Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-04-21
DiSaFminE the People.
HAARIsou OoUnrT, WEsr Va, :
April 18th, 1864.
Editor, Lnf.llia.ne.r.

AS your very excellent paper tG conduct.
ed with more ability, end yields more in.
huence than any other published in our
new State, have thought it might not be
unreasonable TO obtrude some views upon
yon relative to a matter which is giving our
people more uneasiness than any other
which has transpired for q long time. and
which views, trust, will meet your ap-
proVat TO such an extent as will enable Won
to aid in their maintenance and support.
In Jour paper OF the 18Th insI., you pub.
lish an abstract of military order. rs.
curing all persons, loyal or disloyal, liz
ing on or south Of the Bait. & Ohio Rail.
road, to deliver their arms of every char
aeter and description, to the nearest com
manding officer OF provost marshal, with
the names ofthe oWerss attached thereto,
which arms are to be sent 70 Cumberland.
Harpers Ferry or Charleston, until such
time as the public safety will admit. An
exception, however, is made in favor of
tnose belonging to the armies of the Uni.
| ted States, end those who are enrolled in
the militia who may obtain permit from
9 commanding officer. This order has Gre.
ated intense and universal alarm, Let us
look att. Thsloyal men otthfs country
over forty five years of age are not enroll
ed IN the militia, and consequently cannot
retain their arms. Many OF them have sons
fighting the battles Of the country, or
lying sick in hospitals, or perchance ia
death; these men, therefore, TO whom their
WiVes snd infant children alone look for
protection, are called upon 10 deliver nm
their arms, and stand defeuseless against
ineuFstons Of msraudiug parties, horse
thieves, robbers and plunderers, who.
knowing they are disarmed, will have no
tears TO restrain them from indiscrimiDate
nj y nj n Il
Try SoHth OF the railroad 10 thus to be made
the fierce arera ofRll manner of offences
becauss premium ID thus offered for their
commission with impunity. Nor is this
vain Imagining. Already in nearly evsry
nelghhorhood throughout the country, of.
fences against life, persons and property,
are OF nightly occurrence, most of the rs
gtraInt arises from the knowledge that the
hiring ota gun or pistol at night i6 the signal
for Deigh6OrS to cometo tho rescue. Who
though over forty I've aud not enrolled in
the militia, are ready to defend each 9th
er's homes from outrage and violence as
long as they are permitted TO retain the
means otdOiOg so. Nor will this reasoning
only apply TO the lRwless who are in these
times especially found in all communities.
The rebels finding out that the conntrv-i ia
deteneeless, after they run the blockade of
the outposts, can in squads otltwo orthree.
may, ons armed man alone would be suf.
heient,) capture and drive before him or
them. any reasonable number Of onr-nr-
armed eitizensi to swell the lista Of Libhy
there tobsheld "a hostages. 3. y s.
but What danger exists TO the State or
country. oy suffering the people whoscou-
SEh0te me Done and sineW ofthe State To-
keep tee az squirrel rifles, pistola or shot
Runst shall man, because he ia so mn
fortunate az TO be forty. Eve years Of +aoa
otqpWards, be deemed less worthy Of eos.
hdence than one OF eighteen OF tWenty2 FIf
tasre ls any difference, maintain that the
man who is over the age OF military duty
IS more identified with the interests of the
state aud more worthy oElconiidence he
cause no has anchored here, for veal m
woe, and cannot tear himself aWay FINN
MS home and his country as the vonpU
man may. lS it for fear that some NAV
give AID 70 the ensmy1 Why, sir, when
Sones, .ol toe rebel army, passed through
OUT country last May, hemRde no distinc..
ton between loyal meu and symUatbiTers.
II any thing, he took more horses and nroni
erty from those who are called SscessiSp6
iSts than any others, upon the ground. AZ.
ne alleged That if they were Secesh ihsy
oughtto help the causeg' y
Tho SecessionistS, therefore, fear the
rebels 9s much asIIhe most loyaL because
the country e already PlucEed 10 the bona
They failed 10 give aid when tbev Svy1ers'
comparatively Ia easy cfrcumstance and :,
u uotto be imposed that they would 40 a
hme-When want and famine stare
rich and poor alike in The face.El
I again. u 70 well known. that not q rife or
snot gun was captured in that raid, and
mat tne rebels feared these guns, as much
- tney ald the muskets of the soldisry
Il =
upon By patdes of farnets, not 5, 81. Ii
tGFy ssrVies, who abushRhackedn them
rom inaccessible businesses in the woods
sklrtiug the high ways. $50
81, ours 70 law abiding, constitu
aen loving people. They have lasrns,,i \
ION soeiE fathers that no people have ever
been deprived of their arms excent the p,,s
san serts, the down trodden Irisb. IN.
ae1lean peasant, and the Southern neero
they have been told BY their fathers mai
SO important did they consider this mi.
Hetk Oh noefty, this great right of self |
asIeneeI tnat the very second article of the |
asle sc am entsS TO the Constitution of The /
United States soleunly declares s.tkdt. M /
right Of de people to keep aud bar ann, ,6aii
not be n ri9gea."
This military order ills as All with dis!
may When We lay down at night n fail
S Si,as VIC van have no security tor our own
re- rs % OF tnese OF our wires and children j
u ~ ~ ls carried out We feel that lad mar
:, 40 70 9tnerWtse would suffer death, hold M
81 Snsn mercy, to outrage or destroy. We |,
standing all Welhaye q Fsrsl, ID
~ landing all the devotion "a coSnl
We n9Se manifested, that became ~
~, ~ .eo oia 70 be snrolled, the miIitsrS
Ivy. sooA epon os with dtstrust We al WbsS
ny nAse ssnotn rs of Onr strength. And
oat mems O. defence, what ansEsr ANN
N, ~ !nen Lney cry aloud aud ~
No sirs give the people, one ma al sta..
rishtso hold sR p their arms sSsir