The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-04
The Reported Scheme for RcuniIInE
fhA YLKglniass

The Reported Scheme for ReunilInE
the VIEglnias.
A correspondent who writes in our col
umns this morning takes seriously 70
heart the reports OF q movement iof 'no
annexation Of the Valley OF Virginia 70
this State, and points out in very lorci-
bic way that such an addition would
place tho State at the mercy Of the reao-
tionarv element and end in our rcstora-
lion to Old Virginia. We have heard o
little from time to time Of this annexation
talk in the Valley, and have jested little
about it in connection with the proposed
excelsior Of the Pan Handle; but VIC have
no! before been aware that the idea oil on
nexing the Valley had any serious sup
mort in this State, at Charleston or else
where. We do not think there is any
danger that such a scheme will ever be
adopted by the West Virginia Legislature.
We do not rely wholly on the TACT that It
would be injurious to the best interests
Of this State to add so large u population
separated from US by natural barriers and
whose aiIlnites and interests In conse-
duence otthose barriers lie in an opposite
direction; but in addition 10 this We rely
on the selashness Of our own
politicians, great and small Cusing
the word great, oil course, in
n comparative scnso) There are
Scholarships, Govornorships, Secretary
ships, superntendencics and other little
things to be mrmed out by the State.
There are many candidates Tor these hon
ors and not enough to go round, as mat
tiers stand. We don't believe that tho
gentlemen who control legislation in this
State will ever voluntarily make such an
addition to the territory ind 10 the com.
petitors among whom the honOrs and
cmolumcn,s would have to DO divided, as
would result from anncxing the Valley OF
Virginia. Still less do We believe any re.
union of the two VirginiNS can ever DO
effected, either by the insidious expedicnt
of first anuCxing tho Valley or otherwise;
simply because the sentiment OF the peo.
pleorthis State is Overwhelmingly against
il. Being SC, no Legislature would dare
belray lis constituency by consenting to
any act II reunion; nor toauy act Tor an
ncxing tho Valley, for the people would
perceive that that would DO only binding
them in readiness for delivery to old Vir'
giaia; and even if q Legislature could be
found to so disregard the sentiment Of the
State, that sentiment would assert itself
with such promptitudo and Vigor that
Congress would refuse its assent till the
people of the State could be heard through
new Legislature fresh from their body.
Yet it must be confessed that while VIC
arc confident the popular sentiment on
this question Is Us we represent 1t, practi-
caIly united against any reunion with Vir-
GINA, this feeling has been good deal
weakened and demoralized by the wretch
cd management OF the party that came into
control OF State affairs through the cleo
tions of 1870 II anything could recon
cilc our people to the calamity Of going
back to old Virginia, with her enormous
debt, her prcpondcrating black vote,
her dcsoIatcd territory and impoverished
pc0ple-it would be two or three years
more such extravaganza, encouragement,
corruption and puCrility as We have had
ut Charleston the pact two years. People
do begin tOsay to each other, while not
quite meaning it OF course, that il things
are TO 80 on rs they arc going, VIC might
Just MS well DO back under tho domination
Of Richmond ut once But things are not
going on this way much longer. When
thingsNre At the worst they begin TO mend.
AS they can't get much worse, they must
soon get better. AT any rate, the remedy
for present evils is with our own people.
II VIC get back under old Virginia domina-
ton this would be so no longer; then the
whole State would be as powerless to help
itself us tho Panhandle is now. And II
the present aspects of affairs ut Charleston
drive tue Panhandle people to wish
themselves in Pennsylvania, reunion
with Virginia, or even with the Valley,
would soon Constrain the West Virginia
people TO wish themselves in HALIFAX, or in
q more tropical locality beginning with
tho same letter.