Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-09-09
A Calm Review.

with other engagements, that we cannot pay
that attention to the editorial department of
the paper, which would otherwise be expec-
ted of us, and we are aware that the excess
of political over other contributions may
not be acceptable to all of our readers, many
of whom are Democrats In commencing
the enterprise in which we are now EN-.
barked, we expressed the wish that both par
ties should occupy our columns in fair and
candid discussion of the principles which
are respectively advocated by the two par
ties. Such is still our desire, though none
Of our Democratic friends have expressed
any wish as yet to enter upon such discus
sion. While we advocate, land shall contin
ue to advocate our principles without fear;
while we shall always hold up the merits
alike of our principles and our candidate,
for public scrutiny, and while we shall en-
deavor by all honorable means to contrib
ute TO the defeat of the opposition candidate.
still we have, and shall do so in manner
nents. We shall say nothing terogatory to
the private character of Gen. Pierce, for We
know nothing against it. We have, so far
as at present we are informed, only to deal
with his public acts, his recorded votes and
his political opinions. Here are legitimate
questions for our examination and we shall
endeavor to do SO fairly. If we err, our
columns are open for correction. 1t is fair
and proper to contrast the public character
of the candidates and their respective opin-
ions upon all questions OF general interest
10 our citizens, and to contrast the claims
and ability Of both. While we shall do
this fearlessly as occasion offers, still it is
due TO ourselves TO say that we shall not
stoop to the vituperative efforts which we
regret TO see pursued by both parties to some
extent We shall not, for instance, call
Gen. Pierce a coward, though we may in
common with others, be permitted to amuse
ourselves with the plurality and singular
ity of his fainting accidents in Mexico, but
while we do this, we shall not be guilty Of
detracting from his military character; for
the obvious reason that he has no such char
acter, and his best admired friends make no
claim for him on that score of late. Nor
shall we accuse him of parsimony, though
we may at the same time be permitted to
wonder and smile at the marked instances
of 5oyish and religious liberality, which his
friends hold up for our admiration and COM
meniation though we will not say for our
Imitation. The act is that Gen. Pierce has
no personal or marked claims for the dis
,incton which is sought for him. We doubt
not he is Democrat, but what is meant by
that term now days is far more than we
can tell. Whether he is Nullifier, Seces-
sionist, Free Soiler or what, we cannot say,
from the admission that he is Democrat,
as that generic certainly comprehends under
its broad pennon many of all of those par
ticular classes. Indeed we are at loss TO
determine his Whereabouts, though we have
made strenuous efforts to ascertain. AT
one moment we find him 'out-Atwooding
Atwood at New Boston, and in the next
breath he is held up to us as the fastest
friend of Southern Institutions, as one mo-
ment in the warm embrace OF John Van
Buren, and Capt. Rynders, and at the next
drawn into convulsive extacy to the bosom
of Captain Scott and the Ritchies, though it
now appears that he has failed to satisfy the
Alabama Southern Rights party when inter-
rogated by them. As to one point OF mate
rial and most vital interest TO the whole
West, we have his whereabouts. He is and
always has been opposed to the improve
ment policy of the Federal Government
Under his administration the great rivers OF
the West must be suffered to remain in their
native state, the commerce OF our lakes
must still continue fettered and cramped
from the natural distractions planted there,
the mineral wealth, the mighty resources
and the giant productions of the fairest Por-
ton of our Country, must still remain cham
ed and bound in primeval distinctions
The march of improvement must be stayed,
and instead OF having government which
extends to her struggling and hardy pion-
GERS. the helping hand of aid and improve
ment, we shall see our frontier settlers cast
back on their own resources and left as in
colonial days, to pull their bark canoe or
log raft over the wild and uncleared beds
of our western rivers, The Wing policy
proposes different result. They propose,
with the true aim Of enlarged policy TO O.
pen out the mighty rivers of the vest to
be fettered in their march by no sectional
aim, no local consideration, but TO include
in the wide extenced range of their policy,
every portion of the Union. to lend the
helping hand OF the Government. where
the wants and exieencies of the country de.