Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-06-16
rhe Draft ON west VIrginla,

We publish this morning the prociama-
ton of the President, received by Gov.
Peirpolnt early Monday morning. calling
out one huudted thousand militia-5O 900
from Pennsylvania, 10 600 from Maryland,
10000 from Ohio, and 10000 from West
Virginia-to be mastered into the U. S.
service and serve six months.
The FIRST thing that will strike every one
is that the draft on West Virginia is large
Iy disproportioned to our resources. Less
than half the territory of West ViIgiuia can
be reached by our authorities. Whenever
we go south of the line of the N. W. Va.
Railroad we shall find but few counties, 1t
any, in which draft can be executed to do
any good. So that practically it must fall
on the population of some dozen counties
ofthe >!orthwest. West Virginia, from her
loyal counties has sent to the field near
10000 troops alreadJ-a larger per cent
than any State in the Union according to
the actual population from which it was
drawn. There are counties-ssy Welzel
Tyler and Ritchie-in which there are this
tivate the soil and support the rest of the
population In the counties through which
Jones passed in his late raid it will be diff
6cult for the farmers to make crops in
consequence of their losses in horses In
many of them, there would be beyond a
doubt actual suffering next Fall. If nothing
worse happens than has already happened.
About as fair an estimate we conceive
as could be made of the male population
of West Virginia, that could be reached
by its loyal authorities, is the recent vote
cast for State officers, which is a trifle
over $4,000. In some few places the State
ticket was not voted for by those who
voted for local officers, bat there were
hardly more than two or three thousand
of them at the outside. If VIC are to get
at the population subject to militia duty
We must deduct very large per cent for
voters over forty Eve. We gain small
per cent. for those under twenty. one who
will be liable to draft Then there is TO
be a large allowance made for those who
are not "able-bodied,' "the lame, the halt
aud the blind" who comprise a large pei
cent. of every population, but who are moi
disabled from voting. The fact is ter
thousand drafted men will ju st about sweep
all the able bodied population from the
State II may be said that however ruin.
Gus this would be to the interests of the
New State, raid through it by large
rebel army would be equally so, and VIC
might as we'll be ruined one way as the
other. This is true of course. If we ara
to be invaded every man who eau carry q
musket ought to turn out to repel: it
but it seems to us hardship that oul
entire population should be called
out for a period, which from al
reasonable calculation, must exceed by
several months, the period of imminent
danger. Call all our people away from
their occupations for six months, at q sea
son of the year when they woEld be able
neither to tend nor gather the crops that
are absolutely essential in some sections
to support the women aud children, and
the prosperity OF the new State would
receive very serious check, far more Sc.
rious than any it has yet received, to say
nothing of the actual want and suffering
next winter. Suppose the raid lie made as
apprehended, and the border is relieved of
it in month or two months, here our en-.
tire military strength must remain in the
field four months more, while the other
loyal States would have perhaps, not more
than 25 per cent. of theirs in the field.
Only ten thousand are called from Mary
land, which has three times the population
that can be reached here, and has not fur.
ntshed anything like the number of troops
West Virginia has.
This appears to be an unjust discrimi.
nation against West Virginia. In truth,
We. do not believe it possible to- raise ten
thousand men from our present resources.
but We must raise all that it is possible to
raise, We trust the President may be iu-
duced to modify his proclamation, SO far as
it relates to West Virginia, so as not oulv
to deal fairly with us, but adapt the requi-
Sition to our resources. t5 AC,t
At the same time let us do everything
that is possible to resist this ipVasiou.-
Beyond doubt the rebels are throwing
vast bodies of troops northward and vest.
ward. The immediate prospect is that we
must either fighter be oyerrun, our people
beggard, aud their country desolated. 1t
is said the rebels avow their intention 10
-aVengs with fire aud sword the rayages Of
Stoueman, Grierson and Others who have
lately penetrated their territory in destruc.
tive raids. We may well believe they will
do so if able. We have no mercy to ex.
Pect, if placed at their mercy. SO let us
make up our minds at once to look the
danger square in the face aud unite to re.
sist il, Every measure of resistance We |
al MI a6n AZ.