Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-05-24
West vlrEinIa-RsturnInE RsbolS.

West Observation-Disclosures Rebels
Editors EateEligMer:
The decided Stand taken 81 the loyal
people of many ofthe counties of West
Virginia, against played out rebels relntn-
iug q live again sat1oug theRs Is what We
might expect. For what have the loyal
people not suffered at Ii h8nds of these
rebels3 and what cause was there to jnsti-
II their 1isbDlicRt 8Ca9--
At the Sqmmsncement Of the war all
parsons. &h6 adhefsdEto the g6Iefnmsnt
and their lawful allegience Eere threaten
ed with exterminston or banishment from
the State, and GoniScation Of all property,
unless they should zturB traitors ADD 90
with Them. What have these played out.
rebels omitted 70 do since, to make good
their threats2 Gan any loyaiman point TO
an instance. where any mercy or forbear-
ancs vas shown bysany one Dtithese rebels,
until lear OF failure and of Just rstEibution.
bagRn;to possess their fsndish and coward
yseQlS3 We think mot. This then de-
Eterminas the Puhiihmeut5 they deseFVsat-
the hands Of loyal people, now they have
fRiled.d We alIfeel lIhis.' Anything short
of determination or bRuishment, aud con-
fRcatiOn of their properly would be acts
| OF misplaced mercy, not meEited iustice
On'the part of ouEIoyal people. Er{s
Now 10 there any cause why We should.
give mercy instead Of meriIed justice in.
Tnis. eAss2 President Johnson has well,
said that giving merry in place OF merfted
MYSTICISM some cases isGbsolute crime, az
it dePriVesr the future of that security;
which proper examplesGlons can give
There was NO excuse or extenuatiuR cir
cumstance for the sebels Of West Virginia.
That the time, interest and Eelfars OF West
Virginia consisted in . firm adherence to,
the gOVerument-be the issue OF the war
what it I might-Wasi as .tmanifestf to all
minds before Gud during the war, as the
1 sun ina cloudiess sky. No honest mind
could have mistaken on this point
The motives, therefore, that have impelled
| West Virginia rebels, have been absolutely
wicked and tnslieious.l Is 1t right TO repay
this with mercy or with meritsd justice r.
The sacrifice of three billions Of treasure,
and millions oflprecious lives Of loyal SOL
diers, to the nation, many by studied and
most cruel torture, while holding the most
sacred of neutrality-suspicious. of war;
WestVirginis, herself, with. her plundered,
persecuted, exiled, and mot unfrEqueutIy
butchered loyalists; her devastated lfarms,
her scattered, anguished and bereaVed PEG.
pie, can answer. .sl u 7atst m.
But the mere 1Oish of these played .out
rebels to return and live again among a
people they have 30 ca0selessly outraged,
is the strangesti thing, and the strongest
proof, too, oftheir entire arnaOOFthiRes8.-
What man thatihas any just sentiment left,
would do lit What man that has one at.
tribute that distinguishes him from the
brute would do it2 Especially when re-
mote parts of the. country, or ct any rate,
the earth, offers to them resting place,
removed from the present suffsEingS and An.
gufsh of their Immediate victims It shows
either brazen impudence, that SRould
Wantonly add i1eult to the gEaXest injury,
or q itotaltWanl OF all jpshi moral sense;
either of which would fuliy-iustify the
stand OurlOyal pB6plenre taking
Hf 10 ONB THAT HasiSURFAR1p.