Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-08-13

RecOmectIOns OF the late samuel r.
VIntOn, for MANY Years n PrOmt-
mem Member OF COngresS from the
state OF Ohio.
In the winter Of 1912, / visited Wash
ington City and found the public greatly
excited by the treason, proposed by Mr..
Calhoun and his southern friends in the
form Of an ordinance to resist the execution
of the revenue laws Of the United States.
The complaint of southern traitors then,
was against what they denominated Oppres-
sive laws passed by Congress to favor
northern manufactures, by the imposition
of high duties on foreign goods, to the in
jury of the planting and cotton growing
States. The collection Of such duties they
designed to resist by force, and they aP-
pealed to Virginia to unite with them
The legislature of the State being then in
session, it was artfully approached in the
form of a special message from DR.. John
Floyd then governor of the State.
The proclamation of Gen. Jackson, then
President of the United States, and the op.
position Of the legislaturelto the Governors
Recommendation of q league with the cotton
States, to overthrow the Federal govern
ment suppressed at that time an open arm
ed resistance to the laws Of the United
States. 1t was then that General Jackson
predicted that southern disafection to the
Union of the States would manifest itself
in the future by using negro slavery as its
pretext.
Mr.. Viuton was then in Congress. BE
was q native of Massachusetts,, an ardent
friend of the Union, an old line Wing, pos
sessing rare talents, and firmly believing
that the measures and temper Of the Demo-
cratic men of the North, having what they
called Southern principles aud leagued
with the men of the South to appropriate
to themselves the control of the govern
ment, would culminate 10 rebellion; he
predicted to the writer of these lines, q
native of Virginia, then and still resident
Of what is now West Virginia, the fate OF
| Virginia if her people involved themselves
| with the hot-spurs of the South in their
contemplated efforts to dissolve,t the Union.
| Without intending to repeat what he
said to me at that time, will recollect the
substance OF the conversation. BE avoW-
ed that the inhabitants of the North never
would consent 20 q dissolution of the Uoion
| upon any terms; that II the South inaugu-
rated rebellion, their country would be in
the end destroyed, aud Virginia, being q
| border State, would be laid waste, aud her
people driven from their homes; especially
so in her northern portion bordering on
| PennsylVAnia aud Ohio. II would be the
the battle ground Of contending hosts, as
would be the country bordering on the
Potomac river. That such q rebellion
would eVentuate in subjugating the South
by force of arms, 70 the superior military
power Of the North; the leaders would fee
the country aud seek refuge in some foreign
state, most likely Central America,
Reading in HarPer's August number, an
account Of the Hospitals erected for our
sick and wounded, brings to my recollec-
tiou Mr.. Vinton's predictions. They are
being verified rapidly, except as 70 West
Virginia; aud our people Of the new State
should rejoice that We are not 10 the ru-
ined and desolate condition OF Old Viz
ginis, and pray We may in future continue
exempt from he.calamitiesn that lave ru-
iued the people Of that State. Secession
has been their ruin, and such would have
been our condition, had not the people Of
West Virginia by firm resolution de-
nounced it as political heresy, intended
I by its adhsrsnts 70 bring on rebellion and
3 dissolution Of the Union. UHIoH.