Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-21
THE NATIONAL rNrELL1eENoER.

THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
By long career of courtesy and dignity the
National Iateltigencer has not only established
commanding position in the wing ranks, but
has succeeded in winning the respect and con-
sideration of the democratic party We, how
ever, look with great adherence on most, we
might say all, of the political sentiments of
the National hatelligencer, as wrong-yiciously
wrong. But yet we can pause and consider !;
and we can very well believe that the editors Of
the National hatelligeacer think that we are
wrong -viciously wrong.
At some time, we do not know when-at
some place, we do not remember where-we
read a fable which related to two knights in the
age of chivalry. These two knights, riding in
opposite directions, encountered post, and,
after encountering that post, they quarrelled as
to the color of it. One, said it was black; the
other said that it was white. That was the
issue between them, and on that issue they
fought until one of them was killed But yet
when the post was examined it was found that
one side of it was white, whilst the other was
black.
1t is with real unaffected pain we perceive
that the National Iptelligencer persists in look
ing on the black side of the post 1t is with
pain and modification that we are forced to
announce that the National Intelligencer has
not only refused to do justice to the truth Of
history, but has censured and rebuked us for
commencing that course to it. If we were
led by selfshness, if our course and the man
/, ner Of our conduct was influenced by mere
personal considerations, why should we stand
where we stand now? Reprobating from the
bottom of our hearts the whole course Of the
National Iatezligencer- difering from its doc
trines every day, everywhere, and upon all
subiects-to tell the truth and the whole truth,
looking upon some Of its ideas as most PERM.
cious-still we young men as we are, bowling
with all manner of decent respect, must beg
leave to make few statements and to draw a
f, few deductions not only for our own just de-
fence, but to put the National hteHigencer
right.
Our article Of Saturday which the National
Intelligencer attempts to discredit, is perfectly
true in each, every, and all of its particulars
The National Iatelhgencer quotes from its issue
of the 18th of this month, to prove that we had
misrepresented its position. This is the first
time that we have ever been charged, from any
respectable source, with any such crime. We
may be mistaken perhaps we attach an un-
HIT 10 tbc@
it may, we have determined to treat every one
with respect and consideration, provided he is
not o freesoiler.
But our friends Of the National Iaelligencer
complain of us because we stated, few days
ago, that they had aided in confusing and bam-
boozling the public mind We have stated that
the compromise of 1920 was different regula-
ton from that of 1921 under which the State
Of Missouri was admitted into the Union.
Strange to say the National hateHigencer, if
we understand the drift of its discourse, con-
tinues to mix up, and mingle and confound
with the ani-slavery restriction of 1920, Mr..
Clay's compromise, under which Missouri was
really admitted into the Union.
4 The National L,tellgencer seems first to be
offended because we did not give it credit for
making distinction between the first and
second Missouri compromise then it is en-
ragged because we made the discrimination ;
then it flies into most unusual passion because
we stated Mr.. Clays position in 1850. Let us
settle these things as we go. There is an old
adage that long credits make bad friends; y
and as we entertain very high esteem for the
National Iatelligencer-an esteem which we
first imbibed from tradition, and which our
personal experience has not lessened- I've
therefore think it best to settle with our venera-
Bile neighbor at once.
In the first place, then, the National LateHi-
gcncer complains that we asserted that it had
published remarks equivalent to- the statement
that Mr.. Clay originated and carried through
the Missouri compromise Of 1920. That jour