Year: 1861

/ 4S4OGN- VA ~
Another speech by senator cakliis.


Inthe Convention onFriday 10th inst %
debate on a proposition TO. a division of the
State, Mr.. Carlile having obtained the
floor spoke precisely as follows:


Mr. PHEsrDESr-I have already said so
much on this subject that feel that it
wOnld be infiictiug unusul punishment up
on the Convention for me to enter into
anything like an extended line of remarks
now. do-n6t design odo sol but will
be brief as ! can be and pointed as : |
may.


We should not, sir, in the heat of dis
cussion, in our zeal, or in the confidence
we have in the correctness of our judge
ments, allow that zeal to run away with
those judgements in the discussion of the
question now under consideration. IhaYe
been astounded at listening to speeches
from very patriotic and able gentlemen
who seemed to argue this question as If
our loyalty 10 the Onion was bounded by
State lines. My friend who has just ta-
ken his seat (Mr. Hnbbard) imagines in one
moment that our loyalty 10 the Union cea-
ses the instant tue people of this country
should run line separating them from the
residue of the Stale, and in the same
breath, almost, ho shows couclusiYely that
that cannot be, for be pays well merited
compliment to our loyal friends across the
river


Mr.. HusBARD-I was simply comment
ing upon the remark of member that TIVE
should fortify along the boundary of the
new State when run, and merely referred
to our Ohio friends in showing how unpa
/ tHiR
Mr.. CARLILE-Well, if / had supposed
that loyalty was bounded by state lines, I
would be the lastto claim the State of Yir-
ginia as she stands to-day upon the ques-
tion of loyalty, as my own. If gentleman
will convince me that the running of a
line on the top of the Allegheny noun
tains, or anywhere else separating the
Northwestern portion OF the State from
the residue of the State, aud erecting it in
to separate and Independent State, would
relinquish the patriotism OF its people, Il
would be the last man to do So Or ifyou
can satisfy me that the action we propose
here will embarrass the Federal Govern
ment in the slightest degree in the effort
that is now making TO maintain the Union
and the supremacy of the laws, will join
hands with you gentlemen and vote the
proposition down. That is the only argu
ment have heard in which all those who
have spoken on the other side of the ques-
tion concur in the opposition to this move
ment-that it will embarrass tue Admin
tration. How, sir2 How? Does the
Ohio river that divides US from the State
on the other side embarrass the Adminis-
tration in the efforts il is making to put
down rebellion2 Is Ohio disloyal? Does
she send fewer troops here Does she re-
spond less eagerly to the eall for men and
money to aid the government than she
would If were included within her State
limits the soil upon which we stand? Away
with theiden that imaginary lines, defining
the boundaries of States, cr1shes the power
out OF rhelgoyernment to maintain and pro-
tect itself. And, sir, | was surprised to
hear that here in the city of Wheeling, the
constituents of my friends on this floor
will feel themselves constrained, in the
event that the people of Northwestern Yir-
giuia shall be consulted as to the division
of the State, to propose that they should
be allowed to cut off what they call the
"Panhandle' aud attach themselves as an
appendage to the small end Pittsburgh !
Wheeling, the city ofthe West, that in the
event of a new State being erected here
would be the great manufacturing and
commercial city of the State-Wheeling,
which has had to struggle with the State
of Pennsylvania to be allowed the privilege
of erecting the beautiful aud magnificent
structure that now spans the beautiful
Ohio-Wheeling seeking to be an append-
age to the small end of Pittsburghl Let
the question be put We will vote to-day
if desired; and know the good sense and
Interest of the people of these four coun-
ties will prompt them to vote it down. l
have no fears that ever Wheeling will COM
nit such suicide as that would be to her


Now, sir, tell me how the government is
to be embarrassed By what We wish to do
towards dividing the State. We cannot
divide the State. What, then, do We pro-
pose to do. We propose that the people
within certain boundary may be allow
ed to declare their wishes on this subject.
That is all and the bare fact of consult
ing the people upon question that has
long been agitated by them is denounced
upon this floor in unmeasured terms. But
the act, it is said, win embarrass the gov
ernment in its military operations. Now,
will any gentleman be kind enough to
point out how7 Show US in what manner
this embarrassment Is to be effected. Ills
tened attentiVely aud with pleasure, as
always do, to the very sensible and able
argument of my friend from Mason { MIR.
Polsley), aud with all his ability and good
sense, he contented himself upon this
branch of the argument by merely announe-
ing the fact. Now, sir, pledge myself to
him, and TO any other gentleman opposed
to this movement, that, iGthey will assign
one solitary reason-one reason true IN
itseli-if they will point out and show to
me how the passage of the proposition
now under consideration will embarrAss
the Federal Government in the effort 1t is
making, will vote with him.


Mr.. HuBsARD-How is Eastern Virgins
10 be restored to the Union. If the State Il