The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-12

merely an Eastern iayorite, but Is also q
National fayorite. His popularity IS no
mere matter Of chance. Hehas ever been
straightforward in all his political move
ments. He Is possessed Of giant pluck and
dash, and in every fight he appears "a the
man who Is always right He commands
the admiration, confidence and sympathy
OF the whole people, and his friends 60
into the fight with and for him as one
born 10 Lead There is q pure AmeEl-
canism about him which crops out at
every point taken, and for boldness oil ag..
gTessiye thought, broadness OF view and
statesmanlike forethought he has no su-
perior. Yes, sir, he's the man to win"
"Will he carry West Virginia, Cover.
nor?" l inquired.
ayes, sir; by strong majority. ] be-
lieye our people will 60 solid to the Con-
vention."
"HoW would the nomination Of General
Grant suit your people, Governor"
at would fall upon US like wet blan-
ket. warming upl Itwould be ashow'
er Of disaster and defeat here. Why, SIR.
he possesses neither statesmanShip nor
executive ability, but can only De no t;Ni
for his stolidity and silence. lmPatIal
history will show that he was surrounded
by a horde OF bad, bad men,his own
choice and selection-and his aamlhlstta'
lions were great and lasting reproach on
our government. think, sir, that the
Republican party OF this nation, when ms
last term expired, drew q long breath.oi
TeIiei and said, Thank God, It Is over,
His frst term was failure. His second
was worse. Henry Wilson once told me
that he cautioned him against the impress
sion that his own popularity elected him,
and urged him to surround himself with
adj isers whose popularity would convert
nnblic sentiment. Grant promised SO TO
do. The world knows how thoroughly he
failed 10 keep that promise" =.
ais there any reason for supposing him
to be possessed Of imperialistic smbi'
~ agree with Gath, that II he gets a
Third term he will desire a fourth. nth
lsnd sixth-the last one unlimited. with
emphasisl. Why, sir, there's not an army
officer in the United States service that l
would vote for tomorrow, and had the
power, l would abolish West Point In
lstanter. It's in enmity to free govern
ment and the foe OF the United States"
NV mind reverted back to some OF Gov
ernor Pierpoint's determined actions dur
ling war times, and the matter OF presiden'
tial preferences was about exhausted by
his outspoken expressions, ! endeayoreo
to draw him out on the subject OF Wesl
Virginia, Of which State he is truly the
Father" He gave some intensely inter
esting facts in relation to
"rHE REVOLUTION WITHIN A REVOLUTION"
which ultimated in the severance o.
Western Virginia from the mother State
and retained a "loyal" government
through all the years of-the rebellion
These facts are condensed below, and may
not prove uninterestiug. First, q brief re
view OF Governor PierpoinL'sown lie may
be pardoned. Away back in 1874 he wa
practicing law in Fairmont, then in the
hwild west" OF old Virginia. This wa
during Clay's career, and Fierpolnt wa'
au ardent Wing, an admirer OF the mar
who would ''sooner be right than BIZ
President" In 1913 he was Zach Taylor
, elector, and was engaged in all the cam
paigns till 1861, both national and guber
material, with such old Wing compeers a:
John N. Bolts, A. S. s. Stewart, John B
Baldwin, Colonel Flournoy, afterward
Know Nothing candidate for Governor
The Bourbon Democrats then were
Richie, Wise, Kemper, Harris and others
As early as 1s4S Pierpoint was the
} champion OF opposition towards the hard
ships inflicted by slavery by Eastern ant
Western Virginia. An income tax work
ed q great hardship on his section, be
cause Eastern Virginia could invest In ne
groes and almost entirely avoid taxation
while West Virginia was taxed to death
He was called an Abolitionist-a Radica
but was, in reality, ever Republican
as an advanced thinkeriu the Wing party
Finally, the rebellion opened. Pier
point sounded the alarm. He denounced
, treason in any shape, aud soon becami
obnoxious to his copperhead neighbors
He was cajoled, warned, threatened-witt
imprisonment In Richmond 1.-THE secession
ordinance had now been passed. Mer
began drilling, companies were formet
and the test came-"Union or Virginia.
He decided for tho Union: All was darl
and gloomy. The tramp .ot armed mer
resounded DER the land, He read and re
read the old Constitution Of the United
States. The people OF Virginia were il
arms. Revolution was staring, staring
fact. He read that "in event Of revolu
ton the national government was bound tc
guarantee republican form Of govern
ment, and protect the state II the legsa
ture could not be convened in time to
save it" "By heavens, I've got themH
shouted Pierpoint. I'm save the State
with that clause"
A popular convention was called o.
Wheeling to form loyal government fol
the State. Governor Letcher and the
legislature had "abdieated and Joined &
foreign coniederacy." The "Union" mem
bers Of the legislature fell in line with the
revolution within revolution" fol
such it was, and the case required careful
handling TO save the commission OF an
overt act OF treason. Pierpoint and bis
loyalists were in treason to the State, the
latter in treason to the government. A
proposition to form new State Govern,
ment was hotly discussed for three days.
At length a committee OF legislators favor.
able to the Union and like number OF
delegates at largo were appointed as q
committee OF safety" Now camo
TIE TUG OF WAR.
Pierpoint had been the moving master
spirit, He DEVELOPED a line OF action. The