Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-23

tueW esluolIsueu IN q locality more con-
tiGuous TO the scene of their operations.
kASAwHA VALLEY.
CHARLESTON, Jan. 10th, 1863.
Admission OF West Virginia.
Editors Lntelligencer:
The President having signed the bill for
the admission of West Virginia, as new
State, formed out OF and with the consent
of old Virginia, and it being universalIv
admitted that the conditions annexed to the
new State by the'Senate's amendment. will
be ratified by the people,, SO that the now
State has become a fixed fact, the minds
and hearts of all loyal men In Old Virginia
are anxiously turned to otheineuiries, Mwhep
will our government be re- established in
our minds Where is our, government to
restdef Where and when,is our Legisln-
tpre to convene? now long will it be be-
lore our loyal people are to, be emancipated
from the rule of military government, and
De once more restored to the rights and
privileges of free citizens of free Slater"
When tbs known that the loyul men who
have braVed the terrors of secession tyran-
ny, have been brought within the Union
lines only to be subject To army officers,
who profess to decide according to law
except when they think proper to decide
otherwise" whereby good aud true white
men are made to hold life. liberty and pro.
perty at the mere whim aud caprice of ar
bitrary officers appointed by Federal au-
thorlties,-a condition of things which
would place them below the level
of slaves, none of whom ever held their
lives at the mere pleasure of q master
when it is known, that after losing nine
teuths of our property by the present re-
bellton-the greater part Of The remaining
tenth is filched from US by unfeeling Sharp
ers, who receive u monopoly of training at
the hands of our appointed rulers-it is not
strange that every true Union man at the |
East is looking with anxious irnpatience to |
the day when he shall be liberated from
slavery and be again restored to freedom, |
like his fellow w-citizens in other parts of the |
Union, uuder the shadow Of his. own State |
Government.
West Virginia having become substan-
tall y another Commonwealth trust the !
dayis not far distant when we shall hail the !
advent of Gov. Peirpoint aud our Legisln-
ture in our midst. This would ensure our
rights and liberties, for which we have now !
no guarantee. Tue foreshadowiug of the /
times Indicate most portentiously that
while the negroes are to be set free-the |
free Union men of the South are TO be re.
duced to Slavery without the restoration of |
civil authority in counties arrested from the
enemy What greater slavery can be en-.
tailed on any people than be ruled by Pro.
vost Judges and Marshals, appointed from
inferior grades OF the army, who profess to
be instructed to decide according to law
except when they think proper to decide
otherwise? No RomaB PraOtor or TuFkish
Cadi ever ruled an euslaved province upon
principles more arbitrary and tyranuical. |
Are we to be denied the American citi-
zen's privilege of voting for our own rul-
ers Are we to have no voice in the cleo
ton of our Legislature, our Governor, aud /
our PresidehF9 1t is high time that our
minds were set at rest on these vital ques- /
tions? The surest and readiest way of do
ing this is to establish our State Govern /
ment in our midst; then shall we feel that
all our sacrifices for the Union have not I
been in vain; then shall we know that the !
Union is our protection and the sheet an {
chor of Ous safety.
But should different course be pur-
sued-should the high.handed tyranny be
dared OF dIsfTAnchisiug Virginia and the
betide the party by which so
diabOlical u deed shall be attempted Then
may we expect to see one of the rival par
ties OF the North arrayed against our po-
litical rights in the next Presidential eIec-
tlon, and the other arrayed in their sup
port: The party that should succeed By ex-
Guiding our vote, could be regarded but as
usurpers and revolutionists, and the train
of horrors that would follow from q dis
puted claim to the Presidency no tongue
can tell, and no Imagination adequately |
depict.
Give us, then, our Legislature at Norfolk
or Acknowledgements civil government in |
every county now within the Federal lines;
restore to US the liberty of I" eating our
bread by the sweat of our brows;" deliver
us from sharpers and smonopolists /; permit
us to assume again the port and statue of
Independent citizens, and the Union will
Vindicate its constitutional claim to our
allegiance, and render tardy justice to those
who have passed through the fiery furnace
rather than bow the knee to the Moloch of |
treason which Davis aud his confederates
have set up in our midst.
OLD DOMINION.
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