The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-08
Further Comments from the Virginia
Papers on the ReeOnstructiOnB Bui.

Further Comments from the Virginia
4 Papers on the ReeOnstructIOnB Bill.
Haa & EFoultbe Richmond Enquirer.
We trust that it viii appear wise to
the members of the Virginia Legisla-
i ture to: take a prompt recess of several
weeks, for the double purpose of await
ing further light, and Of conferring
with their constituents. If there be
/ any that desire hasty action here, let
them be well assured that it would be
! practically injudicious, even were mem
| bers sagacious enough to pierce the
darkness which envelops us, and see
the clearer light beyond. The masses
of the people, spread over the State in
the comparatively calm seclusion of
their homes, are not swayed by
panics or sudden impulses. They will
be very slow to recognise the expedien-
| cy or efficacy of doing evil that good
| may come, or putting their pride and
I their honor in traffic. And the harm
which would result from any action
/ here which the people might repudiate
needs only to be Suggested. a't
But we earnestly implore the mem
oers, whatever they may neglect, not to
neglect, and not to postpone for dav
or an hour, the duty of manly and
dlgnided protest in the name of tho
commonwealth against the late stub at
her heart, and the appointment of a
commission of her noblest and truest
sons to appear in her behalf at the bar
of the supreme judicial tribunal of the
land, and, with the aid OF the ablest
counsel the country can afford and
money can employ, to demand IL il be-
fairly doReI Thus much, at least. is
due TO the commonwealth that woke
America to the combat for liberty, by
the burning eIoquence of her Patrick
Henryi that gave Washington to the
country and the world: that furnished
both the author of the Declaration of
lndependenceand the father of the Con-
stltutlon, in her Jefferson and her Mad
lsoni and that gave the purest and
4 brightest name that has adorned Amer
ican Jurisprudence, and graced the tri-
onnaI TO which she now appeals, in the
honored Marshall. It is crime
against liberty and humanity IA crime
against history and against fame-to
drag dotOn such a STATED And who are
doing this3 States nearly all of which
she has helped to nurse as babies!
States six of whom she freely gave to
the country, requiring only the strictest
guarantees for their El6eglieSl These re-
quite her now by turning upon her, and
making her feel with King Lear, "How
sharper than serpeut's tooth is II to
have a thankless child ~ H7 aa1r "
-.a.t From Lhs Riehnlond IqHles a 800
Calm. temperate, sagacious executive
and legislative action at this time may
save us from any permanent injury
advantages cannot be gained by su-
kpineness and inaction. In all ages and
countries the ehaughtiest'and most high
toned people, when defeated in battle
and forced Mt the point of the bayonet
to accept merciless and inhumau terms,
have in no way sustained their reputa-
| tion by taking such measures as have
| best secured their lives and property
from the fury of their conQuerOrs.-
There are certain great duties which
we now owe to our wives and children,
| those helpless victims of our vain
effort at independence, which demand
our constant aud vigilant care. The
celebrated car of Juggernaut was never
more remorsely driven over the crush
ed, mangled and bleeding forms OF its
victims, than the car of radicalism is
now rushed across the wasted form of
American liberty. -a Iur.E f
| From the letchnold Dispatch.
| Let us try to prove ourselves great in
misfortune. If haply we have any
| rights left, let us not forbear to exer-
else them in judioious and intelligent
manner. Let US not shirk any respon-
stbtlity which the crisis demands. If
| we could be excused from giving away
/ to despondence so far as concerns our
! selves Individually, we have no right
! to compromise our pOsterity. The day
\ is not distant when there must be a
change; and as it cannot be for the
worse, there is much reason to hope
and believe that it may be for the bet
ter, and the country may yet be disen-
thralled. -....
| From The Richmond E1aniner. s.l
| Whether the infamous act of Con-
gress shall in any form be recognized
by you 1.-THE Virginia Legislature,l j and
what you shall elect to do about it, are
! questions vastly too important for the
decisions of body elected two years
ago to make your laws. Let them pre-
pare to submit at as early a day as
possible to the people of Virginia the
| question, whether or not they will hold
a convention, and let them authorize
the Governor, in the event of an affir-
native answer to that inquiry, TO make
the necessary proclamation. The time
is ample. The term of the present
Governor does not expire until the Ist
of January, 1868. 1t is probable that IL
may suit the pleasure of the General
commanding this department to con-
tinue the existing forms of government,
so as to prevent for some months to
come, the disorders of anarchy. Mean
while, we may discover an escape from
horrors which il is happiness merely to
postpone. BY this means the people
will be enabled deliberately to assume
the responsibility of action in the
emergency-a responsibility too pro-
found and momentous to rest on mar
rover foundations.
FT0ul uIe PeLeT1btIrO Dis7ldfeh
To decline to act brings in view con-
sequences which are fraught with peril
Ito act is to drink to the dregs one of
the bitterest cups ever concocted by in
genuity and vindictiveness. In this
dilemma We oput great trust in the
| Legislature. II is composed of sensi-
BILE and well-tempered gentlemen.
They will, we are sure, meet frankly
the duty devolved upon them, and dis
| charge it with their best Judgment for
the good of the, prosecuted people of
Virginia. Whatever of disgrace may
be reflected in the situation, and the al
Tentative selected, will attach to our
rulers and not to US. The constitution
and the Jaws are dead, and force is SUI
From The Lynehessrg VTrgt,aan
One thing is certain, in our Judgment,
and that is, that we cannot rely upon
the conservative (so-called) people of
the North. They seem to be demoral-
lied, and content themselves simply
with tame protests against the usurpa-
tions and outragss of Congress. Nei-
ther can we cite, with any effect, the
decisions of the Supreme Court. That
body is now supporting the constitu-
ton, but how long it will be found in
accord Herewith depends upon the lit
tie of life that remains to one infirm old
gentleman, who must soon sink into