The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-11-25
LETTER FROM HON. P. G. VAN.
WINKLE.

| appointed to request Mr.. Van Wrinkle
to address the people upon the condi-
tioO of the country, and such questions
OF political and legislative character,
relating especially to West Virginia, as
in his opinion, demanded special con
sideration. Mr.. Van Wrinkle, in con-
sequence OF bronchial affection, de-
clined to speak, but sent a letter to the
committee, which we find in the last
Parkersburg Gazette, and from which
we copy the following:
The armed rebellion has been put
down by, the strong hand of military
power, but it may be too soon to an
nounce that the Union is restored, at
least until the President shall-fee au-
thorized to proclaim that the state of
war, in which the country has been for
more than four years involved, is at an
end. We cannot congratulate, our
selves that the. Union is what it was
intended to be until the State Govern
ments, overthrown by those engaged
in the rebellion, are reinstated, and re-
sumo their former powers and authori-
ty. Indeed, the GUnion-w once had
viii not be practically restored until
the inhabitants of its various sections
again regard each other, with the feel
ings which become the citizens of a
common country. How nearly this
result has been obtained am unable
to say; but / sincerely trust that the
Government will be able to report that
greater progress has been made in that
direction than some are willing to be-
lleVe, and that the interchange of i'm
formation from every portion of the
country, attendant upon the assembling
OF Congress, will strengthen the hopes
of every true lover of the Union.
n ODD Il I'll,
son, in the very difficult circumstances
in which he has been placed, meets nv
cordial appreciation. Leniency to the
offending, so far as compatible with
the public safety, rather than indis-
criminate severity, becomes,a powerful
and magnanimous nation. am sure
that the President truly interprets the
sentiment of the people, by acting on
the conviction that they are anxious to
forgive; and hardly less certain that
the great body of those who have been
active in the rebellion, if no hnmiliat-
ing terms are imposed on them, will
hasten to renew their patriotism when
the modification of defeat has passed
away. If unity of feeling, rather than
a written parchment, heretofore made
us one people, our duty is plain before
us, namely, to adopt such measures as
tend to its restoration, and to discard
everything which has even the appear
4.
To spare further remarks on this and
kindred subjects. here, Isubjoin some
extracts from speech delivered by me-
in the Senate, in April, 1864, anticipatz
ing the close of the war, and, as far as
/ washable, the questions that must there
arise. Il at that time said, in these
words, when the administration conn
tenanced the efforts to reorganize the
government of Virginia, there being
then no legal government existing in
that State, 1t acted strictly within the
line of its duty. i say further, that
what was done in Virginia furnishes q
precedent which may be properly fol-
lowed, and discioses principle which
cannot, think, be successfully contro-
verted. The latter was asserted by q
leading member of the reorGanizfnp
convention of that State In these words:
"If there is but single loyal man In
the State of Virginia, he, is the State of
Virginia." Alter the form but not the
substance, and say the loyal, citizens of
State constitute the State, and few
will have the hardihOod to deny it. fr
/ assert, then. that whether the armed
forces Of the United States are now
waging- war within certain States to put
down resistance to the laws, to suppress
instruction, or to redeem the national
government republican, in form, their
success wild not be a conquest 81
any political organization hereto
fore recognized as !. a State of the
Union. They will simply have ftid-
ed in the discharge of national duty.
and the blessings Of thousands now
suffering from the tyranny OF those
who have usurped the governments oi
their respective Statesy as well as iie
proud consciousness of having no IL
discharged patriotic duty, will 6e
theirs. But the national GovernIh emit
VIII have another duty to perform,
which At must not omit or eyade, IT
must aid IN the reorganization of the
government OF every redeemed Stste.
and see that it is republican, lin form
For the performance of this Imperative
duty 1t cannot impose conditions. II
must look only to the charter from
which it derived its birth and by which
1t continues to exist, with the assurance
that 1t cannot die except by suicide. IJ4n'
As to the sQ-called Observation-Disclosures i
the Union, the way to it is plain and
viii be easy, when our armies have
crushed the rebellion. i adhere, and
shall adhere while have breath, toithe
principles developed and acted on, In
the reorganization of the goyernm ~
of Virginia Let that example be fol-
lowed, as indeed It has been and is be-
/ ing followed, and all difficulties yanish,
| Let the loyal mem of each redeemed
State reorganiSe their government, aud
when this is done for each and eVerV
one now under the dominion OF. The
rebels, all that is desirable is accom-
| plished.H Il do not COUNSEL that the
troops OF the Union should be with.
drawn, or that the. exclusive control 81
| affairs should be relinquiShed to the re.
organized governments until it can be
done with safety to the Union, for such
safety is its paramount law; but ] think
that safety will be insured whenever
the rebellion is suppressed; for, as ]
believe, there Will be found loyai men
enough in eVeEy State, whether those
who through all these bitter times have
held fast TO their integrity, or those
who have seen the error OF their ways
and renewed their devot ion to the Union,
to whom the administration of the State
1 government may be safely intrusted.
The class of persons to whom i have
alluded may. be made citizens by con-
] stitutional amendment, and, possibly,
l by an act of Congress-; but there are
grave considerations which should be
deliberately weighed before any step is
taken in this direction. There are many
OF them to whom the rights OF citizen.
ship might be safely committed, but
these are very far from being the ma
jorityi But two, three, or four genera
tons have passed away since the an
cestorS of these people were savages OF
the most degraded type. The remarl;
of Mr.. Calhoun, to the effect that his
tory furnishes no record OF a race
which has risen SO rapidly from sayaIy-
ism toward 'Uivi lization may be correct.
but the mass are yet very far from the
goal This Is emphatie ally true Of TIE
large majority OF those whom the war
mas liberated rom slavery Those who
were employed as. domestic and farm
A. ~ !