Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-05-17

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for discussieLt aud decision, many MOVE
and comp, Ted questions. The experi
enoe and .ttpE }recedents derived from th,
history of Of. fr nations will furnish very in
sufficient guides, in their solution, becaus,
the history ofithe world affords no cas-,
that fs parallel-to ours. 10 other coun-
tries the relation of the citizen or subject
to. his government, is simple and direct
de owes allegtanceto but one government
Under our complex system eVery citizer
owes aliegiancs to two governments. Be.
fore the war, every citizen owed allegiance
to his State, RsWelllss to the United States
He WasShotnlstol defend both. ut wa
Thus AidnS divided allsgiAnve; with
the lids u ION snpkTVery distinctly
defined. When, therefore, a conflict oc.
cured 1t was not always easy to deter;
mine the path of duty or to pursue
it, for what was obedience to the one
might be treason against the other.
| The war having terminated, and the
| Confederate government having potenti-
| ally ceased to exist, we are released from
all claim of allegiance to it, and remitted
to our rights as citizens of Virginia. What
may be the extent of those rights,
or how far any individual may haYe
forfeited his rights, may be a ques-
tion. to be determined hereafter, in the
mode prescribed by the constitution of the
United States. One thing, however, we
may safely assume. A State in its politi-
cal capacity cannot commit treason. A
State as political community, cannot in
cur forfeiture. Treason can only be com
mitted by individuals, and the penalties
can be inflicted on individuals only. How
far State can throw the ;egis Of her pro-
lection oyersheF citizsns who acted under
her'suthoEity, will'hGEe to be settled;here.
after.
l take it, therefore, that Virginia still
has rights under the constitution of the
United States, which only have been sus-
pended during the abortive effort to sever
| her connection with the United States; and
1t seems to me to be our duty totry and
have those rights recognized aud respected.
It it be true, as has been almost uniVer-
sally assumed in tho Northern states, that
the ordinances OF secession were utilities,
aud absolutely void, then the Southerp
States have never severed their connection
with the United States, have never been
out of the Union, and, are therefore enti-
tied, from the moment the war ceased, to
resume their position as members Of the
Union. s
ladvert to these questions with 90 desire
TO discuss them, but simply to combat the
idea that all our rights have been lost, and
as satisfactory reason for meeting prompt.
ly the issue which has been forced upon
us, and declaring that 30 far as we are con :
cerned (sud we believe we speak the sen :
timents OF Virginia.) the war has finally
closed; that we have no purpose to renew
it; that we. are prepared to conform our
State government tGI(he changed condition
OF public affairs; and that we are convinced
that by wise and copciliatory policy on
the part of the Federal authorities, peace
and tranquility can soon be firmly and per-
mauently re.established.
After the close of Mr.. Stuart's remarks,
on motion of Hugh W. Sheffey, Esq, the
Chair was instructed to appoint commit.
the Of thirteen to prepare aud report suita.
BILE resolutions for the consideration Of the
meeting.
The chair thereupou named the following
gentlemen to constitute the committee:
H. W. Shetfey, T. J. Niche, John B
Baldwin, W., n. Tatet ID, s. Bell, J. N.
McCue, II. G. Harmsn, q. G. Guthrie,
Chesley Kinney, Bolivar Christian, George
Baylor, Absalom Coiner, and ]. Givens
Fulton. -
After some time spent in deliberatiou,
the committee reported the following Sc
ries of resolutions:
l. ResolVed; That we believe we express
the thorough conviction of the people oi
Augusta county, when We declare that op.
position to the authority OF the United
States within this county Is at an end, and
that there Is no'purpose on the part of any
of our people to attempt any renewal of it
2. Resotved, That the people Of Augusta
county recognising that the govm't of Va.
should be altered so as to conform to the
Constitution and laws ofths o. s., are pre-
pared to CO operate iu good faith with the
people of other portions of the State fol
that purpose. J
3. Resolved, That in our opinion the bes
mode of effectiug the object proposed is By
a State Convention, chosen by the voter!
and orgsDiEed upon the basis of the fHoust
of Delegates. ..-' ...s r.
4. ResOlUed. That committee of Eve bt
appointed to go to Richmond and ascertain
whether the military authorities of thI
4 United States will interpose any obstruc
ton to the election, assembling aud actor
of such convention for the purpose indi
Gated, and that the chairman of! this meet
ing be the chairman OF said committee.
5. ReSolved, That this committee be alsC
authorized to confer with similar commit
tees to be appointed in other counties anC
to adopt in concert such measures as will
best promote the objects herein declared
In pursuance OF the request of the com
mittee bon. John b. Baldwin proceeded t.
explain the nature and and purport of thI
resolutions, and to urge their adoption in {
speech of great power and eloquence, which
produced q profound impression on the
audience. ..i - -st 's
After the close OF Col. Baldwin's speech
no other person uSAnifeSting any desire tc
| speak, the resol1s aons were again read Il
the meeting sertaE4H, and each resolution
adopted by q unanimous vote.5 j. .sar
After the other resolutions had been
adopted, on motion of Bolivar Christian
Esq, the chairman was instructed to ap
point at his leisure, the members of th,
committee contemplated by the fourtl
resolution. ,fE
The4proceedings of the, meeting wer
marked by great solemntty and digpity
and evidently expressed the delt6erat
sense of the people of Augusta. The as
sembly wasSR full one and embraced
large share of the intelligence aud weigh
of the county, ALEX. Il. q. STUART,