The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-10-06
TFe InteIligencer In 1862.

While gIancing over an old file oil the
wheeling Estettigencer, towhich =we=have
access, we find, here and there, some very
sound Democratic doctrine. For instance;
in 1862, long after the war commenced, the
Editor ofthe Intsltigsacer wrote as follows
CONCERNING the question Of slare'y-iu e.,ai
awe are induced to think there will be
no loss BY delay. If the slavery matter Is
likely to be determined by Congress with
az little discretion as has been manifested
in the preliminary discussion OF it, 1t may
we'll be doubted whether Congress had not
best drop it altogether, and leave 1t 20
take. a. General Rosecrans WELL SAID IN
his NLure House Speech the other evening,
THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF AsTATE
OF WAR; It seems to be forgotten by some OF
the members that 1t IS ontyas a aoar measure
that then can touch ii at alt. ~ a"a4
The talk about legslatiDg for the destruc>
ton of slaoery as If that soere an object in itself
coming within the legitimate scope OF con
eressional action, grows out OF VICIOUS
Confusion of ideas, and the vehement ape
meals made for such action, on the plea that
since slavery is the cause of rebellion there
can be no permanent peace until IL Is de"
streyed are realty APPEALS FOR THE REvo-
IurIoSARY OVERTHROW OF THE CoNsTlTUs
TON BY ITS DEFENDERS. '
ANY SUCH COMPREHENSIVE ACTION OF
CONGRESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DESTROYING
SLAVERY WOULD INVOLVE THE COUNTRY IN
HOPELESS ANARCHY AND CONFUSION, SINCE 1T
WOULD MAKE THE SOUTH UNANIMOUS FOR
REBELLION AND DIVIDE AND DISTRACT THE
NORTH" a.1 -
That will pass muster tolerably well.
That expresses precisely the position held
by the conservative party both tlen and
now. At the time the above extract was
written the sentiment of the people Of the
northern States was unit in support OF
the Administration and for the prosecution
the war. The CRIrTENDEN resolution
was then considered as declaring the policy
of the nation, and the Federal Constitution
was still supposed to possess some binding
force. There is no doubt that at that time,
the people of the Southern States were
divided in sentiment and large miA
nority in each State then in rebellion
was disposed to submit to the author
ity of the Federal Government and re.es-
tablish the Union. Nov, however, the
CRIrrrNpEN resolution has been completes
ly set aside, Congress having repeatedly
refused to reaf1rm it the Federal Com
stitution has been violated, and the very
disasters which the LateAigencer predicted
in 1862 have really befallen us-the South
unanimous for rebellion, and the North d.
vided and distracted. 20
Now, what was the cause of the present
unhappy state of affairs Simply the fact
that Congress, disregardipg the protests Of
the Democratic party, disregarding the
plainest dictates of common sense, disre-
garding its own repeated pledges, disregard
ing even the oaths its members had taken
to "preserve, protect and defend the Con
stitution of the United States" pursued
precisely the course which the Inteltigencsr
condemns. With "a vicious confusion .of
ideas" it legislated for the destruction Of
slavery, as if that were an object in itself
coming within the scope of Congressional
action; Presidential proclamations we re
Illuminated against slavery +; it has been OH
cially declared that there shall be no peace
or Union until slavery is abandoned aud,
in compliance with the vehement ap-
peals i" of which the Intettigencer speaks
the Constitution has been really over
thrown by those who were sworn to be its
defenders. .g
During all this time the Democratic party
has remained true to its former faith. 1t
has exhorted obedience to the Constitution;
it has denied the right of the Adninistra'
ton to make the abolition of slavery the
object of the war; and it still proclaims to
the rebels, ''thc Union is the one condition
Of peacs--we ask no more" and yet, strange
sit may appear it is no less true, the
Wheeling Intelltgencer daily denounces,
with opprobrious epitbets, those who hold
{ the opinions which it advocated two years
ago. Whether it grows out of "a vicious
confusion of IDEAS" Or not, we do not say,
but tits certainly true that the Inteitigea.
Ger frequently INDUCES in those settlement
appeals for abolition, on the plea that since
slavery is the cause Of the rebellion there
can be no permanent peace until it is des>
troyed," which it ftly characterized in
1862 as "appeals for the revolutionary over,
throw of the Constitution by its defenders"
1t stands in the unenviable position Of ad-
socating course which, by it's own predic-
ton, "would involve the country in hope
less anarchy and confusion-make the South
unanimous for rebellion and divide and dis
tract the North .D#. .gI