Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-30

Tore indorsedr it is provided as follows:
"Such parts of the Common Law and of
the Laws of the State of Virginia, "a are in
force within the boundaries Of the State of
west Virginia, when this Constitution goes
into operation, and are not repuguant
thereto, shall be and continue the laws
OF this State until altered or repealed BY
the legislature
Mr.. Richardson is acquaiu,ed with the
foregoing section. He knows that it is
. there, jus, il the identical words aud let.
EeFs as quoted above He also knows tha,
one ofthe laws now in existence, and which
will continue in full force and effect. is that
one which il Section 82l, Chap 1913, page
$40 of The Code OF Virginia, euacrs that:
NO free negro shall! migrate into this
State"
This is an explicit, Law of the old State
and vii! be of the new State, and cAuno,
be violated any more than the laws against
stealing, murder, or crime of any sort. Mr.
Richardson knows that fact.
But further than this law, which is very
definite and explicit. Mr. Richardson is
aware that there is another law on our stat
ute book which goes farther, and provides
(see sec. LIST, chap. lO7, page 500 that
mo negro, emancipated since the frs.
! day OF May, 1906, or hsrsgftsr-or claiming
, his rigat 10 freedom undera negro so eman-
cipated, shall, after being Tvs enty one years
OF age, remain. an this STATE without lawful
/ permission
( So that it will be seen that not not only
does the existing law, and the law which
will exist forever, unless repealed, enact
that no free negroes may migrate into this
State, but, more sweeping aud restrictive
than the law of any other State, goes far
,h=r and euac;s that no descendant of any
free negro, already in tho State, shall re-
main in it, after lac comes of age, without
lawful permission"
Now if these provisions and euacrmeu,s
and stringent laws do not cover the whole
ground OF Mr.. Richardson's objection, then
no law that could possibly be devised by
the ingenuity of mortal NAN would cover
it. The Stale OF West Virginia will have
the most exclusive AID thorough anti. Tree
negro laws Of any loyal State in the Union.
Is that not enough: Will il not satisfy
Mr.. Richardson? Suppose the new State
is defeated. What better can he do7 How
VIII tina, help his case in the slightes, par
EiculaI? II such Law az we have against
free negroes will not meet his objections,
then 40 law that he or any other man can
get up, will meet il Is he content with
the present law? Has he ever clanored
for change in it? Has it not always met
the case? or course i, has. He cannot
deny that. Well then we will have the
same Law. If it answers now will it not
answer then.
So much for what Mr. Richardson said
in his card
There was thing or two that he did not
say, and considering that he spent SO much
space about small matters, it is great
wonder that he could tot see the proprie,y
of continuing on paragraph or two and
saying something about what he will admit
to be equally important matters. Why did
no! Mr.. Richardson say word or two a bout
the ta1es-about the Auditors recent re-
port-abOut the fact that under the new
State the taxes of our people will be de.
creased at east one hal, and that still we will
have an overlooking State treasury. Why
did he not say word on this subject7 The
inference will be that Mr. Richardson said
just what suited him and withheld wha, did
not suit him. He never breathed IA SYLLABLE
about the enormous deb. that Eastern Yir-
GINA, through this rebellion, has laid up in
store for us, amounting at this time to per-
haps not less than one hundred millions
He never told our people that the only
escape from that debt-the only possible
safeguard aud hope from its overwhelming
and crushing weight, was New State
Does Mr.. r. prefer that our people should
be crushed to the earth with that debt?-
Does he prefer that every working man
every hrmer-every observation-disclosures
come again under the negro rule of Eastern
Virginia, and for the privilege of being gov
erned By thattra,orious crew at Richmond
find every knife and fork-every chair and
bedstead-every pan and pot in their houses
so covered over with taxes that their very
color will be hid underneath them.
These are questions that the people will
want answered. The half way positions of
Mr.. Richars9n will not do. The people
will demand, and they have right to de-
maud, his whole position. Nothing short
of that will satisfy them 1t is matter of
the most vital interest to them. Indeed it
is matter that must determine the serious
consideration whether or no they win be
able to live in the State at all.
We cannot conclude in better terms than
to ask Sir. Richardson aud his friends to
read and consider thoughtfully the able and
statesman.like article which we published
day or two ago from the pen of Prof