The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-10-16


moro ways than one. Francis Fl. Pier.
pont, loyal governor of loyal reorganized
Virginia, was. in his official capacity. q
product OF the war; and through the
stormy times from tho snring Of '6l to
the close OF the war he bore an honora-
BILE part He was one Of the governors
who met Governor Curtin In the MEM
orable conference at Altoona, held to
consolidate the loyal elements Of the
north and strengthen the hands Of the
government Equally, too. with An
drew 6. Curtin, he possessed the friend.
ship and confidence OF President Lin
coin and his cabinet.
Governor Pierpont's position in the
war was unique. Back In the old Wing
days before tho war he was sturdy OPP
ponent OF slavery, In pro-slavery com.
munity, In slave state. When seces-
sion was precipitated. he was one Of the
foremost in western Virginia to resist It
and to denounce the conspiracy ut Rich
mond whereby the state government
abdicated and the "0ld Dominion" was
turned over to the coniederacy without
waiting for an act OF secession. When
the issue came to o head, no man ever
for an instant doubted where Frank
Pierpont stood. He was strong. posi-
tive force around which men instinc-
lively rallied; and when the Union ele-
ments in tina, section OF Virginia got to.
gether and reorganized their abrogated
state government Pierpont naturally
was put in charge Of the helm.
The territory over which he had
civil control, while not extensive COM
pared with the grea. state OF Pennsyl-
vania, was vital as q barrier against the
military power Of the Contederacy. The
loyal civil organization In western Vir'
GINA not only contributed good quota
TO the Union army, but likewise aided
and strengthened the federal hold on
Virginia territory west OF the Allegha-
MES, 30 that these were made the bor-
der, rather than the Ohio river. II
western Virginia had not thus been
held within the Union lines 1t would
have been more than possible for the
rebels to raid across to Lake Eric aud
cut the great arteries between east and
west on which the successful conduct OF
the war depended.
Governor Pierpont's place in the war
was unique, because there had been no
historical precedent for It. 1t was the
first instance in the.experience OF this
government where a community had
been violently deprived OF their local
government, and where, asserting their
inalienable rights and powers as citi.
zens OF the United States, they had
taken the initiative and erected new
state government on the foundation OF
their original and fundamental rights
AZ citizens. His attitude as q governor
and as man was one Of sturdy, stead
fast, unyielding loyalty, and the service
he did the country by his example and
by his executive acts will be better ap-
preciated when the chapter Of Amer
lean history In which he bore so nota.
BILE part Is better understood.
Francis II. Pierpont, "ex-war govern
or" lawyer, statesman. patriot, now
past so, enjoying bale old age, in the
possession OF all his faculties. especially
beloved by his neighbors. and respected
BY all for his moral elevation and the
purity Of his life, lives at his old home,
Fairmont, W. Va. a picturesque noun
tain town OF 5000 people, where the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad crosses the
Monongahela river.