The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-07-02

when we looked 10 each others faces
and we're ready to ash what would be
the next event, 10 tl8saten the deslruc,
ton of this nation and Of this section of
the State, surrounded by strong arms
and bravo hearts, you conferred upon
me the official relation that have occu,
pied TO you since that time. Ny fellow
citizens, Iconfess that then hung over
my heart the darkest pail that ever
shrouded it, We were entering upon
he fearful experiment, uusklled in tho
government! of State or the nation =
Proyidentajlyror from circumstances,
suppose, my followeil acting
with me, for the want Of better, placed
me in that position, confess l could
not see far ahead, and saw no, person
around me that could see far ahead. |
resolved on this, that from day to day,
and every day, relying on my Great Mas.
I tor for divine protection and direction,
4 would do my duty, fearless Of couse.
quences, and leave tho ycsGlt with God,
I (Applause My fellow.ciIiRens, lis not
for me to say what that action has been,
A part ofitis the history Of tho past
Step by step We have progressed, relying
on the Great Author ofour existence for
protection, and seemingly. without una.
Gnimity or counsel, Step by step, as
events developed themselves, this New
State ofWest Virginia has been brought
into existence, severed from the old State
and to day il enters upon its career ns
separate and distinct State Of this Union.
Ny fellow.cilizcns, as my last parting
word, desire not on tho present occa.
sion to brood over tho past, | desire to
look forward to The future,
You are all acquainted with tho cir.
cumstances aud the history Of tho past
that has brought your New State into
existence--that has formed you into n
distinct community. And my fellow cts
zons | would TO Cod that | was ar.
nouBcing to you that tie rebellion was
crushed out and that you could repair TO
your homes and engage in tho peaceful
vocatious of life, in developing tho re.
sources Of your New State, in cultivating
the arts ofpoucc, and doing that which
viii be calculated to raise her TO her
proper position as proud young repub.
lie among the republic Of this nation.
But my fellow. citizens cannot congrat-
ulatO you that any such prospects lies
before you. The same conspirators who
iuaugurated this rebellion for the ppr.
pose Of depriving tho workingmon Of his
rights in this nation, for the purpose Of
carrying out the great idea that the
workingmtn was only on an equality
kwith the slave and, ohght not TO purlici.
d pate IN the Goyenment Of The whole
.rspntry, those seme conspiialors are to-
ddy with their armies on your southern
border, even 4rcaleniug your neighbor-
hood and peaceful city, ovcrrunning,
carrying FIRE and sword, scourging the
citizen and his property and appropria-
Ting il to their unholly use, You sill
have to stand forth and bare your breast
and face the storm in subduing this re-
bellion for the purpose of perpetuating
the institutions of Washington, OF JEFF
erson, of A dams, of Hamilton, OF Madi-
son and Of Marshall, won by the strong
arm Of your worthy revolutionary sires,
transmitted 10 you as alegacy.-thc leg
acy Of freedom-the froest peoplo-lho
heppicst people on the face Of God AL.
, mighty's earth.
! Now my fellow citizens. the question
! orisos before every one ofyou are we to
: bow like laggard towards before these
men who have drawn the sword 10 de,
D prive us Of our rights, or are we going
5 to rally round that old time honored
} aag--(applouse) those stars and stripes,
and swear upon tho alter Of our fathers
graves that We will defend tho stars aud
the stripes and the institutions Of our
revolutionary fathers os long as We have
| breath? Freemen Of West virginia.
tnko from us that flag, which represents
: our rights and the rights Of the Ameri.
t can citizen throughout the nation, tear
0 il down, substitute tie bars and stripes
] which represent slavery as the founda-
: ton Of their government-that depriya-
b ton Of the laboringman Of bis rights, md
. what has the worlhleft worthy free
/. mou's ambition, Cheers.
+ My felIow.citizona! should like to
: continue in this strain orre@srs--'ba!i (
do not want 10 weary you. Time nd.
monishes me that have perhaps de,
Q tanned you too lonyalreaIy (clies Of no!
/, mol go on 60 only You must pardon
s me, my birth plece--tho birth place Of
. my father aad GOtb2r aFc Ai hare IN
WSstYMgiuin. AN my rights and all
r my inter rests and oil my ossoristions and
all that | have ore here with you, God
in his Providence, has called me to on
other field of action. IgO to Virginia,