The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-09-14

COL. BEN WILSON'S RECORD,

sion question
On the 4th day Of Feb. 1851, Col. Bel
Wilson was elected representative from
Harrison county to the convention tina
met in Richmond en- the 18th ol tha
month and that passed the ordinance o
Secession on tho 17th Of April following
AS candidate for the support Of the peo
pie Of Harrison county he ran more thai
200 votes behind the vote Of Mr.. Garlic
and narrowly escaped defeat at the hand
OF Charles 8. Lewis. Had he not proiesse(
cd unionism and used all the oily arts Of
politician he would have been defeated
Mr.. Carlilc's vote was the true index ottht
the feeling Of the Harrison county people
on the Union question. He received 1885,
votes as against ss7 for Robt W. johnson
who was understood to be a Secession
symphathizer. Had it been known on the
day OF election that Col. Ben Wilson
would be neither ilesh nor fish
when the day Of trial came, or, in
other words, that he would not have
the courage to vote yes or no on the
ordinance OF Secession, he would have
been left at home along with JOHNSON.
1t Is interesting to look over the record
of the Convention at Richmond and sec
how Col: BEN played fast and loose with
the rebellion. On the 17th OF April, the
day the ordinance passed, ho was not
quite sure how tho cat would jump. So
he rose and asked to3be excused from
voting. He was tho one lone solitary man
in the Convention who had not decision
enough to be one thing or the other on
that question. And yet, shrinking the cat
was going to Jump that way, Col. BEN on
the 10Th Of April voted for an Ordinance
to provide for the appointment Of a com
msnder Of the military and naval force
OF the State In subordinatlon to the Gov
ernor," introduced by Mr.. scorT, oil Pow.
haitian, and looking to immediate armed
resistance by Virginiaio the execution of
the laws Of the United States.
On the 22d Of April Colonel VIII
SON offered q resolution on his own
account in tho Convention looking
to the establishment Of q Virginia mail
system in lieu Of tho United States mail
system.
On the 25th OF April Mr.. snEFFEY
introduced an ordinance ratilying and
confirming tho terms Of the Convention
entered into on the day previous between
the Commissioners Of the Confederate
States and the Commissioners Of Viz
ginis. The terms OF that Convention
were that "the whole military force and
military operations, offensive and de.
"lensive, Of the Commonwealth Of Viz
"ginia in the impending conflict with the
UNITED States shall be under the chief
"control and direction OF the President Of
"thc Confederate States" and binding the
Commonwealth Of Virginia to "turn over
"to the Confederate States all the public
"prOperty,;naval stores and munitions Of
"wsr, ETC., which may be in possession
"oFor acquired (stolen) from tho United
States" Vs.
Col. Ben. Wilson Voted to ratJy hi
famous compact.
On tho same day the ordinance offered
by JOHN TYLER, adopting and ratiIying
the Constitution ot the Confederate States
came to vote, and Col. BEN. voted iol
It's adoption, thereby placing, by these
two acts, the people Of Virginia, their
personal liberty, their lives, and every
dollar Of theirlproperty absolutely at the
mercy OF JEFF. DAVIS as the head of the
military power oil the rebel confederacy
On the 27th Of april. Col. BEN. (whc
was getting boldcr every day. voted for Q
resolution offered BY MIR. GooDE, Of Bed
lord county, cordially" inviting The
President of the Confederate States (ther
at Montgomery, Ala) to make the city o.
Richmond. or some other place in Virgin
ia, the seat of government Of the Conied.
eracy, and the resolution being adopted,
the President Of the Convention, by iti
command, forthwith telegrAphed copy
ITO His Excellency, JEFFERsoN DAVIS
president OF the Confederate States"
On the Goth oI April, Col. Ben assisted
in tho election DIR. N. T. HUNTER, JANE
A. sEDDoN, sJouN W. BRocKENDRoUdH
Z W. r. STAPLES and GlDEoG D. CAMDRs