Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-04-14
The Abolitionism of the Times and Gazet Q,
or Now and Then

with such reasonable sentiments: as a defence Of
citizens, and warning of the ruinouS effects
OF such treason our interests before the Virgin
ian Legislature. On this question we rejoice that
our views of policy conform 10 our feelings of
devotion ard fealty TO the Commonwealth, and
respect as law-aOiding citizens for institutions
whose protection and main tainance are guaranteed
by the most sacred cOmpacts. We say we have
warned our people of the disastrous effects Oh
Their interests Of the endorsement of the treason
able sentiments of the Times and Gazette,-the
open and uncalledfor assaults on the institutions
Of the Slate, and the Wholesale denunciation and
abuse Of the defenders of those institutions. If
we could think that Wharton does not know the
results of making Abolilionism appear 10 pass
current here, we should regard him less culpable-
less infamous-less of traitor;-for personally,
lac is OF no great Importance in eyes, and it is
only the publicity which his sentiments obtains in
npmblic journal that gives them any Importance
But he KNOBS the consequences Of his fanaticSm
just ms well as any man in this community and
tia shall slow from his own words In
1916, when Col. G. w. Thompson was a candl-
date for the State Senate from this district il was
minated that he was tinctured with Abolitonism.
The articles then dug up and brought to light in
proof OF the charge, although the rhetorical efforts
of a very young man, residing at the time of their
production IN the State of Ohio, did not contain
little OF the AbolillOnSm recently put forth 10y
w harton. Yet we shall now when Wharton
published a paper in which.he deemed he must adj
vocate the best interests vi the city in what light
he regarded the slightest approximation 10 AboI-
iiionism, and in what manner he spoke of ii. We
IHote from his paper of April II, 1916. In an
editorial article entitled ''Foruqrned'' he SAYS
We ask especial attention 10 the portions in italics:
1--WE restrain ourselves however from express
ing The adherence ami deteStation i'll which we
hold such sentiments or the man who al mature
and i'll n well considered Grafton could express
them. The Southampton insurection in our own
State finds eulogy Ill the language applied by
Geo. w. Thompson 10 another and similar scene
OF crime. But our purpose is not 10 comment on
such sentiments. We will not enGeavor 10 stir
the angry passions OF our citizens. But ICE feel
G9umd Z" submit to the cIndit consideration of the
rioters Of this district ,oheihrr it is absolute fol-
!y to send man 10 Rich "ond their Senator
against trhom such a matter remuins on record. II
Is impossible to keep the people of Virginia in ig-
h"rance OF these things, now that they are known
10 50 many. If this man should be yOur Senator
JeE0lU citizens, those tCho nlay happen 10 oDpose
y9Hr interests, ,0iH be quick 10 bring orrUGrd this
Tee1rd nEdnS st him. What then will he the result?
VIII he be fit and efficient champion of Your
rights and your interests? Will he, in short be
tolerated in the eastern part OF the State, or even
the western We leave these questions 10 vour
calm consideration
Such his views of any community going be-
fore our Legislature with the stigma of Abolition
ISM SiLhing 10 them. But when ice take precisely
the same poSl!ion-Mh hen we endeavCr 10 place
our people in their proper characters before the
Legislature, we are aSSailed with the old cry OF
'petSecutIon'--'clique' WHO wish 10 break
down this immaculate saint. and such like within
ing clap-trap. In his PAPER Of last Wednesday
lie endeaVorS to rldlcule the warning we have ut
tered against the dissemination of Abolition Sent-
ments IN our community, and would like TO make
II appear foolish and meany subservent. Well,
lie did no: SO regard ii in 1916, Us we shall again
show from his own words. We quote from his
paper of April 10, 1916:
cool Thompson is claimed as the friend of
Wheeling, par excellence. Did not he two years
ago. contend that the railroad ought 10 be Kent at
Cumberland? DID he moi from lime 10 time de-
roHnce all corporations unworthy OF legislative
countenance and support? Suppose were de-
$irous OF securing further favolS fom the BaltI-
more and Ohio Rail Company, would Thompson,
with these denuhciations before him, be The one to
secure them? Suppose Wheeling were to desire
and seek legislative vor, and her opponents
10 come forward and quote his speeches through
the adjoining country III 1s40 aud 1874. We re-
nember0ne at Belle-Air, commencing, "I stand,
like MGregor, upon my native hills again, among
the pune OF heart. with whom j thank my God,
can sometimes minge-where they are untant.d
with The vices and crimes OF that moral GolsOlha
(rontng TO Wheeling in the dlstance) that den of
Col. Il. in the Senate. should urge our claims to
legislative favor, would not the opponents thereof
quote the thousand and one such phrases as the
above, which he has used at times? How would
he feel : Would he acknowledge that he told n
talSehcod then, or was now the advocate OF gam.
bers and blacklegs? This would be category
with n vengeance"
Now we submit that in all The bad things impu-
tedi the above 10 Col. Thompson, there is moth
ing that does our Legislature half so much iniuS-
tlce OF that is calculated much to incense lhem
Hndcut us loose forever from all legislative favor,
as the words used by W harton but a few weeks
since in speaking of the members of the Virginia
Legislature, whom he StyleSa 'mob,' OF ''idle and
imbecile taSkmasters, whose sole purpose isto pol
Lutte their own bodies and souls, TO tyrannise over
their fellow men and to wear our Gods footsool."
(Wequote his own words in nearly their pre- else
connection, though we have not the passage at
handy
AS a clinchsr To his arguments above quoted in
favor of oar course, give the following from
his paper OF April %. 1916: 1t is an extract, he
SAYS from a letter from Richmond, and he says
:" We endorse The remarks Of our correspondent
al know that slavery in Western Virginia, cx
ISIS III ml'der form than il does in the East: but
that IS nothIng-Such sentiments and sncb lam
Suage outrage every feeling of humanity every
impulse OF the heart Yon may be assured. nv
dear sir, that people of all parties here W ill start
up with Indignation and resent the insult How
ever much may regret the exposure so fnr sc Il
may fleet your confidence and that OF the 1epub
llcan party generally, i'll his (Col Thomps6n,sl
political andperSonal integrity, and whatever may
De the effect IN other respects, IL is due 10 the.
character OF Virginia herself and to the honor OF
her public men, that such monstrous enoGmity
should be held up 10 SCOT and reprobalion.''
We have placed the above on record not so much
10 ue'ehu our own ccurSe-Gor that, we are con-