Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1916-08-10

discussion OF that Dill; the emancipa-
ton Of slaves and it's anticipated eject,
already promulgated. and to be signed
January l, 1853.
Then as now, the warm affection,
that bound the master and slave, vas
not appreciated Bondage was 9sasso-
ciated with desire for separation on the
part of the slave; and, with letters
broken, former slaves were expected,
like birds from a cage, to swarm the
North and devour the employment of
white laborers.
At the time of John Browns insur-
rection, at Harper's Ferry, people near
our Great Lakes prepared for such a
swarm, as for the locusts Of the far
East. With West Virginia free state
there was provided dumping ground for
the freedmen. In the discussion at
tention was called to the laws of
States, that did not allow a black man
to live within their borders, laws that
remained in force years after that war
ended -
Thaddeus Stevens, Of Pennsylvania,
declared "the argument In favor of the
constitutiona1ity of it is one got up by
those who either honestly entertain, I
think, an erroneous opinion, or who
desire to Justify it by a forced con-
struction, an act which they have pre-
determined to do" saying also, I'VE
may admit West Virginia as a new
state. not by virtue of any provision
of the Constitution. but under our
absolute power which the laws of war
we are placed"
Moi 4.
ing with reverses and the elections
adverse to the administration, but the
sentiment favoring the secession right
of state was so widespread, that
Fernando Wood, Mayor of New York,
in message to the council, had open
advocated the secession Of that city
from the rest OF the state and union
as an Independent province; the Writ
of Habeas Corpus, through necessity.
had been suspended so far North as
Maine; the report Of Ben Pittman, au-
thor of stenography, reporter of the
trial of Milligan, Bowles and Horsey
at Indianapolis, for treason, before
Court Martial that found them guilty
and sentenced them to execution,
shows sworn testimony to support the
report of Judge Advocate General Jo-
seph Holt, to the department, that the
movement for organization Of a North
west Confederacy to embrace the
States West Of Pennsylvania and North
Of the Ohio River, included from five
hundred thousand to one million men
led by Vallandigham, Thomas A. Hen
bricks, D. W. Voorhees,, Judge BULL.
Of Kentucky and that Of these about
one half were armed and purposed
concerted action with Confederates
General Price in Missouri and General
Buckner in Kentucky; that the pull
pose was to release Confederates al
Johnson's Island, Camp Chase and
Camp Morton, and furnish them with
arms, but West Virginia had no con-
nection with this movement. Presl-
dent Johnson's Christmas gift of 1853
relieved all those so engaged.
1t was West virginia's volunteers
who fought their relatives, friends
and netghbors, and by their services
held this link in the line Of fortified
lions. She not only gave adequate
compensation for admission but she
, laid upon the altar of her country the
lives of her citizens who with their
blood baptized anew our Nation, and
Amounted the soil Of other States a.
vicksburg, Missionary Ridge, along the
the Bayous of Mississippi, under the
l'oleans of Louisiana, the cypress OF
Georgia, the pines of Alabama; In the
Shenandoah with Sheridan and Custer
they left a record second to none. With
an enrolment Of little more than &c.,
900 subject to military duty when the
war began, in the whole State, from
about half the counties she furnished
| to the Federal Government more than
thirty-one thousand soldiers, of which
when admitted to the Union she had
furnished more than her quota. Ii the
Secretary of War, Edwin M Stanton, In
his desire to preserve intact that chain
| of natural bulwark, and retain the sup
| port Of our people did advance, to or
eanize the new States government,
$75O, 900, our first Governor A. I. Bore
man, whose honesty was equalled by
his fixed determination and loyalty tc
friends, furnished security to account
for same, and twenty-four of our coun-
ties Daid for bounties to volunteers
81 s63,549.O7 which with interest add
ed amounts to more than $4,000, 900 fo1
preservation of this Union. Mr.. LIN
coins message to that Congress recon-
| n6HuGu COufpC1SdIAOh y"
their slaves; they exacted as condition
of admission amendment Of our con-
stitution to emancipate at least $4,000
10000 worth of slaves without compen-
sation, which with interest To-Day
amounts to $12,000,000
West Virginians, without a single
corps commander, saw service, which
for hardship and accomplishment car
not be excel1ed by a record OF any 9th
er state; no favoritism was ever shown
them; her troops never shirked; anc
when the line of battle was drawn OF
the morning of April 9Th to await ane
check the desperate charge expected Il
be made by Confederates along the
Iynchburg- Pike, West Virginia
/ troops stood in that pike to be mrs
moved down, and they brought fortl
the flag of truce that resulted in capt
tulation; to be placed in that position
they had been marched on the 9Th ant
the morning Of the 9Th Of April thirty
1--WE miles. West Virginia troops 81
fenced the last battery that Genera
Lee ever planted.
Within three months after her ad
mission, General Bragg. at Chicamauga
bottled up Rosecrans within Chatta
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