Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-08-26
FRIDAY MoRNINe. AUGUST g, ls5s


= In entering, as we do to-day, upon the second
year of our paper, we can hardly do better than
pause for moment and take Retrospective glance
at the occurrences of the past year, and determine
whether they exert any, andif any, what influences
upon the present and the future. Patrick HenryEaid
that he chad but one lamp by which his feet were
guided, and that was the lamp Of experience, that
he knew no method of judging of the future but
from the past" While this is doubtless true, as
10 a gwen proposition, effected by regular and
continuing set of circumstances, and connected
with the same agents, yet as proposition univer-
sally applicable to politics, it IS one of very doubt
full, and certainly of very difficult application
To group together and classify the events of the
past varied as they are, and to attempt to deter
mine therefrom, with speculative certainty even,
the course of the future, is work of labor GER
tainly the most difficult. One year ago we issued
the first number of the Wheeling Daily Intelli-
gencer. The political holizon was then darkened
by the clouds of contending PARTIES their banners
thrown to the breeze, having inscribed upon them
the differing portions of the creeds of the two great
parties of the Union, the Presidential election was
then impending, and the country was rife with the
clamors of the contending parties, and to and fro
rolled the waves of political difference. The day
ty placed Franklin Pierce in the chair of State,
the chief ruler of the greatest free nation of the
world.
The angry spirit off party which had Iaged be-
fore, and the wild clamor of partizan contention
were hushed on the instant, and the whole peo-
pie, disappointed though many, bowed to the ex=
preston of the popular will and returned to their
respective avocations. acquiescent in what they
could not prevent, but yet anxious Tor the pro-
motion Of the best interests of their country by
the party in power. On the 4th of March, 1885,
Franklin Pierce entered upon the duties OF that
office, to which he had been preferred by the de-
cided vote of his countrymen, and we hazard
nothing in saying that no President, since the
first split upon party questions at the close the
Administration ofthe Elder Adams, ever entered
upon the duties OF his office under so favorable
state of circumstances for making acceptable,
profitable and popular his Administration. With
his own party elated and joyful, he had yet the
satisfaction of beholding the almost entire Wing
press of the Union welcome him to his post and
express the decided desire that he might guide the
helm of State safely onward towards its haven OF
destination. While they did not endorse some
portions of the Inaugural, yet we may safely say
that, with hardly solitary exception, the Wing
press was prepared TO give to the incoming Adj
ministraton fair and impartial trial, and to pass
upon it Judgment according to its actions. We
need hardly say that thus arlittle has been found
in the action ofthe Administration calculated ell
ther TO challenge the admiration or elicit the ap-
probation of the Wing party, while very large
norton of the Democracy are dissatisfied, and de-
seryedly, with the policy of the Administration,
especially in the appointments TO Office. 1t was
10 have been expected that, elected as General
Pierce had been, in a contest in which both par
ties endorsed most emphatically the Fugitive Slave
Law, as passed under the provisions of a sacred
euarantyin the Constitution ofthe Union, repro
batting, as did both parties, the renewal OF the
slavery agitation, as question well calculated to
ever forever the venerated fraternal bonds forged
byour fathers; that under such circumstances he
would at least have: planted himself upon the
Union platform that no man was fit to hold an
Office of trust under that Government, to the very
existence of which he was opposed. Sorry are
we, in common with numbers Of the Union men
OF his own party, that President Pierce has, in
disregard of this certainly sound rule, in utter
disregard Of the voice of Tie people against these
disorgunizers, and in sacrifice ofthe claims OF
able and competent Union Democrats, seen fit
to appoint to office many Of them who "spit
upon the Union'' in1s4s.
We complain not of the action of the Admins
tration in the indiscriminate election of Wings
from Office, regardless of their capacity or integri
ty, but we complain that Dix, Brown & Co., are
appointed their successors. If the Administration
favor the maxim that s'to the victors belo1g the
spoils' we object not, for that is principle we
may have occasion to advocate in 1856. Upon other
questions the public thus far have looked in vain
for the Policy of the administration. Edward
Everett had planted the flagstaff of American
foreign policy, before the outgoing administration
had resigned the seals OF state and the people
rallied with one accord to the national principles
it contained, but, excepting the vague generaties
OF the Inaugural, the public thus far cannot di
vine whether the President will stand by this
platform or not. Nothing has been done. The
Fishery question is still open and no nearer settle
ment than before the 4th of March last, while the
NTistIing ornaments of both nations are on the
und and pleaFantly awaiting the slow haste of
President, and enjoying themselves IN giving
..I sceiving entertainments. So far then, but
s been done by the Administration save to
Wing Office holders, and with this brief
VIC" political horizon at home, we look
during The :. : event. hove
transpired yes. soS IN ss sU the ch;ness
Rebellion, Vos. t..,, :. go E.ana lie
sqsc I,..s.s thus fur, we auger successful
I S1s. aaS that it may Prove the means
C saSns ~" selfish and narrow policy of
800" a throwing wide the ports of
" I l..h of the world, yet tend to
80 Tb. ilOpment and practice of
low s,'Ls' 1As ire of japan must fol-
e lett $ y. ",s 49, Sample, aud thus will
~ ilf winch ht Tue SAeAA u ~ Av;o,in trade
the past tyng. pail like ,h., e, .onn,'S for
Europeans a!turies, aud Z, 10 49, Sanr;vs5
ton in the faif americans ffo free free nartioins-
Asia then is Iooiolg famed We ~ +Fs ind,e.
ness of een,,,r,ePp p, 1.-THE nanok 1D