Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-09-24

j lug us, uhS BlNtu upI ouV hlheE huOtueT
/ the most sacred sateg yards Of con Institutional
freedom aud has shown Itself incompetent
to preserve free institutions. You will be
glad to eujoy liberty with the South rather
Lhrn endure despotism with the North.
When this unequal struggle began II
might have been expected that the borders
of Virginia and especially the Northwest
would, for q time, be oVeraOWSd by the
armed populations of the North. 1t was
not to have been expected that a civilized
nation would brutAliIe war by such bar
barities as you have suffered aud witness.
ed. IL was hardly credible that any among
you would have made themselves agents
OF the invaders to oppreSs their fellow
citizens by setting up petty government
under the protection of foreign bRyonets.
! We do not address ourselves to those who
have eagerly engaged with the enemy to
suhjugate or dismember our venerable
I IGommonWeaIth.r Tht dAF6 chosen to
laBide the event Of u NRr In which they
lHaye taken the part OF traitOrs and they
i ,i stiAhide by 10 % bose among you
40, ratteF than bStray The State, have
suffered oppression from usurpers aud
invaders with mArtyE.lihe coustancy, we
tender the tribute of6urldordiaI sympathy
and profound admiration They deserve
TO be ranked with those other citizens Of
Northwestern Virginia who, on every bat.
tie field of the State, from, Great Bethel TO
Fredericksburg, have fought with heroic
courage iu the cause Of liberty. These
gallant men aud thOse who, at home, have
boldly maintained their loyalty have vim
dicAted the right of the people of the
Northwest to wear the illnsiFions name of
Virginiaus, in spite Of the treason which
some have committed.
Ifyou have not all acted With quail firm.
ness, we are gratitied 70 believe las we
have many reasons for beltPyjnS) that o
large majority of the ettiIensof North IVES.
tern Virginia have cherished n loyal at.
tacbment 20 the State and that they abhor
treason and traitors. Wssknow how to
make due allowance for the;cF1el ueoessi-
ties Of your situation. While some Of us
were able to retire to places where We
could serve the cause OF the South and
several thousand have Joined our armies, It
10 just TO remember that o whole commu-
nifty so great as ours could not withdraw
into the interior; nor could they alone re-
sist the powerful States on their borders.
Many were hampered by poverty, or charg-
ed with the care Of families, or detained at
home by other obstacles which could not
be overcome. Being compelled to remain,
their submission could be enforced by
arms. Mere submission 10 irresistible
force will not be imputed 70 them as a
crime. Voluntary aud corrupt completely
with treason can never be excused by any
circumstances. a1. 3H.a
We are proud to know that large ma
jority Of the people ta.Nor,h Western vir-
ginia have always refnsedttanVote at the
eisetions ordered bylthe psuIped goFern.t
meat. Situated aayOa1 pave gheen, Il uasl
thS. laoat eaSstaAl..PlSAgtss -si15 s6alil lelIaE
against that usarpation, we advise youitoi
perSeVeFe in that couess unless, upon some
special occasion, you can deliver a united
and effective vote which cannot be con.
strued as friendly recognition of uSurped
authority as, fol example, TO protest
against Adismemberment of the State.
Without incitiug you to rash and vain
resistance to Overwhelming force; we ad-
wise you to make o manly ayoWal Of your
loyalty. We invite oil the young men who
eau to unite with the renowned armies of
the South. No mau should willingly neg
lect so great duty As the defense of his
country'S independence. No man of spir-
il can be a careless spectator of the most
struggle for constitutional free
dom in all time. ln future ages It will be
the boast Of the proudest 10 the land that
they are descended from the heroes OF this
war. g.. .t
We expect you all, young aud old, to
cherish the sentiment OF loyalty. Eucour-
age one another. Suffer with fortitude
what you have to suffer. Be vigilant, re-
solute and bold when your opportunity
cOmts.j Rest assured that the Invaders
will be expelled and the power Of your
oppressOrS will be oVerthrown.