The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-07-02

of the Allegheny mountains were
against it. The State government
rebel to the core, was determined to at
tach Western Virginia to the Southern
Confederacy. The only hope, tn H!
fore, for the Union people OF Wes ~. ' ~ u
No one labored more in the enOLs =! y
rally the Union people VINO Lne5 LII, ~
the Wheeling Convention on t1e 9 5.L
dav of Nav, 1861, than william FL Sue
vensou, The Convention resolved 10
stand by the General government 70
the end, and ordered the ALnerlc CaIl nag
to he raised upon the Wheeling custom
Honse- the only public building in the
Sonth at that time which doated the
old flag, After arranging the prelimi-
naries for the formation of a new State,
the Convention called another to meet
on the 11th day of June follow
ing, which met at the time
government of West Virginia
upon a loyal basis. The proceedings
were recognized at Washington as the
act of legitimate State government.
When the question of forming new
State to be called "Western Virginia"
was afterwards submitted to the peo-
pie, it was carried by large majority.
Mr.. Stevenson was active in the new
movement. He was also q member of
constitution. Afterwards he was sent
to Washington to assist in securing the
admission of the new State, which was
only accomplished after long strug-
gle. In sending Mr.. Stevenson to
Washington upon this business, the
Union people of West Virginia under
stood their wants. The man who rep
resented a district of Virginia at the
Chicago Convention in 1860 (the only
delegates, if we are not mistaken, from
the Southern State)r who was district
elector on Lincoln's ticket, and VINO
had succeeded in keeping whole skin
on his body, could we'll be trusted. AT
the first election held under the new
constitution, in 1868, Mr.. Stevenson was
chosen State Senator. Ills constituents
have returned him regularly ever since.
Five times in succession he has been
reelected President of that body. In
a convention of five hundred delegates
he was selected without opposition as
Republican candidate for Governor.
During his residence in West Virginia
Mr., Stevenson has encountered the
most Incorporating opposition OF
rebels and rebel sympathiZers. The
State is by no means free of them yet,
and their intense hostility to this man,
who has risen from total Obseurtty to
the position of fair representative OF
the selt-taught, self-governed, pro-
tOundly Versed American setlZenI e8-
hibits Il malignity and hatred even
greater than that they bear to the old
flag. Boastful, bitter, arrogant as ever,
they threaten to sweep out the candi-
date and his party. Those who appre-
ciate at their full value the services
rendered by the Union people of West
Virginia, whose determined stand at
the outbreak ofthe rebellion prevented
tho rebel army from operating on the
border of Pennsylvania nd Ohio; those
who reflect that the loyalty of Western
Virginia alone in ali probability. pre-
vented the utter desolation ofPittsburg,
will pray for the success of the Union
party of West Virginia in the coming
The Standard bearer of the party is
we'll known in this city as selt-made
man, skilful in debate, close rea-
soner, a faithful observer and student,
the possessor of vast fund of general
Knowledge, and, withal, one of the best
presiding officers in the country.