Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-01

| Luu6 70 revere as long as Liberty mas q
votary. Your elevated character affords
ample pEestigeTof our ability and disposi.
ton to discharge the duties incumbent
upon you. But great responsibility is gem
fesallY ettepdedr with great perpfsxity.-
Pardon me for suggesting that, perplexed
as you may happen to be at any time, there
would be nothing of idolatTy 10 the effort
to- gain strength by catching Inspiration
from the sacred emblems referred to, and
80 convenient to you. Eapplsuse.l Aud
now let me attempt to pay proper tTi-
butte to the military authorities since the
occupation of this city by the United
States foEceg, rfEThy came, they cav, they
had conqueted, and yet there was nothing
of exultation. Calm. and dignihed SSsre
the oLheets, courteous and respectful were
the private soldiers. They found this once
EbeautifuE city In hameB,' (perhAps to give
light to the retresting parties who had
been 80 long in darkness.) (Applause y
Promptly and energetioally all the appli.
| ances possible for the extinguishment of
the flames were brought to bear. The
flames extinguished; the Christian Com.
mission, the q. S. Sanitary Commission
and thejU S.Ametican Union Commission,
follow, seeking the hungry and looking for
the sick! i The wants Of both having been
assiduously attended to. it is not strange
that discontents have been rendered dumb
founded, while all must 6e sppreciative of
such unparalleled maguanimity. In con.
clusion l desire to say, for those for whom
l speak, that the people who will belim-
mediately around you will be ever ready to
stand by you in your efforts to protect the
constitution and enforce the laws. Zap
plause.) But your friends are ready to
shake you by the hand, to whom have
the honor to introduce Governor Pierpoint.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Smiths re-
marks, Governor Pierpoint spoke as fol-
lows: '@"
MR. Smith AND GEHTLBMEH:-I would
not do justice to my feelings were to say
that l am not moved by the remarks which
have just been made and the circumstances
by which lam surrounded. You alluded,
sir, to the war, which, for the past four
great country and destroyed all CONNER
cial comm INDICATIONS between them. With
throbbiDg heart earnestly engaged in
opposing this terrible rebellion which has
left it's mark so unmistskably upoulthe
whole surface of our loyal State, nowhere
more SO than upon this beautiful city; and
the same feeling, l may say, aotuated
thoussnds-aye, tens and hundreds of
thousands-uf my fellow citizens. AS far
as am individually concerned, it is but
justice to myself to say that the position
which now occupy, and have occupied
since the commencement of this rebellion,
was entirely unsought By me. 1 had no
idea whatever Of occupying any such po-
sitions when l united in opposing ther rebel
lion. Thousands of times have felt my
self most disagreeably situated, and wish
ed in my heart that some other destiny
arc fH5A hTIk
summoned me, and 1 felt it my duty to
obey their commands. l served not with
the rgieW of benefittibg myself, of doing
ipjuey totSny one,i hut With the sole lobjectI
of being able to stretch forth my hand
and to save all of Virginia that could
(Applause } We did save a large portion
of West Virginia, and were fast embracing
the eastern portion also. But those who
commenced this rebellion were bent upon
destructiou-Vile, needless, cruel ,destruc.
ton; and the charred ruins of Richmond
attest how successfully they accomplished
their nefartous designs, You have we'll
advetted, eir, to the conduct of the military
since their advent among us-both officers
and men-and also to the philanthrspic
officers of such noble institutions as the
United States Sanitary Commission and
the Ohtistiau Commission. But these are
only small portion of the great features
which have marked this epoch and brought
lnstre upon our national character. Look
where you will, aud you will find that the
same good Offices have been performed by
our Northern brethren. While many have
accused them of wagiug war in a Vindic.
tive spiFiGandI make this allusion with
out desiring to wound the feelings of any,
one history will attest that never, in the
worlds history, was war .waged upon more
humaue and generous principles. Their
primary object was not willful destruction, :,
but to save aud to redeem; and it has been
left 'fofithis great fepubhcto exhibit to the
astonished gaze of mankind the magnif-
cent spectacle Of a nation combating with.
the one hand the, most gigantic struggle.
ever aimed at q nations life, and with the
other hand, pouring out for the benefit of
riend and foe alike, the most unbounded
muniioenoe that the world ever beheld.-
Virgtnians, too, have felt the benefits Of
that bouutYf And you have teelingly re-
minded us of it. Upon the blood stained
| 66ld OF battle, among the snfferinRs of the
sick and wounded in the hospitals of the
North, the same angels of mercy have
been aeWbEk, regardless Of ths6olor of a
sufeterss uniform, and proving that Amer
lea has great aud noble heart. Sir, is
not such Q nation worth standing by, and
such flag worth deIendiug1 (Great ape
plAuse.) And while th1s engaged with
war and theidu ofmercy, We have been
enabled not only TO place that grand old
Dag upon 9 pinnacle whence no mortal
hands win ever again dare to attempt to
tear 1t down, we have been able, at the
came time, to let the uniriendIy nations of
Europe learn that they must keep their
/ loVh positions, Or We shall be compelled to
make them do it. loud and continued
applause, Ip conclusion, permit me to re-
turn TO you, and the ladies and gentlemen
present, my sincerest -thsuks for the very
cordial Welcome which yon have been pleas
ed to extend to me. Ny duties will be
arduous, often difficult and intricate, and
must rely upon your kind aid and indul-
genGe, in all my earnest efforts in the pub
lilo good. I can only promise you that
every energy Of my heart and mind will be
devoted 10 the single object Of rearing up
III