The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-06
remarks Of these gentlemen, one OF
whom is a native Of Virginia, who has

earnest and efficient as any other mem
Der of her Convention in 1861 II
launching her into war, which has beer
the source of all her woes-and whose
conduct in this regard far be it from me
to reprehend-both Of whom, with
commendable zeal and unfAltering spirit
shared her fortune from the beginning
to the c'ose of that eventful struggle
They now see fit to charge that the
stigma of reputation rests upon her. l
am satisfied that if they had disregard
ed certain paragraphs Of the newspapers
inserted to subserve the purposes ol
party, and sought information from the
citizens of that State and the proceed.
ings OF her Legislature, that they would
not have INDUCED in some Of the
expressions which they have useI.
I'm Justice to that State it should be
known that none Of the political parties
advocate either directly or indirectly,
any policy which can lead to repudla-
ton, and all disclaim any desire that
the State shall avoid the liability
of any portion of her debt.
Virginia has borne too much and
suffered too long to incur now, for the
sake Of money, the reproach OF denying
her honest liabilities. She has
been subjected to an ordeal
through which no other States
has ever passed. She has seen
the lives Of her children's sons sacrificed
as they sincerely believed, to advance
her highest interests; her towns and
cities almost depopulated; the rule oi
the bayonet to supercede the reign OF
law. And when prosperity began again
10 dawn upon her, her fair fields were
swept by the floods Of Heaven and
thousands OF her citizens again impov'
erished. In an evil hour, as if an i'm
placable tate hovered over her, the
walls OF her capitol crumbled and
buried beneath their ruins the most
cherished and worthy OF those whom
the war has spared to her. And now she
totters under the weight OF an enormous
debt, which she steadily de-
clines to cast off; bat with brow still as
er.c;. her hpe,t a. undaun,ed, and her
honor a. untarni7Aed, as when IN the
height OF prosperity before the blightlng
breath OF war had fallen upon her, her
flag reflected the light of the morning
sum- or kissed with its silken folds the
heaIthtu breeze of her genial cline,
and all within her border was JOY, and
prosperity and peace. Though now
within her halls
"'Where once the Caesars dwelt,
Sit tuueless the birds of night
vet dearer is she now in the hour Of hel
humiliation than was she in the day o
her pride and power. Each blood
stained field, each track Of desolation,
the graves OF her fallen sons, her
widows tears, her orphans cry, are but
so many cords drawing us to her in the
midst OF her desolation.
Much have we loved her in the glorious
Our lingering breath shall bless her to the
| last.
Though sunk her sun, though all her stars
And storms and darkness reign, We Low,
heryet.'
But if at anv time hereafter, wher
overwhelmed with misfortune, Virginia
should be brought to contemplate with
complacency the parts OF reputation
and dishonor, let her find in the conduct
OF her virgin daughter a bright anC
glowing example Of the strictest observ-
ance of plghted faith.
You will remember, Mr.. President
that when the Greek tragedian was
arraignei upon the charge Of insanity
the sole and triumphant defense which
he made was the recitation Of the great
est production OF his genius. The State
of West Virginia has been arraigned
elsewhere upon the charge Of an un
willingness to assume the responsibility
OF her Just obligations. Let us, who are
her representatives, follow the example
of the iIustrious Greek, and show in
her defense upon the completion OF our
work here the embodied sentiments o
her united people, which can leave NJ
room 10 doubt her determination 10
maintain in the future-as her venera
bic mother has at least done in the past
AN unsullied reputation and a spotless
honor.
! have no doubt that the sentiment
OF West Virginia was expressed in Mr..
Mathews speech. THE bastard child
Of a political rape, as she has been
called. she bears upon her no stigma OF
her own earning. The result of So
cial upheaval and a political convulsion
she stands a monument now of the good
that may come of an evil design
Bathed in the silvery waters OF her tor
rents and her rivers, famed by the mild
breezes Of her valleys and her gorges
dignitied by the towering majesty OF hel
mountains, enriched by the grand treas
ures OF her limitless resources, and
ennobled by the devotion Of the free
born sons of her soil, West Virginia
turns to the word to-day face wherein
the world can discover no trace oil
dishonor. Bound by the strong arm
OF unalterable justice, fastened tc
her purpose by the iron grasp o.
a mighty right, she waits no in
ducement to .mpel her to the perform
ance OF her duty. She knows hel
honor; she knows the honor OF hel
children, and, knowing these, she
stands ready, willing eager to protect
them. No reputation for her-nc
evasion-no debate. Uninfuenced by
q paltry thought Of pecuniary gain
unflinching in her reliance upon the
nerve and the strong arm OF her noun