The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-04-25


His Purpose In Coming EOuth...ThG
Speech.-. History OF the slavery Az
ttHtiOn.-.The War AN Unavoidable
Onc-.-nr. Wilson on the LtncOIm Rnt
johnson FrOcIHuIatIOnS. HE OppoS
cd the Twenty Thousand Dollar
CIanSe.--POWer OF the Ballot.
ORANGE COURTHOUSE, Va, April 90
1S67.-ThiS quiet, old fashioned village
which is rarely disturbed by greater
event than court" or n travelling cir.
Gus, was to-day crowded by people, ut
traCted by the announcement of All en-
tertainment. of a far different nature
Two weeks ago no ice was given
through the papers. and by other means
more likely to convey the information
to the colOred people, that the Hon.
Henry Wilson, United States Senator
from Massachusetts, would commence
his canvass of the Southern States by
an address to the "citizens" of Orange
county. Considerable surprise has
been manifested that the distinguished
Radical should have chosen this retired
town as starting point, and our repOr-
ter was Mt some pains to discover the
wherefore. 1t seems that it was by in
vitutiOn of northern man who has re-
Gently purchased the fine house and es-
tate of Col. John Willis, situated near
the courthouse, and who has recently
declared his intention to become citi-
zen of Virginia. t....-s..-
Mr.. Wilson arrived on the train from
Alexandria, and although there were u
large number of negroes at the depot
and of others anxious TO see the cele-
brated Radical, he stepped from the
platform of the car and made his way
to the carriage without meeting with
any demonstrations of welcome. He
was Immediately driven, iu company
with two United States officers, to the
house OF Il Mr.. Bond, where dinner
was prepared in his honor.
IN the meantime the negroes of both
sexes began to throng the streets and
gather III front of the courthouse build
ing, while quite number of staid
farmers of Orange and many villagers
collected, ready to hear with unpreiu-
diced ears the address of one who has
been acknowledged as leading expo
nent of northern ideas. 1t was several
hours before the speaker came, and
much amusement was created by tue
extempOre speech OF Lucas, (negr0) Il
delegate to the late Radical Convention,
who, being fresh from Hunnicutt's
teachings, desired to enlighten his con-
StitUents upon their rights and privi-
leges. Some of the negroes discussed
the great question of a voters duty
with their former master, and we were
much amused by some OF their ideas.
One aged darkey believed that they
were called upon to elect President!
Quite number thought they were
compelled to attend, under penalty of
II fine.
SENATOR WILSON'S ADDRESS,.
Fellow Citizens of Virginia:-Inc COM
pliance with II pressing request from
some OF your citizens, 1 am here to
speak upon public affairs of the day !;
permit me, therefore, in tue beginning,
TO say that intend TO speak, as l am
sure you must wish, frankly and lear
lessly. 1 have no disguises, but for
thirty-One years have been an unqunli-
fed friend of freedom, and an undHunt-
ed enemy of human slavery. l have
never given vote without first consid-
ering how it would affect the question
of slavery in America. Learned these
principles from the founders of our
Government ard the trainers of the
Constitution, men whom Virginia is
proud to own, and among whom none
was greater than james Madison,
whose home was in the county OF
Orange. He was opposed to the extern
slOu Vi sLuNeES upon lulS COuLLueuLS anu
believed il to be one OF the greatest
curses of our sin-stricken earth. He
declared that imbecility is always de-
pendent upon II land filled with slaves,
and these words falling upon my ears
in early manhood, l have always been
u firm believer in their truth, meeting
every effort to extend the power and
influence of the STAKEHOLDER with an
emphatic no! Those who established
the liberties of America, who waded
fire and blood for the princi-
Piles of the Revolution of l776, all be-
lIeved that the institution of slavery
and soon would pass away
from earth. But ere they had tasted
death, that institution, though feeble at
first, The whole number of slaves being
valued only at fifty million dollars, be-
gan to strengthen itself to huge proper
tions. Its friends soon took possession
of, and for more than fifty years, held
the reins of government. The spirit of
opposed their views, and in the
ranks of her followers were thousands
of good men, who read their Bible, and
on bended knee asked the Divine
guidance, firmly believing that Christ
died for all.
The struggle went from 1880 until
1860, when the American
people, unawed, and filled with earnest
ness in the cause of Truth, marched to the
polls, and by their ballots proclaimed
Abraham Lincoln President Of the
United States, and decided forever that
slavery should never advance another
inch upon this broad continent. [Cheers
from the colored people.l They de-
cided that the Government Ofthe United
States should be under the control of
men who adhered to the doctrines pro-
mulgated by Washington, Jefferson,
Henry and Madison, OF your own Vir-
Sinia. No one proposed to interfere
with the rights of any of the Southern
people, or TO disturb any who loved the
and Union; but in the
pride of power, IL class of men who ad-
hared to the principles of human servi-
tude plunged the country into a revO-
luton, which for wickedness has never
been equalled in the history of nations.
South Carolina took the lead, and after
Fort Sumter had fallen, Old Virginia,
too, yielded to evil cOunsels and took
her place in the line, thereby losing
thousands of her sons and making her
soil for four years bloody battlefield.
Let me say here, fellow citizens, that
believe war was inevitable. Two great
ideas were abroud in the land. One
was the great principle of republican
backed and sustained by all
the great advocates of progress, the
almighty hand of God behind it, and
with the philosophy of ages as its sup
port; while the other was the gigantic
system of human bondage, with its
millions of wealth, its Iettered slaves,
and proud aristocracy. Freedom did
not give way; she never has and never
will quail /; and Slavery, too proud to
yield to the demands of Liberty, raised
the standard of revolt. believed then,
as l do now, that this war was inevita-
BILE: it was one of Gods great wars,
and it ended with Justice victorious, as
| supposed it would. What is the
result? The Government was sus-
tanned, the nation still lives, the dear
old flag still waves, and slavery, thank