The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-14

its available commercial connections,
are diverse from Xirginia-south and
west with Cincinnati and athe1 Gulf OF
Mexico; north with Pittsburg and the
lakes; east with Baltimore and Phila-
delphia. The markets in East Virginia
are not our markets; and if they were,
it would be difficult If not impossible
to reach them from the larger part OF
West Yirginiaiby any direct or conyen-
lent means of. access. We are cut OIL
from East Virginia by the almost inn
passibIeE barriers of the Allegheny
mountains. With the present crushing
public debt of Virginia resting upon
her, she would not, even iE reunited
with us, be ablelfoEag agesito come 10 con-
struct, ut such heavy cost as must be
necessary to accomplish ii, any road or
other available means of travel and
transportation through those mouh-
tains into our midst, SO as to, connect
us-with the sea- board or any Important
place of trade or commerce within her
borders. Besides, if she had both the
will and the ability thus to accommo-
dateus, any such worll, when construc-
ted, would only carry us beyond the
nearer and better markets already IN
licated. Any such work, too, would
therefore be improbable and difficult
to sustain; and this fact would neces-
sarily. preclude the hope of deriving
any aid from the investment of foreign
capitaI.in its construction. To go back
! TO Virginia. would, therefore, in my
opinion, result in the perpetuation OF
our past and present Impoverished and
undeYeloped condition. Itw leave
tour inealculable mineral, agricul ltural l,
and nufacturing resources to slum7
Der for all time to come, as they. have
done in all past time in our valleys,
hills. and mountains. without any
practical value either to ourselves or to
others We SHOULD remain. hereafter,
as we havesremained heretofore, itthe
it BHad the inclination, would never
have the power, to rescue US from our
inevitable degradation.
viii it be,urged that we may reason
abIylexp xpectR mora liberal poltcyi1nthe
future If we were reunited, and that
hereafter we might be allowed to con-
tion with the remainder ofithe State,
such improvements in such directions
as would tsubserve our local interests?
Upon what grounds can we justly pred
icate any such anticipate d6nf Will IT be
said that slavery being destroyed, the
antagonismSheretofere arising between
the two sections IN consequence of the
distrust of the eastern Shareholder
growing out of the existence of slavery
in the East, and the non-existence of 1t
in the West, would necessarily cease2-
The truth is, no real antagonism ever
did exist on nthis,acoount. Thereis not,
in all our history, d single fact which
would warrant any just apprehension
on the part of eastern ialarmists in this
respect. think I may challenge the
boldeSt accuSeri of western fidelity to
the laws and constitution of the State
to furnish an instance of bad faith on
the part of West Virginia, Indicating
any purpose of disTegaTdlng.3 or com
promising the lawful rights ofthe east
ern Shareholder. On the contrary, our
| Legislative annals furnish too much
| evidence of discreditable subserviency
and toadyism toward the imperious de-
mands of eastern Shareholders. No,
their assumed distrust was a mere pre-
text. They knew it was unfounded.-
They had Submitted our fidelity to the
severest tests. When real danger as
sailed them; when, the British, in the
war of 1912, were carrying off their ne
groes and pillaging their property, they
| did not hesitate to cry to us for help /;
and with the echo of their call, coming
| back from our mountains, was min
gIed the roll of the western drum on
their own capitol square. With such
alacrity did we fly TO their rescue; and
our true men stood where their own men
had not dared to stand. taloneSon their
own shores, between them and the Zoe |;
and manya bravefell low from our hills
fell in defense of their firesides. con-
fess that am unable to suppress ex-
pressions ofindignation when remem-
ber the long, loud, and persistent clam
ors with which they impeached our in
tegrity and loyalty to the rights of the
slnveholder. 1t was "A mere subterfuge,
under which they hoped to cover up
their neglect of our section. This by
the way, however.
1 must Judge of the future by the
spnst. Look. at the facts. There is east
ern Virginia, covered all over with rail-
ways, canals, &C., furnishing every
needful facility fordeveloping thatpart
of the State and for trade and transpor-
tation. In West Virginia, comprising
one-third ofsthe territory of the State
and'containing vastly greater mineral
| wealth and natural resources, we have
none of those facilities excepting the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, built by n
foreign corporation, few sections of
macadamised roads, a few miles of im-
some dilapidated "mud-pikes. In large
and important sections of our State
even these cheap facilities are entirely
wanting. L repeat the question, why is
this ,so7 If the reasons I have assigned
are not satisfactory, Iconfess am una
BILE to give any better.
And what is there in the horoscope
of the future to indicate relations be-
tween the two sections, if they are con-
solidated. more )frie endly and tlpst than
have heretofore existed? Certainly
nothing for many generations to come.
standing us we now do, with hands
stained with each others blood, shed
inftle late Eebell lion, it could hardly be
expected that our joint counsels would
exhibit any increase of harmony, ltber-
ality. and good feeling. However we
NAV regret this hostility, we cannot
deny the fact that It exists. 1t may be
wrong, butstilI 1t does exist. We must
recognize the fact. 1t is an tnveterate
hostility, increased and intensified by
recent events. Wonld 1t be wise to at
tempt to reunite such hostile elements
in the same municipal organization in
the absence of some potent and over
rulinSnecessity2 1t would{ be wise, 1
admit, to remove the canse' of Disagree
ment. Can anything accomplish that
nicipal. existence? While the same
cause remains the same effect will fol-
| low it. And If my view of the difficult
ties in the way be correct, it is no figure
of speech to say that this inveterate hos
tility, founded on the antagonism of
irreconcilable interests, is as immoya-
BILE. as the Allegheny mountains; for
willis those emounta aims stand inlt he way
there can be nor practical fdentffcation
of interests, pursuits, State improve
ments, or commercial relations.
My conclusion is, therefore, that the
peace and prosperity of both sides will
be best promoted by their remaining
separate.
But there are many other considera-
tions leading my mind to thes same con-
clusion. The two States are separated
| not only by insuperable physical bar
| rieEs3 bnt they are really, 4and might
say radically, different in the manners,
customs, ed 1cation, habits, and feelings