Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-27
The RedintegratiOn Of Virginia.

The Wheeling hteHigeRcer, (Which 1t is ne
eessary to say vas always anti Yirginian, and
is now an organ of Radical Republicanism), in
its issue of the oath instant, republishes the
resolutions of our Legislature, inviting the re-
turn of the % seceders +" of the West Virginia
to the old fold, and appointing commissioners
to convey to our erring brothers the as
surance of our forgiveness and of an affection
ate welcome back from their unnatural wan
dering. 1t then proceeds to give the following
information:
"a short time since Governor Foreman received a
letter from Mr. Stuart, one of the Commissioners in
curing whether the Legislature of this State took
any action on the subject of the Virginia PROPOSE
tons, either by appointing Commissioners or con-
ferring authority 70 negotiate on the Executive
Mr. Stuart explains shat the Legislature OF Virginia
did not appoint the Commissioners until about the
time of the adjournment Of our own Legislature;
that they are ready to come on to Wheeling with
their propositions il there is any person or commits
sion authorized TO treat with them.
Governor Boreman, in reply, informs Mr.. Stuart
that the Legislature took no action on the subject
but says that if the Virginian Commissioners had
presented themselves during the session he has no
doubt they would have met with most respectful
and courteous reception at the hands Of the men,
assuring Mr.. Stuart that proposition for reunion
Of the States would not have been entertained by
the Legislature for a moment, but would have been
rejected by an unanimous vote OF both Houses
The Legislature were prepared, however The assured
Mr. Stuart to take action in regard to the settlement
If the public debt and division Of the public pro-
perry, but no. being advised OF any movement in
the General Assembly Of Virginia looking to such
settlement the matter deferred from time to time
until the period for adjournment arrived and nothing
was done.
We trust the receipt of Governor Boreman's let
ter will have a salutary effect at Richmond Those
people over there might well understand first as
asst and once for ALL that the talk about re-absorb-
ing this State in Virginia is sheer folly. The very
large majority Of the people of this State
would lay down their lives before they would
submit to it. So strong and universal is this feel
ing that even the party here that is in full sympa-
thy with the dominant party at Richmond dare not
confess that they favor reunion though they have
maintained an Incorporating hostility to the d-
vision from the time It was first preached. In the
hope of getting the upper hand here this fall they
before the people with the declaration mot that they
are friendly to the State butt that they accept the d.
vision as a fixed fact. Our Richmond friends will
be wise TO make up their minds TO the same concu-
sion on this point"
We do not wonder that the IRtelligeRcer
should give expression to its own aversion to
reunion in this emphatic style. 1t always had
the bad taste to prefer Yankee politics, senti-
ments and associations to those of Virginia.
Besides, as the matter now stands, the hteAi-
gencer is the most considerable journal in its
State, and naturally enough it objects to
sliding down to a less important and influential
position. Nor are we at all surprised that the
class of politicians now figuring in West Vir-
GINA, and who owe their prominence to the
Acknowledgement of so large number Of vo-
tiers, and to the fact that it is so easy to
be /" big bugs" in a small Commonwealth,
should agree with the htetligeneer; but from the
great body of the people, who are Virginians
at heart, and would not exchange the glory of
their birth-right for honors or rewards much
more substantial than any little runaway, So
called, State could confer, we do expect diff
ierent response-not now, perhaps, but when
the petty sentiments and petty men OF the
time have subsidized into their natural nothing
ness. Till then Virginia can afford to wait.