Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-13

far back as two years ego, the visitor will
be told, that the leading men of the Con-
federaey gave up the idea of the perpetuity
Of slavery. The disqualification of the
negro element had manifested itself to
such degree, in connection with the war,
as to make the tenure of slave property,
always prscarious, absolutely matter of
lottery. Good authority will tell you that
Gen. Lee, after the battle of Antietam,
advised Davis that the only hope left for
slavery and the southern people, was
10 an agreement TO go back
into the Union. We were assured
by those SRho protested to be per-
sonRlly coEnizant of this advice, that it
was actually given by Gen. Lee to Davis.
OF course Davis turned up his nose at it,
just as be did at Hunters advice after the
Hampton Roads conference, which was
that the terms then and there proposed by
Mr. Lincoln, should be at once acceded to.
We allude to the above incidents apd
manifestations Of feeling for the purpose of
showing the ground upon which the pro-
graume for restoring Virginia to the
Union rests in the hands of Gov. Pierpoint.
We use the word programme, not because
the Governor brought to Richmond any
such articls, but simply as conventional
phrase. We are very sure that he brought
to his new position simply a mind and
heart open to a sense of his high RESPONSE
bilities and duties, aud determination to
emulate the example of Mr.. Lincoln in hsy.
ing no iron handed policy which should
neither open or close to the pressure of
events. All of US here in West Virginia
are accustomed to think of Gov. Peirpoint
as radical" in the sense of that word
obtaining at the outset OF the war. And
SO he is, and so we hope and believe he
will ever be clear through to the end. In
all that makes for love of the Union and
hatred of the rebellion, including slavery,
its corner stone, the Governor certainly is
a radical, but in a more modern seDse of
the word-so far as it represents any spirit
of reveugefulness, the Governor is a con-
sentative in the true and unabused accep.
tatioD of the term. He realizes that the
country now demands statesmanship not
psrtiEanship at his hands-that it is desir.
able not to Perpetuate a government OF
bayonets and drum head court martials-
that the true leader aud reformer Of the
hour is he who builds his hopes and expec.
tations of government upon the consent of
the governed and upon no other foundation.
The chief difficulty in 6is-way is the res
toration of the elective franchise. On the
one hand he is urged to use his influence
to have the legislature that recently sat in
Alexandria and that will meet again in
Richmond, exercise tina. discretion confid-
ed to them by the new constitution, which
allows an extension of the right of suffrage
beyond those few persons in Virginia who
were notimplicated in the rebellion. He is
pressed to Recommendation of this sort by
reason of the chaotic condition of the coun.
ties. As matters stand no man can record
deed, hold court, administer an oath,
celebrate marriage, grant license to do
business, administer on an estate, or do
any other act that requires court orgaui-
ration. Unless the people can vote they
are hopelessly staguated and their ouly
refuge is to leave the State as fast as they
can sell or sacrifice their property. This
is one view that confronts Gov. Peirpoint
at the start in the work of reorganizin9 and
restoring Virginia. We shall defer the
mention of. some other views to an other
article.