Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-12-15
GOV. Pelrpolnt,s sIessage.

We are indebted to Gov. Peirpoint, of the
"otd. Domfnion,% for a copy of his message
tothe legislature just convened at2Alexan q
dria. IL is Rostlystaksn up With a eonsid-
GRAFTON aud discussion Of 1be. past, present
and future relations OF the State over
which he prssid est to The National govern
ment, and,fs an able document throughout.
If possible The. Governors anti-slavery zeal
q is more positive and dsmonstrative than
when he was with US. He tells the people
there that they have nothing to expect in
thelway of peace or prosperity until they
get rid of the debris of slavery still left
among them. We quote:
Inthe Providence ofGod, you are assem- .
bled at mOmentous period in the history
of this ancient Commonwealth. a large
portion of the wealthy and educated. with
most of the professional men Of the State,
have Joined the rebellion. Twill not offend
your good sense by entering into an argu.
ment to prove that slavery Is, the causeiof
the rebellion and the suffering consequent
upon it; and that shareholders ins.igated
and brought it on nor needlI tellyou that
there can never be any peace and unity
among the people so long as this institution
exists. Turmoil and faction will prevail
until the relation between4th master and
slave is hopelessly .sextinguishedS There
never will be loyalty to the Government of
the United States by slave-owhefs asa class
Everybody, loyal or disloyal, comedies
that slavery in this State-i is doomed 81
Then, acting upon this concession, call a
convention of loyal delegates to alter the.
State Constitution in this particular. and
declare slavery and yinVoluntarys servitude,
except for crime, to be forever abolished
In the State. The Presidents proclaim
!, tion frees all in the State except in few
counties. Without this amendment IN the.
/. Constitution. foresee endless strife and
turmoil. All the State officers are sworn
to support the Constitution of the United
States aud the laws of Virginia. Thelaws
of the State, as they now stand recognise
slavery. The officers will be called upon
for warrants to apprehend slaves and COM
nit them 10 Jail. The army of the United
States will interpose; thus a conflict will
ensue, and rebels glory in the: strife. We
must either decide to come into antago-
snism with the United States or alter our
organic law on this subject. 4 aaslss
propose this as measure OF peace -
free the slaves, and when the Stale is fully
restored, there will be no bone OF conten-
tion. The,people will atonee adapt them
selves to the new state of affairs; popula-
ton and capital, invited by our mild eli
mate, vast agricultural, mineral aud man
ufacturing resources and commercial Efacil'
tiles. will immediately flow into the State
from the North The State will emerge
from the rebellion rejuyenated, and enter
into noble and successful competition with
her sister States in all5that pertainsEto the
true greatness of free Commonwealth.
By this act, you will confer q lasting
blessing upon the laboring white elass4oi
the State who have always been treated
with Cfsrespect by the slave owners, be
cause the latter considered labor degrad-
log. j : = s.sA-. j ssttft1 . - S. ~ 4
THE Governor advises that the stay Jaw
be not re-euacted, aud that the banks be
put into a state of liquidation. Tho closing
paragraph of the Message is in the Cover
nors happiest vein, as fOllews:
The question has been asked, nWhat
will YOU do, where all the people have
gone into rebellion ~ My answer is---
aSnficient unto the day Is the evil there
Off The ancient prophet of Israel, In the
fulluess of his loyalty to the Almighty
Sovereign, exelaimeds They have ali gone
astray alter strange Gods, tberesis none
holy Ieft in the land, no mot one.n But he,
who sees the hearts of men, EepliedF-
IThere are seven thousand In Isteel who
have not bowed the knee TO BaAl, SO II
is 10 Virginia; I have eltahle4ntormAtton
from q large portion of the State that, as
soon as the domestic violence rs suppress
:. cd, there will be more thAn'e enough OF ca
pablo men who have never bowed 70 Sc
cession, 10 welcome and carry on. the gov
erimknt of the State and Of each county
thereof. ! 20 sfiE /
The, Great seal, ofSVVest Virginia. !
Nothing more strikingly establishes the
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