The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-15

some time since, under the caption
"The RebelliOus Element in West Vir.
GINA" 1t is not our habit to reply to
argument of this kind. We have no
wish to handy epithets with these gen
try. Ifthey propose to raise "A question
of veracity between themselves and
the Union men of that section, we be
Deve the experience of the past four or
five years will enable our people to
judge fairly between them. The Wheel
ing Register itself is n fair sample OF
the character for veracity possessed by
West Virginia rebels. Take the single
instance of the statement put forth by
il about fortnight since with its accus-
toned efTrontery, about the "ousting''
OF Democratic members by the last
Legislature; which was shown by us to
be so utterly baseless that the Register
has never referred to it since. The
whole truth in the present case is i'm
piled in what the Register intended to
be 1alsehood, when it talks about the
wonderful patience" of the rebels ''un-
der the insults !and outrages that haye
been heaped upon them" These Gin
suits and Outrages' consist simply of
an earnest effort to re.estab Iish and ex-
ecute civil law, and to protect the lives
and property Of Union men from these
returned and yet rebellious BUSH
whackers.
1t is a peculiarly of these gentry,
acquired perhaps by their experience
in the various military prisons of the
United States,l that they are always
and unreservedly ready to declare of
themselves and OF one another, their
more than infantile guilelessness. Es-
pecially have they great facility in
this way when Federal blue coats and
bayonets are about. Yet take them in
their native brush, and they are, as
Halleck said of Red Jacket, "the veriest
devils" that ever wore human form. Did
anybody ever see one of these fellows
during the war who had ever been
guilty OF anything unlawful? Never.
AT least none such were ever brought
TO the Atheneum or sent to Camp Chase.
They had done nothing; and all they
wanted was to be "let alone.'' And
they could all swear it with Just as
much facility as they could say it. So
1t Is now in Greenbrier and Monroe.
Since Gen. Grant has sent some Fed
eral bayOnets over there to protect the
Union men, these seditious disorgan-
izers and resisters of the laws, who in
stigate their ruflians to dog and threat
en- the officers who seek to enforce
them, resume their ancient tactics, and
are eager to rush into print with the
old story OF their lamb like innocence.
We propose neither to believe them nor
be the vehicle of their fnlsehoods, We
prefer to believe the testimony of men
of known loyalty and truthfulness,
who have never foresworn themselves,
or been guilty of the most heinous
crime that can stain the character of
the citizen or destroy his sense of moral
responsibility.
We have just this to say in regard to
the rebels, not only OF Greenbrier and
Monroe, but of Hampshire and Hardy
and any other county in which, like
these, unhaPpily, they have prepon-
derance not only in number but of the
wealth and intelligence, = that any,
thing We have said of their conduct
since the surrender of their armies in
the Spring of 1865, has been far milder
than the facts warranted. Whose fault is
it that civil law is yet SO far from being
re-established in many of the counties
along the border? Not the fault of the
State authorities, for they have been
most anxious and assiduous in their
endeavors to bring it about. Not the
fault of the loyal element in those
counties, for they, too, have done every
thing in their power to that end. The
responsibility rests with men like those
who denounce our statements as
"false'''-the leading, influential, edu-
Gated rebels,-the men who, to obtain
the confidence of the State authorities
eighteen months ngo, came here to
Wheeling with professions of re-
Pentance, and good faith and
good intentions on their lips, and
who have since falst6ed all these pro-
fessions, and in some cases violated the
oaths they took when released from
Federal prisons; who. instead of doing
what they pledged themselves to do,
have used their influence and learning
to embarrRss aud obstruct the establish
ment and execution of order and law
whose good faith turns out to DO the
same Punic faith that has characterized
the leaders of the rebellion in West
Virginia and throughout the South. not
only during the rebellion but since.
These are the gentlemen-such men as
Jones, Hounshell, Mathews, and Price of
Greenbrier, Caperton of Monroe, Judge
Allen OF Hardy, and Judge Kennedy
in Jefferson-On whom rests the re-
sponsibility OF the necessity for United
States troops in West Virginia. When
ever they make good the professions
with which they are wont to entertain
us, our people will be ready to treat
them magnanimously; but so long ms
they are pleased to regard the enforce
ment OF the laws as 'heapiug insult
and outrage upon them," so long we
imagine they will be dealt with as all
detiers of government and resisters OF
law deserve to be.
WE print this morning reioiuder
from Mr.. Ball to Mr.. Coen's card re.
specting the Zane street NJ. f, Church
roof. Each of our friends has now had q
hearing over his own signature, and
we hope they will feel satisfied to sus.
pend hostilities.
WENT wRsT.-General Grant went
West on the passenger train over the
D.