Year: 1866

support Of tho President and his policy
of restoration. It douounces as " Radi.
GALS the true men who stood by tho
government whom this party was stand.
ing BY tho Conicdcracy, simply because
these truo men arc determined not to
restore to power and influence robels
who resigned their positions under the
government in order to attempt tho dis.
solution Of tho Union. Mon who wore
tho rebel uniform for years are now
leading editors and directora of this 30
called conservative pasty. Men who
never recognized West Virginia as o
State for single moment during the
rebellion, are now aspirants for the con-
troll of the State. And that largo mass
varously mado up from the ovcrthrown
and scattered debris Of the rebellion,
who voluntarily abjurcd their allegiance
to the commonwealth, and who never
voted throughout the contest until after
the surrender Of Lee and Johnston, are
now marshalling as Of old under the
load Of those organizers Of this Conscr.
vativo party.


Wo point the loyal people Of the State
to the fact that with scarcely single
exception tho conspicuous mon in this
movement were the conspicuous men in
every movement during tho war that
waS calculated to render aid and comfort
to the rebellion. And in like manner
they wera conspicuous in every move.
ment against the new State. We point
them also to the fact that to-day some
Of the newspaper organs Of this party
boldly refuse to so fur recognize the
Legitimacy Of the State as to print its
name ut tho head Of their columns, and
the editors openly boast Of their desire
for q reunion with Eastern Virginia.
We poiut them further 10 the fact that
on all occasions many Of the influential
! members Of this party refuse dNsn to
record themselves when travelling in
other States as coming from common
wealth bearing the name CT West Fir.
ginia.
All these manifestations, taken in
their proper connection, mean something
Enthusiastically significant. Wo must re.
member that not single vote outside Of
the Republican party was given for the
admission Of West Firginia into the
Union. Every member Of this pretend.
cd Conservative" party voted solidly
against her. Every newspaper Of that
party in this State scofIcd ut tho idea Of
her presumug to ask admission. Every
organ Of the same party throughout the
country has ever since deridcd the
assumption that she wus fixed, uualtcr-
able State ia the Union. In the recent
vote in Congress in confirmation Of the
accession Of Berkeley and Jefferson
counties to our boundaries, every mem.
Der of this same so.called conservative
party opposed them to the uttermost:
At all the great political gatherings Of
this organzation-in their professions,
on their banners, and in many noticea'
bic ways, West Virginia has been studi.
ously ignored rs a State.


In connection with these significant
facts We must not forget Tint the Pir.
sinia Legislature some weeks ago inau'
gurated n proposition for the reunion Of
the two States. 1t has been proclaimed
at Richmond that in due time, when
reason shall have resumed her sway in
the minds Of the people, and when the
; Radicals Gas they term all Of US who did
! not sympathizc with their treason) shall
DC put down, and the representatives


elevated to power, that then VIC I" as err
ing brethren will return to the fold from
whence We sccedoa." An extraordinary
committee Of conference was appointed
by tho Virginia Legislature with power
10 negotiate for reunion Of the two
States at some opportune time, or falling
in that. for the payment Of the mammoth
debt Of Virginia. This committee will
doubtless hope with anxiety for the dc.
feat Of our constitutional amendment on
the fourth Thursday Of next month. 10
them such defeat will be an omen Of
reunion at no distant day. The public
press Of Virginia will interpret it to
their people US tho beginning Of that
reaction which is 10 bring into power in
all good tino their friends and sympa'
lhizers here. -


The consequences to tho loyal people
Of the State in the event Of the dclcat OF
the Amendment, now that it is made a
test question, cannot DO easily foretold.
We do not pretend here to enumcrate
all the possibilities Of rcactionary disas'
ter that may attend such defeat. Wo
know full we'll, however, that it is the
dearest wish Of every disloyal sympathi.
xcr in all our fifty.two countics, that the
Amendment should bo defeated. If is
adopted NO believe that the safety and
pcrmaneucy of tho State is assured be'
yond q pcradvcnturc. On the other
hand NC do not feel that We st Virginia
has anything moro than a \prcsarious
existence from day to day-frOm one
election to another-if the amendment
is lost. ..-....


Suppose that this Conservative party
that 50 bitterly opposed our admission
10 Congress, and that have 80 persist
ently outlaved Us ever since, should, by