Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-06-30
9atiil1g l1tel1laae11ter

atthe Opening OF the Sanitary Falf.
Mr.. President, Ladies' and Gentlemen:
We have assembled here this evening to
enter onlthe lRborB of week for a. high
and holy purpose. 1t was the custom in
ancient Rome to give Rno ovation, and some
times triumph to returning conqueror.
1t has been the practice of all nations,
ancient and modern, to do honor to the
brayes1HBut it WasHIeft to the loyal people
OF America, in this the most terrible of all
wars. through the fundamentally of the
Sanitary and Christian Commissions aud
Soldiers Aid Societies, toIlo justice to the
siokand wounded s6idiersl 10 show forth
that higher christian civilization which
kindly and-tenderly takes care of those
who have become disabled by disease or
wound in their, oountry's service. The
So9nq9ertng hosts who go through the CAM
pslgpslanscathed and ginJ the full vigor of
manhood, return amid applause and shouts
OF welcome, feeling conscious that they
nave done theiFT duty, and have done it
Well.T But the poor soldier with shattered
constitution, or who has received wound,
while he too, feels that be; has, with sacri.
tice Of health or limb; done his part toward
Manipulating the right, yet he needs more
than the hoAannas of the admirinR popu-
lace-howeyer, grateful that may be-needs
that material aid which is necessary for his
comfort and his ret ;oretion to, health and
the full enjoyment oflife 6gain.J And it is
for theIpuFposei of providing the means for
afording this relief that the Bystem of
Fairs and Festivals has been inauEurated
by the loyslpeople. Of the country. And
is 1t not pleasiugoto every lover Of human
1ty to see with what cheerf1lness aye,
with what anxious solicitude, our people
1rk- !
IberaHty of the capitalist In giving his.
money-of the farmer, manufacturer, mer-
chaut, and mechanic IN the generous be.
stowment Of these different species of
goods-aRd of the public generally in the
exhibition of their various beauties and
curiosIties of nature and Of art! The time
expended and the attention given by the
loyal men-zapd the self.sacrifcing, cheer
full and efficient aid of the patriotic ladies
in preparing for exhibition and sale the
many delicately Wrought aud valuable ar
ticles which they alone can furnish, and
which have with such lavish hand supplied,
proves that all-all have done their parts
with cheerfulness and an anxiety to ex-,
cel-and have made their gifts with pro-
fusion--thatspeaks their highest praise.
But do not attempt to persuade myself
that this is the result alone Of humanity
aRd beneyolence. silt has its origin in q
a cause wider, deeper, and of higher in
Significance than this. It is the gnshings-
forth from that fountain of patriotism
which wells up in every loyal heart toward
HIM who has .risked his all, and sacrificed
much, in defence of the liberties Of his
conntry:a It1is because that sickness and
wounds came upon him while engaged in
his country's cause; that SO much solici.
tude is manifested for his welfare, It lis
because we here at home are enjoying SO
many blessings as the result of his labor,
while he has been imperiling health-his
life-his all-that we are determined that
he shall not want for that which soothes
the pain or heals the wound. The effect
of these patriotic effort must be most hap.
py. on the soldiers in the field. When
they see that they are not forgotten by
their friends sbehind-that ample and abun-
dant provision is made for them in case of
sickness OF wounds-it cheers them on to
the hazardous yet noble work that lies be-
fore them.
But why are we here this night to in
augurate this Fair which is TO continue,
with It's labor and anxiety, for week2
Why are we not pursuing our, ordinary
peaceful avocstions as we were wont to do
in times pAst2 Wherefore the necessity
for all this expenditure of time and money? I?
1t is because there is rebellion in the
land aRaint the lawful authority. 1t is
because the traitOrous hand. has been
raised to strike down the liberties of the
people. 1t is because wicked men, tired
of the proper restraints of we'll organized
society and good government, have with
out proVocation, /, attempted TO destroy that
society and that government for their own.
selfish purposes, and to crafty their own
inordidate desire for dominion, place and
power. And this rebellion has brought
war-and war has brought all its attend
ant evils. 1t has destroyed the business
within, and has crippled the commerce
without the country. 1t has brought death,
into many happy household. It has
brought mourning TO all the land for the
gallant dead. It has streWn the country
with the sick and wounded on every hand.
These are some of the bitter fruits of the
ruinous and destructive doctrine of secess
sioD. And we are here this night to join
our efforts to those of other patriots and
lphilantbropists of the land in securing the
means that may tend 'to ameliorate- e-the
seyerities of this fratricidsl, yet, on our
part, absolutely necessary war, ~
This Irebellion-this war-With all it's
dreadful Consequences, may be traced to
one cause only-thAt which is aV0Wed by
the leaders ofsthe rebellion. The effort
may be made by the disaffected amon
us to cover np-disguise-or evade 1T.
but the irresistable conviction is forced
upon every considerate mind, that it was
determined to. dissolve the Union and es-
tablish in the South an oligarchy in which
human slavery was TO be the s'chief corner
stone. Il may 6e laid down as a general
proposition that the institution begets in
aversion to the doctrine OF equality, that
q man in the humber walks Of life shall go
to the ballot box and cast q vote of equal
weight with hiss he wants the. favored
few to f6Ie-the MASSES 70 submit. This
could not be brought about under the gov.
ernment of the Union. Hence the rebeI=
llionewA ainsngnratedl for gthea apnrp pose 81
destroying the old government and setting
up q new one in tie Interest of slavery
Il Il tR