The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-15

loyal minority the entire sovereignty of
the State abides, for the simple reason
that the rebel majority! in arms forfeited
every right which belonged to them,
whether as citizens of Virginia or citi-
zens of the United States, by their tres
son. The traitor can never again exer-
else political rights in Virginia but by
the will of the people of the United
States.f ~ a'5i - - - g. s.5,5til -.
I repudiate, as the gentleman does,
this miserable contrivance here in Rich
mond called the Legislature of Virginia,
for the simple reason that it has never
been sustained and is not now sustain-
ed by a sufficient number of loyal men
to constitute a State; but when a sutt1-
cient number ofsloyal citizens do petit
ton in what is known as Virginia for
recognition as n State, 1 say no man on
this floor has right to deny to them
the right of local Legislation, simply
because, in the language of your Dec
laration, "the, legislative powers of the
people are incapable of annihilation"
save by their own crime. Surely the
traitor maj ority; by their great treason,
cannot annihilate the right of the loyal
people to local self-government.
That right sacred to the people of
every State cannot be forfeited save by
the act, the criminal act of the body of
the community. So long as a sufficient
number of the citizens of an insufgent
State teremain-loyafto the eConstitutiont to
constitute a State, the Congress may
and ought to recognize their right of
self-government.
West Virginia. is State. She has
consented to the annexation of the
counties of Berkeley and Jefferson.
The people of those counties have con-
sented to it. 1t remains for Congressto
consent to it. care not for the consent
nf ViFuiUia hnPan1n4 ahn has ~
lied State government, West Virginia
is State. Her admission by the act of
Congress into the Union concludes every
department of the eGovernment, SO long
as she is faithful to the Constitution
and laws of the Union. There
ntent to-day which may lawfully dis
pute the rights of West Virginia as a
State of the Union. iFfTiTreS
Sir, permit me to say that the Federal
Judicial officer who. officially questions
and denies the authority of West Vir-
ginia as n State of this. Union, sc. long
as represent action of Congress stands
the American people, simply subjects
himself, in my opinion, to impeach-
ment, and ought, to be driven in con-
tempt and disgrace from his office. For
the annexation of these counties to
West Virginia nobody y's consent is need
ed except the consent OF the people
thereof and of the State of West Virgin
ia; and that consent has been given.
Itonly remains, therefore, for the peo-
pie of the United States to say whether
the people in the counties of Jefferson
and Berkeley shall be transferred to the
Jurisdiction of West Virginia. The pre-
amble, as remarked before, has moth
ing 10 do with the purpose of the bill,
and shall vote to strike it out. What
remains is perfectly intelligible. Com
gress thereby consents and declares
that the two counties shall be trans
ferred to West Virginia. I call for the
previous question. Har i.5f ...i Z
The previous question was seconded,
and the main question ordered.