The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-04
The Proposed Annexation oft Val
ley OfVIIglnIa.sC Catching a Tartar.


To tho Editors oEthe Intelllgencer.
A good deal is being said at this partic,
ular time, about the annexation OF the
Valley Of Virginia to West Virginia, and
it may DO that some Of the friends Of the
new State arc disposed 10 look with ia.
vor on the proposition. But do they look
far enough ahead Do they sec the poison
lurking under the wings OF this speciOus
measure 7 Suppose 1t 10 come 10 pass.
We must remember that in some counties
OF this State a majority oil the people
are not adverse to return TO
Virginia. All through the State
arc men Of influence OF certain school,
indoclrinatcd with tho spirit Of Old Viz
ginia, enemies to the original formation
Of the new State; they are al heart op
posed TO it to-day, and endure II only us
an existing TACT; they need only the oppor.
tunity and chance Of success to make
their true feelings felt. This annexation
once accomplished, tho refrain, Garry
me back TO Old Virginia" will rise from
being song OF minstrelsy to the dignity
OF an anthem for the obSequies Of State
This scheme is now on the tapis. True,
it Is yet cloud no larger than mans
hand; but still it can be discerned In the
horizon of the future. Give 1t tavOring
wind, and II will swell TO magnitude
which will lower over the house which
the founders Of tho new State have
builded in West Virginia until it shall fall
before thO1ury OF tho gale Tho first steps
in the programme arc now being taken
in the agitation Of the subject in Virgini1.
II has been kept secret in this state until
the proper time. 1t Is understood that the
scheme has many quiet friends in the
Legislature at Charleston ready 10 act
their part when their turn in the drama
comes. Let the people nip this poisonous
Upas tree in the bud. Let them rGmcin
Der that this project Is big with the fate
OF their State. Let them not forget that
it is drama, and its authors the enemies
Of the State. This drama Is "a tragedy Of
two acts; the first is that which, by re.
Winding tho maiden West Virginia Of her
present poverty, woos her with the prom
ised dowry Of enlarged boundary, wealth
and greatness, and accompanies tho act
OF "annexation;" the second opens after
q short intermission from tho first, Is
soon played, and closes with "the death
Of West Virginia" aya.r. = ~
Tho Valley counties aided by their
allies in this State would possess tho
actual U0ting strength to merge West Vir'
ginia into Virginia. Thus We should be
restored to tho yoke of Old Virginia, and
our State and the prosperity Of It's people
mortgaged to pay tho gigantic Virginia
debt: The Valley Of Virginia is separated
from us by mountain chains; It's people
have no interest in common with us; no
good can be accomplished for either by
tho proposed union. They have their
destiny, VIC have ours; let each, work It
out Like tho Switzers in thor mountain
homes, we may have but little, but that
little we ourselves own, and VIC enjoy the
boon Of being Ireemen. But 1t is not true
that VIC have but little. We have high
hopes in tho future-we have many
Jewels which tho world needs and must
buy. Time and energy will give us our
Just position, if VIC are but true TO our.
selves and preserve what we have.
- 0uaRRVER