State. And SO the
work was commenced, and to-day it is AL
most completed. But single step re-.
mains for US. We have with a patience
and :pertinacity that have commended our
efforts to the most generous sympathy of
all the loyal States gone through all the
tedious and expensive prelimiuaries We
held convention in May 1851 another in
June 1861; and another in August 1861 ;
and another in November 1861. Each was
precedent and stepping stoue to the
other. We took vote after vote on the diff
:erent steps, and each time the people over
whclm,ugIy sustained the advance move
ment for a new State There was no fall
teriug, but on the contrary a steady, reso-
> lutte. uuyieidiug step onward. The people
never once tired, and despite all delays aud
all yexations aud discouragcmenis they
hNveprcssed ''onward right on" all the time.
l To day we are at the gate. Shall we en-
ter in? Will the great procession enter
into their rest and enjoy the fruits of their
labor? or will they in full sight of tho great
J cninymont arao. %-rn. "od nroat destiny
- awaiting them, turn about, relax aad re-
verse alltheir efforts, aud descend the long,
circuitous and stony and weary way I'M
which they have slowly toilcd for so many
! months?
) People of West Virginia. stripped of all
its DISCUSSES, this is the choice that this
day is presented to you.
: Suppose sou hesitate and faltcr and turn
: about now. Where will you go to ? Where
! will you descend to The multitude that
have with such patience and through such
trihulations come up to the gate, will never
turn about and descend in like manner as
they have toiled up to their present posi-
ton. No, indeed The ranks will break.
Disorgauizations will seize hold upon our
people as with panic. Coherency will
fee as Mt touch. The relapse will be
something fearful to contemplate. We
have cause to dread it as we would dread a
pestilence. 1t will indeed be nothing but
a political and social pestilence, and one
that will as surely sweep our people into
auarchical disorganizatiou aud disintegro.
ton as that to-movrow's sun will rise
The great bond of coherency-tbe bond
that makes our people to-day present a
compact loyal organization before the coun.
try is the New State. Break it and you
scatter the people like chat. They 90 each
man his own way, AMI all to a condition of
Intestine crimiuation and chaos.
This is the dark side of our future pic
ture. 1t is not the one, however, that
meets our gaze when we look through the
light of our hopes and expectations
Through that light we see great, united,
happy people, delivered from the accumu.
lated oppression and mal-administration
and legislative hardships of half century.
They at last tiud themselves homogeneous.
No selfish, uncongenial, exacting and one
sided interest cramps and bears down all