Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-11-07
[FrOm the Wheeling 1ntelligencer.l
LETTER FROM HON. JOHN B. BALDWIN.
srAuNroN, Sept 14th, 1865.
Editor LnteAtgeneer, Wheeiiag

DEAR SIR.-I have received your letter asking
Conformation as TO the real state of things in the
Valley and on from there to Richmond. aud as to
the real feelings of the people. ard how they are
affected toward The Government"
You express a desire and purpose to use Your
open and press in the best interests of d right res
toration," and you invite me 10 write y GU "a full,
fee and frank letter, 10 be used in prom oting The
cause OF Union which you trust we both have at
heart"
l accept your invitation in the spirit in which 1T
is given, and ] will write you truly the results Of
my personal observation, and OF an extensive inter-
course with persons cfintelligence from many parts
of the State.
1. AS TO SECESSION.
Opposition to the authority OF the United States
is completely at an end in Virginia and { doubt
il there can be found in the State a man, woman or
child who thinks it either practicable or desirable
TO renew ii in any form.
The supremacy of the National Constitution and
law is as thoroughly felt and acknowledged in Vir>
ginia as in any part of the Union, and there is no
mo:e necessity Tor an armed furce to ma ntain the
authority of the Government here than there Is IN
any Northern or Western State.
The central idea which now controls in the pub
lie opinion of Virginia is, that the Union must he
regarded as a fixed and enduring fact, aud that
everything of value in our future that depends upon
Government or Nationality is inseparably connect
60 WIN me peace, prosperity and success of the
United States.
This belief is universal, earnest and practical
So much SO that. it we could now have II free cleo.
ton without restriction as to the right to vote or.
" oG NOieu IOT. no man VINO does not enterf0ln II.
ana intend IN good 'aith to act upon it, COald be
elected to Office of any kind in any part ofVIrginIa.
The pretence that elections thus far held in Vir-
gInla have turned upon 'Cnionism'' or secession
ism" or that those now pending are likely to be so
influenced, is n mere device of Uffice seekt RS 10 an
propriate to themselves all the merit of the one and
to thro" upon their competitors all the odium of
the other. Among the most active in the resort to
this ~expedient are well known sccesSionists who,
under the "COctederacy,'' used it with the euds
reversed.
We have, as yet, no party divisions in Virginia,
and our elections necessarily turn upon the personal
popularity OF Candidates, all of whom profess sub
stanIially the same opinions and purposes in regard
to public affairs. Under such circumstances, it
will not, | think; be deemed unnatural or improper
that our people should be influenced by svmpauhits
and preferences " hicn have grown up in the pro-
Eres OF the trials and Suferin.s through which they
have so recently passed.
2. AS TO SLAVERY.
The people of Virginia do not believe that the
dealings OF the government with slavery have been
either just or expedient, or that the interests oieir!er
master or slave will be promoted thereby. They
look forward with painful apprehension to the flu
ture off community whose industrial system has
been so reckleSsly OverthrOwn, and of II helpless
race who have had freedom thrust upon them with
out preparation for its duties or Responsibilities, and
are thus, without f nit of their own, handed over
10 want, suffering aud probable exit ctiUn.
They are satisfied, however, that the mischief is
1 already practically done, and that any attempt to
retrace the steps when have been taken would be
wholly impraclicable, and could only serve to in
crease the trouble and confusion which are now i'm
pending. You may, therefore, expect, with con-
ldence, that, so far from seeking To Uhstruct men>
sures deemed proper 10 complete the " ork offrceing
the slaves, the people OF Virginia will promptly do
all that may he necessary on their part to carry it
into full effect, and TO make il, US far as practicable,
BENEFICIAL TO all concerned.
To establish a system OF free labor by which these
"treedmen' NAV be saved from the poverty ard
misery which will naturally attend upon their want
OF Industry and thrift, will require great good sense
and much kIndnrsS and forbeurauce. Fortunately
Tor them aud for The cause of humanity, ii Is not
true, Hs has been charged, ;h4' the white people of
Virginia have any feeling OF hatred OF ill will to-
ward them or any disposition to deprive them, by
legislation or otherwise, of the substantial benefits
OF freedom. Indeed the relations between The Two
races are still marked hv The mutual kindness
which has always attended their intercourse, and
which, in view OF all sc distuI hing influences which
have been brought to bear, may he regarded Us
truly wonderful.
The effect of freedom uron the character and
conduct of the negro is yet to be seen, and it will
require tine and experien' e 10 determine how far
It will he either wise or safe to confer upon him at
diIional rights or privileges, civil, soci"l or politi-
cal.
3. IA RIGHT RESTORATION"
IT am right in what | have said, 1t would seem
to folio" that The difficulties in the way OF restoring
Virginia at once 10 all her relations with the Feds
eTal Government are, so tar AS her people are con-
cerncd, purely Imaginary.
On this subject You may rely with entire con-
hdence upon the truth OF the following propositions:
/. That the people of Virginia are now fully pre-
pared, IN good faith and upon earnest convictions
of dat and interest, to take upon themselves all the
obligations, aud to perform all the duties which
Justly btlOng 10 them as citizens OF the United
States.
2. That our Courts ofJustice and Police now or
ganlZed according to the CJusIitulIOI aud laws OF
Virginia. are as fully competent TO administer jns.
tice and to maintain order, aud may be as ca, Fl
IDENTIFY relied Lpon for that purposr, 10y all classes
and conditions OF our people, as DIT any time in our
past history.
2 That II would no not ap1r oarG,ct1r oco LN
emlnentlv wise, to withdraw from Viz giniu all COM
mn"dhnts Of posts with thei: armed guards, all
Provost Marshnls with their military officials, and
all lecturers and other agents OF the Freedmeu's
Bureau. These instruments of martial law haze
become wholly unnecessary since the organization
OF our civil tribunals, and their continuance among
our people, tends to alienation and uukindnesS,
rather than Cancellation and good will.
4. That if our people could lie assured of their
entire freedom TO act, and that constitutional action
on their part would be sustained, they would go on
with cheerful aiacritv, Gnd in n spirit of national
conservatism, to conform their Stare Government to
the new Circumstances in which they find themsel.
YES, ard TO restore the constitutional harmony beI
tween the State and Federal Governments.
5. That those who count MS political capital any
supposed preference on the part of our people
among obsolete party organizations, and those who
apprehend that rtScntmeniS, growing ont of past
collisions will control our future political relations.
alike fail TO appreciate "the situation" They will
all find that freeing the slaves has set the masters
free from the necessities which once controlled their
political action, and that our people are lar more
accessible 10 Influences suggested 10y the future than
by the past
| have thus stated truly and fairly the opinions
and purposes oflhe people OF Virginia. founded upon
convictions OF duty and interest, but take it Tor
granted :hat you look for something higher and
better than this, and that you include in YOUR idea
of a right restoration, a revival of those feelings of
kindness aud good will which once existed between
the people Of The several SAFES and of that anec>
tionare loyalty to the con,mon government which,
in the earlier days of the Republic, so greatly dis
tinguishPd our whole people.
1t is due to candor to say that no puch re yival
has yet taken place in Virginia, though | do not
AT all despair of seeing il brought about. Time of
itself, will do much toward relieving the bitterness
of recent strife. The renewal Of commercial inter
curse must be followed ny tie re>estnblishment of