The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-12-30
The Resinsegratien Question.
WESTON. bee. 26, 1855.
Editors of the Register

Editors of the Register !
A proposition is now pending before
the Virginia Legislature to re-unite the
old and new State. Such proposition.
in orr Judgment, is wholly fruitless.
The separation of West Virginia from
Eastern Virginia is final and irrevocable
The division of the Old Dominion caused
many sighs and regrets during the bloody
dissolution. But now that the sepera-
ton has been consumnated by the mex
orable consequence of war, and baptised
in the blood of her children, there is
scarcely to be found a person of influ-
| encb or prominence in the new State,
who would now be willing to open up
the wounds and heartburnings of the
/ past four years to reuRite it with the
old We do not hesitate to say that the
separation never would have taken place
but for the war; and that the war was
1 against the consent of the people OF
West Virginia, as is proven by her
! vote on the ordinance of secession.
There is not, perhaps, an nnpreju-
diced mind today, of either party, all
things considered, either in the old OF
new State, but will admit that the peo-
pie of West Virginia have, in the forma-
ton of the new State, acted wisely. Re-
sistance to the United States authorities
would have burned our towns, laid waste
our fields and sacrificed our best blood
The blackened walls and impoverished
homes of the once rich and happy people
of the beautiful Valley of Virginia, pre-
sent but a faint picture of what would
have been our sad condition. All must
now agree that patriotism, prudence and
discretion have marked the conduct OF
orr people in the wise course they pur-
sued during the revolution For our
part, we have no disposition at this time
to unbury the past or repine over the
lnisfortnnes which have afflicted our
people What is done is done, and there
is now no remedy. Let the past be for
gotten We have now to deal with the
living feature Old Virginia is impOv-
erished and ruined by the var
Borne down by debt and taxes,
her labor system destroyed and broken
up. and thousands of her most lndustri-
Gus, enterprising Young men killed and
disabled, it will require full twenty
years to repair her losses. A reunion OF
the two States at this time, would renew
the old feuds which heretofore alienated
the two sections, ana which SO long re-
tarded the growth OF West Virginia.
| Our people want TO cultivate friendly
| feelings with their ancient brethren,
| and this ~ our Judgement can only be
| done by remaining as we now are In
deed the undevelOped wealth OF West
| Virginia which has lain dormant for
] wears, for the want Of Just legislative pat
| ronage, demands that the separation be
perpetual From an elaborate state
ment which we have seen and carefully
| examined we are satisfied that an eQul
| table settlement of the public debt, be-
| tween the old and new State, Will tree
| the latter from the payment OF any part
thereof To be thus freed from debt, to
start upon our new voyage, with our
own pilots at the helm, no argument is
needed 10 demonstrate, with our
vast resources OF wealth, particularly
mex haustless beds of coal and rich depo
sits of oil, now admitted in political
science to he two of the great elements
of modern civilization, wealth, and
| power-constituting valuable auxilia-
nv in American trade and commerce.
that wise and liberal system of legisla-
ton would soon place our new State,
side by side. with her eldest sisters If
the conclusions herein INDUCED be cor
rect. is it not apparent to every fair
thinking person, that for our people,
reunion at this time, with the old State,
is ruin and bankruptcy, whilst separation
is peace and happiness and prosperity, and
rich Inheritance TO oar children. With such
| a future, who in the limits of the new
State. that wishes well for himself and
country, could hesitate in the choice
here presented.
Respectfully, w. E. ARNOLD,