The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-14
Out of their own Mouths all Such
Persons are Condemned Un-
der our Proposed Constitu-
tionaI Amendment. - i.
avoluntary and Corrupt Compile
ity with Treason can never be
Excused by any circum-
stances.
This is the Judgement Pronounc-
nounced by Traitors Them
selves upon the Loyal Peo-
pie of West Virginia.
R1cHMoNp. Fehrnarv. 1se2.


has now reached a stage at which every
candid mind must be convinced that Il
Will soon result in the complete estab-
liShment of the separate independence
OF the Confederate States. After two
years OF war in which the North has
lost several hundred thdusand men and
spent more than a thousand million
dollars, the Confederacy remains un,
conquered. 1t Is now more able to re-
sist than it was in the beginning, com,
pairing its strength with the power o.
the enemy. 1t has larger and better
armies with more copious materials ol
war than It had yeIr ago. It still re-
pulses nearly every advance OF the
enormous levies of the North. 1t has
already displayed more strength and
acquired more glory than other coun-
tries which have been independent fol
ages. II its achievements have been
attended with large expenditures OF
blood and treasure, yet the capacity oi
such people as ours to carry on wal
can never be exhausted while the wal
Is to resist subjugation. On the con.
trary, the Sorth, which fights for con-
quest, must find its warlfke resources
practically exhausted whenever it be-
comes clear that conquest Is impossible.
In a war waged by the North for the
subjugation of the South, the failure ol
the North is the complete triumph oI
the South. That triumph Is at hand.
That result appears certain to us who
know the spirit and resources of the
Confederacy. Even you, who have
been separated from the South and
have learned the events of the war
mainly from Northern sources, must
have corrected their boastful bulletins
OF victories by the confessed results OF
campaigns. You know for example,
how many "grand, armies" have been
sent to take Richmond and how many
victories they have claimed; but you
turn shattered, decimated, disgraced.
You know that Richmond remains un-
dehled by the foot of a conqueror.
We have met with some disasters.
Others may befall us. Even If Rich
mond, or Nicksburg, or Charleston, or
any other city were to fall, there would
still remain to US between the Atlantic
and the Rio Grande vast country and
an unconquerable people. Partial sue
cess of the enemy, wherever obtained,
must at length be. abandoned by the
remnants of invading armies, glad to
escape from a country which they may
rayHge but cannot subdue.
The North can neUer conquer the
South. Neither tUtlL tie South eUeI' con-
sent 10 a restoration of the Union. An
inhuman attempt 10 subjugate brave,
can Herer be forgiven or forgotten. The
atrocities of the North in prosecuting
this war and n desperate attempt to in-
woke servtle insurrection have placed a
fiery gulf of hatred between the two
The separation which was
forced by fanaticism has been confirm
ed by 1erocious folly. IL is not the
South which will have to regret the con-
sequences.
AS certainly as the atrocious schemes
OF subjugation is destined to fail, lust SO
certainly will every inch of the soil of
Virginia remain under her Jurisdiction.
The entire South will be conquered or
all Virginia will be free. By solemn
resolves the Confederate and State gov
ernments stand pledged never to sur
render any part of the State. They will
be prompted by every motive of inter
est and of honor to redeem the pledge
at all hazards. -
During this war ournew government
could not hitherto keep large armies
constantly in Northwestern Virginia
without neglecting vital points or de-
Tense. Yexatious raids have usually
been avoided. But our battles have
been fought as we'll for the ultimate
of the Panhandle as for the
independence of all the Confederate
States. Events may yet take a differ
ent course even In this war. Hereaf-
ter such preparations will be made
that, in future wars, the brave and
hardy men of Northwestern Virginia,
hacked by the most warlike nation on
the globe, will more probably become
the invaders than victims OF of'invasion.
They would be in greater danger on
the Northern than they will be ON the
Southern side of the boundary. f5s...fs
We congratulate you upon the GER
tainty that our section of the State will
remain with Virginia and with the
lieve, will rejoice IN this Insurance.
Your interests are with the South. In
the Confederacy our section of Virginia,
so full of all natural elements of wealth,
will become one of the most prosperous
regions of the continent. With the
North It would dWfndle under the
shadow Of rival and strange sections
In the South we have maintained
free institutions throughout this tre-
lnendous struggle while the govern
ment has needed the largest powers
and the people would have acquiesced
IN many stretches OF authority in or
der TO defend their political existence.
heir property, their families and their
lives. We have thus proved that lib
eTty may flourish among us forever.
slaving us, has given up one after an
other, the most sacred safeguards of
freedom and has shown
itself incompetent to preserve free in
5titutions. You will be glad TO enjoy
liberty with the South rather than en-
dure despotism with the North.
When this unequal struggle began it
might have been expected that the bor-
1ers OF Virginia and especially the
Northwest would, fora time, be over.
lowed by the armed populations of the
North. Il was not to have been expect
ID that a civilized nation would bru-
.alize war by such barbarities as you
have suffered and witnessed. It was
hardly credible that any among you
would have made themselves agents of
theinvaders 10 oppress their felIow-eit- |
zens by setting up a petty government
under the protection OF foreign bayo-
nets. We do not address ourselves TO
hose who have eagerly engaged with
he enemy to subjugate or dlsmember
bur venerable Commonwealth. TaeU
tdpe chosen 70 abide khe event of oitedI
b iOltteh they hGue taken tte PaFt Of trdt-
0FS aud they must abide 61Tit. To those
lmong you who, rather than betray the |
State, have suffered oppression from |
lAnrpers and invaders with mar
yr-like coustancy; we tender the |
ribute of our cordial sympathy
md profound admiration, They !
leserve To be ranked with those other
itlzens of ofNorthwesteFn Virginia who, I
N every battlefield Of the State, from /
treat Bethel 70 Fredericksburg, have
ought with heroic courage In the cause /
4 liberty. These gallant men and those /
Who, at home, have boldly maintained /
heir Loyalty have vindicated the rfRhf 4
f the people Of the Northwest to wear 4
he iIfustrions name of Virginia In !
pite OF the treason which some have
ommitttd. 5='lss.l5.., z, I, - ..
II you have not an acted with equal
lrmness, We are gratihed 10 believe fas
e e have =. ',s many reasons for beIieyingl