The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-01-18
Domestic Traitors
Enron. Never since the beg'nn'"s ':

| r,,-,v. Never since the peH'
~" .,.,,;on has there, been time WIZ
h.boOved the Union men OF THIS 'a Tim,
Os"s =, III, aler. than n. the present t .1s
uO Nv" ,rm;.s are progressing with rHpla s''. w..
0ut 80 - tho anal crushing out and suRj"ga'''D
wv -. .or.nira,ors, is true; but TINT '''e g"
.m;s, Of the country love the e'"""' ,,ors
,.,sr than when their prospects Ee''
.n.rO, is no. to be expected Inc S'e"'
~" 80, of the people OF this Valley have A,"a. .s
h.cn and arc still, loyal-hase "'~ay' W.T. W.,
WV W" c,vcrumeu, under which We live D"'
"nfar,uua,ely they have always pe'H WV
nusb cullcd md deceived by ~'ese0 A
uurrucipled men, who, under the 'a's' l.. s ,ho ,
y. ,ovo for the people and devotion 10 '"'
rn;o, cause, have led them OIL, almost 10 '"'
,,r,c, Of ruin before they were aware; ''0"
which sou,e barely escaped, while others "'''
led on to their fnal ruin
!, will be well remembered here by every
,r.r,an, with the history Of the ''ines
.omQ four years ago, that very lew Pe'""r'
, ,rorc tbon three or four, Of the leaders %
H., rebellion in this Valley openly aSo~eu
accession, but were ever harpins upon TIC
;,;ur.d righs, Of the people, and their o""
upIyinc devotion to the Union and INC WV
eminent, Even Henry \. Wise was gong 10
srb, for "his rights in the Union Thus the
svrep SONG was sungIo the people, OF i"l1r'"
r;.b,s and devotion to the Union, until large
nnr,;or Of those who were not accustomed
TO think for themselves actually 'ho"E"'
,b,, their rights mere invaded. But when
the lime came, where did VIC find those lovers
Of the Union and friends Of human rights
They then change the song, and the people
are .dmouished that they must Mt every
hazard "defcnd their State" They grew
hold. and defiant and insul,cd every man
who manifested any disposition to oppose
,hcr ncfurious schemcs. The Union men
from the country well remember that they
Could scarcely come TO town without encoun-
tcrinr the insults and even threats OF those
mcn I, will also be remembered how ha1nr-
dous il was for Union man to speak or write
n word that did not exactly occord with the
views Of these men, until finally their treason
eliminated by assuming the attitude OF open
rebellion acninst the Government, and par
ticipa,ion in the glorious retreat OF Wise, and
in ;o;,;no their fortunes with the "Southcrn
| Confedcrncy."
! But unfortunately for their country, they
arc not always TO rcmnn away, else wc might
sny "thcy left their country for their country's
GOOD" Many Of them rctrrn--some upon
one prctcxt md some upon ano'hcr-'o;nc
| from one motive and some from another. The
Presidents Proclamation Of Amnesty, which
wc r,nsrd az ono Of the most sublime acts Of
executive clemcncy Of which history furnishes
any account, is not without liability 10 the
greatest abuse; while thousands Of poor, mis-
Guided wretchcs will avail themselves Of its
provisions in good faith md live up TO its
requirements, there are hundreds who i'll
various ways will take advantage of the
ccmcncy OF the Government 10 pcrpclratr
their wicLed designs in various ways and
under various prc,cxts. II vas OILY the
other day TINT one Of these hypocritical pre-.
,cn,lcrs to repentance, cup Elk, after having
been permitted TO conc through the lines, be.
came 30 blatant and ou,-spckcn in his denun-
cintions Of the Government md loyal men,
and so lavish Of his praise and commentator
Of the p>rjured leaders Of the rebellion, that
the man who had given him shelter md pro-
lection had TO dismiss linn at once to find mn
asylum more tongcnial TO his procliritics.
While il is the duty NJ well ms the pleasure
Of good loyal men 10 take by the hand and
encourage all misguided rebels, who, in good
faith, abandon their erroneous course, and
provo their sincerity BY their acts, it is equal.
ly their duty, to themselves and tho COM
mnni,y in which they 1.-Two, 10 watch with n
Jealous eye NIL those who fail to give such
evidence.
But for the treachcry Of come and the lack
Of nerve Of others, whom we once regarded MS
the champions Of the Union cause, our Valley
would never have been overrun with the
thicying aud murderouS bands Of Wise and
Loring. That We have scores Of such among
us to-day, il o fact too patent TO be misundcr.
stood.
Some who have always been among us, who
claimed 10 be pretty good Union men when
Uncle Sans boys had possession, when they
wcre driven AWAY and retired, could help
plant the cannon on the hill to shoot at them
and others who, only because they orc grow
ing weary Of the fortunes Of the "Confcd.
erncy," nre awaiting themselves Of that elem.
cucy only intended for rtpentont traitors.
! KANAWHA.
To be eon.inued.)