Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-02-23

who penned allsthese bills and drew +bon
| up. He is the man who investigated al
the precedents to see how far yon conlC
go in this direction. Itswaslto his Incl
mind that we were indebted for the fac
that there were no flegel or constitutional
barriers in the way of the proposition
We may, therefore, confidently refer I,
Mr.. Carhle's bill as containing his delhi
crate opinionsof the constitutional powe,
of Congress IN the premises, and of III,
expediency and propriety of soiexercisint
that power.
The first section of this billi exactly a,
follows - ~
4 Reit enacted 6y the Senate and Hous,
of Representatives otthe United States ol
america IN Congress assembled. That the
State of West Virginia shall,he admitted
into the Union on an equal footing will
the original States in all respects whatever
upon, the following conditions, viz:
First. That here shall be eluded with
IN the said State of West n Virginia, IN nd.
dition to the counties already enumerated
insthe preamble to this act, the following
counties, as laid off and defined by the
Legislature of the State of Virginia, to.
wit Berkeley, Jefferson, Clark, Freder,
ick, Warren, Page, Shenandoah, Rocking
ham, Anguish, Highland, sBath, Rock
'itSe' 1oITIourt; TSt Z SEGlg ana A!lleghany'
coIu Aste cN1 t4e y GonVentlon herelnat-
ser s pro Pr9Viueo I. Tor shall, IN the constitution
lteIle9 ~ ~ IN MAKE provision that from
anu 3llter the 1o9rth Gay OF july eighteen
nTllureu III ana slXty-three, the children OF
Sli Saves porn "i.nln the hmlts OF SAID
P9ti1Se aT5 sllall oe lree' :.
inis sectlon 1mpnes that It was compe-
Gent ior congress IN the admission of West
J. Virginia, 1g11, 10 make II fundamental condl-
t!on, that large additional section of ter
rltory, embracing sixteen counties, with a
Whlte " 1l3e poPuiatlon OF more than hundred
thousand ana slave population OF thirty
OF OF loTIy tnousand, should belncluded. 1t
also = ueclares t9at Congress had the power
10 make our ADMISSION dependent on the
anenGInenE e1C,I % OF our fundamental law, so
!LlaG ~ I!e cnllGreh OF az 9ll slSyes born with
III n, the limits OF sad State shall be free.
ihese are certa1niyj very important con-
fdltlons. do not say that Congress had
not It, the power. to prescribe them.
Inc second section OF this bill Of Mr..
Garlic, Mr. President, L confess looks Il
llttle .'dlctatorlal !" Tor, after providing
1or an electlon tor delegates to frame an
entire new constitution Tor this proposed
enlarged new state, ltprescrlbeS the quail
lncatlons s OF the delegates to the COnsti-
t9tlonal LUZ ConYention, and also the number
o. 9l 1eleg9tes eac9 county should be enti-
tIed TO eiect2 ana hnally provides that if
the !! people Should ratlty the new Constitu-
I non formed. .Dy these delegates, then the
Fres1dent OF the United States, shall, by
proclamation, announce the fact; and
there1pon, with houtany presentation of this
new new C0nStltutlon TO Congress, the new
esaIe el5 s2atl, 3g .1l1So tGctQ, Aecome member
l.i oI5!ne Gnlon. I'm confess Fcan hardly sub
scrlDe I tnese latter PROVISIONS as within the
Gonsututio4aI power OF Congress. But
men, SIR! nave to acknowledge that /
nave n ave hotlnVesng9ted TINS section with the
%nlcn was, Doubtless bcstow-
eo upon IL by Mr.. sCarl1le. lsltnot strange
passing strange-Mr. President, that
any person should be eltherso ignorant Of
the history OF his own country, or, so far
u the Elctlm Pt prejudice or passion, as, i'll
the ! lace OF all, these facts and precedents,
the Act OF Congress admit
11ng the state OF west Virginia INTO the
Cnlonl as new pohcy and an invasion Of
the rights OF the people?
ButNlr. President, the real objection to
this measure entertained by those opposed
TO IL, is, doubt not, that If the amend
ment proposed by Congress shall be adop-
ted, West Virginia will become a free
State: And as this is a question of great
practical Importance, | shall be pardoned
Tor r. Ibes;ttowlng uPoni ita brief consideration.
Shall.we, IN forming this new State. or
ganise it as free State, or as q slave
state! Shall we have only free labor, or
shall we have slave labor also? shall
not say whether slavery is morally right
or morally wrong. l shall make no argu
ment upon the morality of slavery.
shall speak OF it only in reference to the
true tI political economy of the new State.
Ihe question is, notwhether slavery ought
to be abolished in East Virginia, where
sed to disturb the institution there or else i
where beyond the limits of the new State,
within which there are only or 5000
slaves. All ,concede the right of each
State to regulate its own domestic institu-
TONS: And in the exercise of this uu-