The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-09-18

real state of things in the Valley and
ON from there to Richmond, and as to
the real feelings of the people, and how
they are affected toward the Govern
ment.''
You express n desire and purpose TO
use your pen and press in the best in
terests of a right restoration" and you
invite me to write you ga full, free and
frank letter, to be used in promoting
the cause of Union which you trust we
both have at heart"
accept your invitation in the spirit
in which II Is given, and l will write
YOU truly the results of my personal
observation, and of an extensive inter
course with persons of intelligence from
many parts of the State.
l. AS To SECESSION.
Opposition to the authority of the
United States is completely at an end
in Virginia; and doubt If there can
be found in the State u man, woman or
child who thinks it either practicable
or desirable to renew it in any form.
The supremacy OF the National Con-
stitution and law is rs thoroughly felt
and acknowledged in Virginia as iii any
part of the Union, and there is no more
necessity for an armed force to MAIN
tain the authority of the Government
here than there is in any Northern or
Western State.
. controls
III the public opinion of Virginia is,
that the Union must be regarded us Il
fixed and enduring fact, and that ev-
/ erything of value i'll our future that de-
1 ponds upon Government or nationality
Is inseparablY connected with the peace,
I prosperity and success of the United
/ States.
This belief is universal. earnest and
/ practical. So much so that, If we could
now have n free election without re-
/ StrictiOn rs TO the right to vote or to be
voted for, no man who does not enter
tain it and intend in good faith to act
/ upon it could lie elected to office of any
kind in any part of Virginia.
The pretence that elections thus far
held i'll Virginia have turned upon
"Untonism" or 'tseceSSionism, )" or that
those now pending are likely To be so
influenced, is Il mere device of office
seekers to appropriate to themselves
all the merit of the one and to throw
upon their competition all the odium
I OF the other. Among the most active
I in the resort TO this eXpedient are well
known SeceSSiOniSts who under the
"Confederacy" used it with the ends
reversed.
We have as yet no party divisions in
I Virginia, and our elections necessarily
turn upon the personal popularity OF
candidates all of whom profess sub
stantially the same opinions and pur-
I poses in regard 10 public affairs. I'm
der such circumstances it will not, /
think, be deemed unnatural or i'm
/ proper that our people should be influ-
enced by Sympathies and preferences
which have grown up in the progress
I OF the trials and sufferings through
( which they have so recently passed.
=. As TO SLAVERY.
The people of Virginia do not believe
/ a.F
with slavery have been either Just or
eNpedient, or that the interests of either
master or slave will be promoted there
by. They look forward with painful
apprehension to the future ola commu-
nifty whose industrial system has been
( 50 reckless!S overthrown, and of a help
less race who have had freedom thrust
upon them without preparation for its
/ duties or responsibilities, and are thus.
( without fault of their own, handed over
10 want, suffering and probable ex-
/ tinction.
7 They are satisfied, however, that the
miSchief IS already practically done,
ana thHt any attempt to retrace the
steps which have been taken would be
wholly impracticable and could only
serve TO increase the trouble and confti-
sion which are now impending, You
may therefore expect with confidence
that, SO far from seeking to obstruct
measures deemed proper to complete
the work oil freeing the slaves, the peo-
pie of Virginia will promptly do all
that may be necessary on their mari To
carry it into full effect and to make ii,
as far as practicable, beneficial to ali
concerned.
To establish n system of free labor
by which these FREEDMEN" may he
saved from the poverty and misery
which will naturally attend upon their
want Ofindustry and thrift will REQUIRE
great good sense and much kindness
and forbearance. Fortunately for them
ana Tor the cause of humanity, il is not
trne, as has been charged, that the
white people of Virginia have any feel
ing of hatred or ill-wilI toward them
7 or any disposition to deprive them, by
/ legislation or otherwise, of the substnn-
/ tinl benefits of freedom. Indeed the
{ relations between the two races are still
marked by the mutual kindness which
has always attended their intercourse.
and which in view of all the disturbing
Influences which have been brought To-
bear may be regarded as truly won
/ derful.
I The effect of freedom upon the char
acter and conduct of the negro is vet
to be seen, and it will require time and
/ experience TO determine how far il will
Z be either wise or safe to confer upon
him additional rights or privileges,
civil, social or political.
3. "a RIGHT RESTORATION"
If am right in what / have said II
would seem to follow TINT the difTicul-
culties in the way of restoring Virginia
at once To all her relations with the
Federal Government ARE, so far as her
people are concerned, purely imaginary,
On this subject You may RELY with
entire confidence upon the truth of the
following propositions
l. That the people of Virginia arc
now fully prepared, in good faith and
upon earnest convictions of duty and
interest, to take upon themselves all
the obligations and to perform all the
duties which justly belong to them as
citizens Of the United States.
>. That our Courts of Justice and Po-
lice now organized according to the
constitution and laws of Virginia. are
as fully competent to administer Justice
and to mnintain order, and NAV be ms
1 confidently relied upon for that purnost.
4 by all classes and conditions OF our
/ people as at any time i'll our past
| history. F'''
3. That it would be not only perfac,Iv
safe, but eminently wise, To withdraw
I from Virginia all commandments of posts
/ with their armed guards, all Provost
Mnrshals with their military officials
and all lecturers and other agents of
/ the Freednen'S Bureau. These instru-
mentS of martial law have become