Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-31

contempt induces idleness, and all its at
iend"n; edeminacy. vice, and worthless
ness; that the waste Of the products of the
land, nay of the land itself. is bringing
poverty uJon all its inhabitants; that this
poverty and the sparceness of our popula
ton, either prevent the institution of
schools through the country, or keep them
10 the most lauguid aud inefficient condi-
ton and that the same causes most obvi.
ously paraliLe all our schemes aud efforts
for the needful improvements OF the coun-
try. These things are necessarily pressing
themselves upon our feelings and obserya-
ton; aud it would be easy to enlarge the
melancholy catalogue. But there are
other considerations claiming our atten.
ton.
1t is conceded, on all hands, that Vir-
GINA is in state of moral and political re.
procession among the states of the confed.
eracy. Nor is this to be wondered at,
when to the foregoing considerations, it
be added that half of our population is es.
timated, in tue political scale, at but three.
htths of its actual weight. We are often
upbraided by q comparison of our coudi-
ton with that OF New York and Ohio, TO
which all the other states which are ex-
emp;ed from the curse of slavery, might
well be added. And with shame We feel
ourselves constrained to bow to the humil-
isting comparison. We view our beloved
state, blessed by the God of nature with a
variety of useful and lovely capabilities
unsurpassed by those of any other couoirv
on the globe; we view it not merely as sta
tionary, while her Sister states are advanc-
ing, bat as positively declining 1t is Pc
culiaTly the proVlCe Of such statesmen as
compose your honorable body, to detect
the causes of the national calamity and
degradation, and TO provide and apply the
| remedy. That the causes heretofore fire.
quentiy assigned are the true ones, we DO
not believe. If they have any effect, as
possibly they may, it must be extremely
small and partial. Wehumbly suggest our
belief that the slavery which exists, and
which, with gigantic strides, is gaining
ground amongst US, is in truth, the great,
| efficient cause of the multiplied evils which
". all deplore. We cannot conceive that
there is any other cause sufficiently opera.
| tive 10 paral!ze the energies of a people
SO magnAnimous, TO neutralIze the bless
ings OF Providence included in the Gift of
Il land SO happy in its soil, its climate, its
minerals and It's waters; aud to auuul she
manifold advantages of our republican
freedom and geographical position. II
virginia has zlready fallen from her high
estate, and If we have assigned the true
cause OF her fall, it is With the utmost
anxiety that We look 10 lhe future, to the
fatal termination of the scene As we
value our domestic happiness, as our hearts
yearn Tor the property of our offspring,
rs we pray 10: the guardian care oftGe Al
mighty over our country, we earnestly in
quire what shall be done to avert tho i'm
pending ruin? The efficient cause of our
caiamiEles is vigorously increasing 10 mag
ni;ude and potency, while we wake and
while we sleep. The outlets, for draining
of a portion o: this pestiferous population
OF slaves, are fAs, CLOSING agaias. us. In
| the meantime our white people are remOy-
ing in multitudes, to distant regions: and
those who remain seem destined 10 become
martyrs TO their love of Virginia, exposed
to foreign enemies, to civil feuds, and ia
| domestic insurreciions, without the pbysi
cal ability Indispensable to their own pres-
CREATION. And shall we, alas! reduce our.
selves TO the necessity Of invoking aid from
the Forth and west? We will not press
this appalling topic any further; but with
the intense sOlicitude recommend il to rho
serious consideration Of your honorable
body. We feel assured that in addressing
men OF such enlarged and liberal views
as We confidently ascribe to the members
OF your body, it must be unnecessary TO
dllate farther upon ;his mournful and mos,
interesting subject. We deem it pruhent
too, not 10 push this memorial into greater
detail; aud therefore desist, only adding
our importunate prayer that you NAV devise
some constitutional provision, the fruit of
Wn'cn snail be the determination, in due
time, of the slavery which threatens with
destruction all that we hold dear and vain
BILE as people
|