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

toGratlc sentiment of Eastern Virginia,
What real share, so far as mind is con.
eetneo, Sestrs does aS any man suppose the peas
will take in the affairs of State?'i Yes,
| sir, this was the sentiment of the Tidewa
ter and Piedmont districts of the State at
that t1me-an assumption of social and
political superiority based on slave labor
and slave property. Nor has this senti
ment at all abated. 1t was at the bottom
of the present rebellion. It ranl;les to-
day in the bosom of the aristocracy of
East Virginia, and of the whole South,
more intensely than ever before. Mari,
the language of the Richmond Who of n.
late date. 1t is but the index of what is
called in East Virginia tt1'he ruling class -
. We have committed many errors in
our treatment of the Yankees. Not the
least has been in regarding them as some
thing better than they really are. They
are by nature menials, and fitted only
tor menial duties. They are in opei.
and .fGgrdnt t1sStrrectton against their
natural lords and masters, the gentle
men OF the South. In the exercises oftheir
assumed privileges they deport themselves
with all the extrayagant airs, the insolence,
the cruelty, the cowardice, and love of ra-
pine which have ever characterized the
revolt of slaves. The former leniency of
their masters only serves to aggravate the
terocity of their natures. When they ara
again reduced to subection, and taught to
know their place, we must take care to
put such trammels about them that they
Will never have an opportunity to play
these tricks again. .''-R Richmond Vhid.
Against these arrogant assumptions and
the policy growing out of them, we have
been warning for the last forty years.
Sir, rejoice tosee here my distinguish.
ed friend. (Col. Smith) We'll do / re.
member his noble defense of West Vir-
glnla Ill the Convention of 1851. Well do
l remember how his manly, honest voice
was raised in the Capital of the State
against the despotism of the ernmaior-
lty based on slavery, when that majority
were attempting to fasten on him and his
children, and upon us all, the nefariOus
principles of the mixed basis of represen-
tation.
Do not these perpetual conflicts and an
tagonisms of opinions and policy consti-
titute unanswerable reasons for distinct
municipal organizations of the two sec
tlonsY Do they not point to q division of
the State as means of peace, and of
establishing harmonious relations between
the two sections, by leaving each free to
regulate its own municipal concerns ac-
4
Look at the map of Virginia. All over
the State east of the Alleghanies YOU see
a network of railroads, affording every
needtul facility of transportation and ira
vel. West of those mountains there is not
a mile of such facilities constructed ON
State account, or by the authority of tho
State. Even the representatives in our
Legislature have been compelled to travel
far away through other States and districts
IN order to reach our own Capital. Do
we actually love these embarrassments and
disabilities SO well that we are determined
to entail them on our children forever?
But, sir, am told that all the mighty
advantages and blessings of separate
counterbalanccd by the evil of = what?
What is the unfortunate drawback in these
magnificent prospects of West Virginia?
Why, sir, it is alleged that we shall be
Oyerrun with free negroesl ] have learn
ed that this objection has been seriously
urged by some menr-that there are those
in our midst, who have actually ventured
so far upon the supposed credulity. and
want OF common sense of the people, as
to address to them such an argument as
this Sir, beg pardon for this style and
tone OF expression. | mean no offence to
any person. But | confess that am un-
ape 10 restrain the expression of min
gled surprise and indignation at this bald
attempt to'abuse the minds of the epeople
by tallacy SO transparent. Why, sir,
where are the free negroes to come from
that are to overrun us? Not from East
Virginia. The division of the State will
not affect the status of slavery east of the
A!leghenles # the free negroes in East
Virginia 1P7 n: have hitherto declined to come
to West Virginia, why should they come
now or hereafter? Will they come from
Ohio2 What is there in West Virginia
that would attract free negroes from 0hio2
Would they come from Pennsylvania p
There is no more reason why they should
abandon Pennsylvania than Ohio to come
into West Virginia. Where, where, ask
again, are the free negroes tn cnmn from,