Year: 1861

erations connected with it of vital import
ance to our border neighbors which should
have shielded us from their condemnation.
The position Western Virginia has ta
ken, enables me to stand between the 0or-
der Northern States and the rehellious
South, and thus serve as a bulwark to pro-
tect them from an assailing foe. The
same armies which now threaten us would
in the event of our diSloyalty, have inya-
ded them-thC same deSolation in which
our land has been shrouded would have


brooded like pail over their fairest val
leys-the same torch that fires our dwell
lings would have lighted the path of trea-
son along the banks of the Ohio-and the
same rebellous hearts that are now driven


back in shameful defeat from our noun
| tain passes, would ere this have pitched
their tents within the limits of Pennsylva-
MIA and Ohio, and perhaps have marked
their coming with the flames of burning
cities-the groans of murdered fathers
and sons, and the walls of dishonored wives
and daugters. Let not then our neighbors
heap contumely upon us, because OF any
fancied failure on our part to meet the re-
sponsibilitieS of this trying hour with an
unwnyering frDwn, but let them rather re-
member that in assisting US to drive the
foe from Western Virginia, they are but
turning back the tide of destruction from
| themselves, seeing that the same blow
which strikes us to the earth, leaves them
exposed to assault, and that the same
hour which notes the fall of our strong
holds may be but the ushering in of an era
of woe and sorrow, to be marked by them
in after years as the "blackest page upon
the book of time"


With regard to the actual number of our
troops in the field, few words will suffice
to prove that we have done our duty -
With secret foes in our midst, Counselling
peace and striving to create disatfection,
with open enemies around us, to whose
ravages almost every family is exposed;
with II large minority of our citizens SYM
pathising with secession, we have, never
theless, as many troops in the field, in pro-
portion to our population, as any State in
the Union; and more, in the same proper
| ton, than many of those whose citizens
are now charging us with disaffection.-
With respect to courage, time has and time
will continue TO prove them to be any thing
but deficient. This is not the time, | am
aware, for vain bohsting; hut candor COM
pes me to say, that cowardiCe is properly
chargeable to any other men rather than
those who have equalled. by their bravery
and fortitude, any engaged in the war
that such IL charge can lily apply to the
men who, destitute of every equipment but
their arms, in the famous march upon
| Philippi, proved themselves the possessors
of such courage and powers of endurance
ms will render them illustrious, when fu-
ture times shall mete out just reward to
patriotism and valor; and that such a
charge comes with little grace or proprie-
ty from those whose soldiers marched from
the field of Manassas to the sound of the
enemy's cannon, or from those whose
friends and ne:ghbors partook of the shame
of that disgraceful route.


Here leave the subject. Fully appre-
ciating that have not made such de-
fence as our people deserve, still hope
that what have said may assist somewhat
iu protecting them. for the present, from
the condemnation under which they have


been sought to be placed. For the future C


they have nothing to fear. Impartial his


tory, written with the pen of reason, and


by the light of TRUTH, will do justice to
their memory, and when the full measure


of her deserts shall have been meted out,


Northwestern Virginia will stand forth
without superior in devitiOn to this gov


ernment and obedience to its law, with her


"honor unsullied, her glory untarnished
and her brightness undimmed upon the


worldwide blnZanry of fame"


Clarks6ury, Va, October, 1861.