Year: 1861

The Peculiar circumstances TINT
hnve Attended the rise and Progress
of the Union Cause In their Midst.


AS our readers well know, Western Vir-
ginia has become staple subject of crti-
cism and fault-fnding in the hands of the
Cincinnati newspapers. Scarcely an issue
of the Commercial or Gazette appears, that
does not in some way disparage the Union
men. The following letter from citizen
OF Parkersburg, we consider we'll writ
ten and we'll tempered reply to these con-
slant things:


We find it in the Gazette of Saturday
last:


PARKERsBURG VA.


The patriotic citizens of Northwestern
Virginia can never cease to be grateful for
the support they have received from the
Union journals of Cincinnati. They feel,
however, that occasionally Il little Injustice
is done. Complaints are made of their
slOwness in coming forward TO maintain
the Government. and that however viGor-
Gus may he the cnaCtmcnts of the Wheel
ing authorities, there is dcpIOrnble Wis
imcrtt to be overcome when those cOnnsGls
are referred TO the people to be carried into
execution.


1t is quite natural that ccnsure should
be expressed in view of this. These char
ges have been made in such language as
would few months ago have greatly in
tensifiel what is called among you "thc
Southern feelings" But Western Virgin
ia owes too much to Ohio and Indiana to
complain of 81 little nnkindncsS in words.
YOnr sons have saved them from destrWc-
tion, and could you but hear the fervor of
the Union men when they speak of their
gratitude to you, yon would think that
something beside apathy is the cause Of the
things complained Of


There are some features of the case
which seems not to he fully comprehended
on the north side of the river. IF these
could he duly borne in mind, they are con-
iident you would find room for the exer-
else of sympathy where now you see only
occasion to condemn.


Society is divided into three divisions
First of all in order of time are the Seces-
sionists-thc determined Secessionists re-
solved to break down the Government at
all hazards-to carry out the most extreme
measures of the Richmond cnbal. These
are put first in order because they existed
as a party, and had n regular thorough Sc
cret organization long before any such
thing ns Union organization was called for
to oppose them. Viewed as n disunon
party proper, they could command only a
minority of votes, but they were very de-
termined, and the feeling they exhibited
was exceedingly bitter.


But they had entire possession of the
ground. The sentiment of the people had
for many years been growing more and
more "SOuthern,' as it is called. In view
of the very state of things which has now
L. a., MI c
for gaining entire possession of the public
mind. They appealed to passion, they fo'
mented sectional ill-will they marshaled
every prejudice of slaveholding section.
1t cannot be denied that they succeeded so
well that throughout all Northwestern Vir-
ginia there existed universally disposition
TO receive with distrust and GOODNESS any
suggestion whatever that might originate
north of Mason and Dixon's line, and as
strong disposition on the other hand to
accept with blind Partially any PROPOSE
ton or measure that might emanatc from
the South. Nay, more, they had succeed
ed in infusing into the pnblic sentiment n
vague but strong conviction, not always
perccptIble to those themselves who held
lit. that somehow or other, in some way OF
other, they had been Outrageously abused
by the North, aud likewise sort of intan-
giDle lecIlQn luil IL "Oulu BC NilSIll DGltCl
for them if they were cut loose from the
North altogether This feeling had been
imperceptibly gendered in the minds ol
thousands who would nevertheless have
shuddered at the very thought of organic
ing rebellion.


In such a state OF things the war was
begun by South Carolina. At once the
avowcd secessionists dropped their secret
policy and adopted an open one. Those
who had beer drilled in, and had given in
to their leaders their full adhesion to the
Southern Confederacy, now began the most
extraordinary efforts to carry with them
the great mass of the people, already SO
much prejudiccd against the North and
biased in favor of the South-madncss and
infItuntion ruled the hour-the current
that set toward secession aud anarchy
seemed almost irresistible.


At this junction the Union party began
to be formed. IT. must be remembered that
it was formed out of men who had been
under the influences of the very preJudlceS
we speak of. Is it strange that their pro-
gress was at first slow? They had to re-
verse all the tendencies of society around
them-they had to examine the doctrines
in which they had been eduCnted-thcy
had to cut away films from their own ewes
they had to repudiate the political max
inns they had followed for years-the teach
iugs of Southern leaders they had revered
SO long were now to be trampled under
foot: and henceforth men of non-slave-
holding sections, whom they had regarded
with aversion, and whom they had often
helped to denounce, were now to be look
ed up to as the best exponent of the true
theory and the real powers of our Govern
ment. 1t is not intended to iusinuate that,
before this war broke ont, because loyalty
was weakened, therefore it was wanting in