The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-12
AUSTIN WILEY.


head Of this article has been obliged, by de-
clining health, 10 leave the editorial pro-
fession, and the subscription list Of the
Portland Inquirer, the paper which he has
long and ably conducted, has been trans
lerred 10 Mr.. Peck, OF the Temperance
Journal. The las, number Of the Inquirer
contains his valediciory, the MAJOR part o.
which We give below. The Withdrawal oil
Mr.. Wiley leaves us a, this time the old
es. lin seryice) political editor in the Stale.
Mr.. Drew, Of the Rural Intelligence, and
DR.. Holmes, OF the Farmer, have welded
the editorial pen longer, but the papers they
conduc, are not political. When we CON
menoed our editorial labors in the Journal,
a, Augusta, more than thirteen yeats ago,
Mr.. w. was publishing the Liberty Standard
a, Hallowell, AMI our early acquaintance,
with him commencing a, tim, when
the country was agi,aied with the question
Of anneying Texas, was not of character
TO give US favorable opinion OF III. utility
Of his efforts as practical anti slavery man,
or to lead US to look upon him as possessed
Of a very charitable disposition. We were
then arden,y in favor Of the election Of Mr..
Clay for the Presidential office, and looled
upon his elevation as the only means by
which the country could be saved from en-
tering upon iha, propasandsm Of slavery,
which has since been foisied upon, and
made, as /, were, the leading policy Of the
Federal government. Mr.. Wiley during
that excited canvass, honestly, though un.
wisely, as we then supposed, and We have
never seen reason TO alter our opinion took
grounds agains, Mr.. Clay, assailing him,
and the party which supported him, with
grca, bitterness, and this gave rise TO some
sharp editorial passages between us, Of ,o'
the mos, pleasar, nature. Our first inpTes-
sions Of him, obtained under such cicum-
stances, were, of course, not so fav'rable
as they should have been, and we could
not, though always awarding 10 him h'ncs-
y of purpose, appreciate the strength Of
his devotion TO The cause for which he Vas
laboIed so necessarily and ably for now
more than sixteen years. More infinite
acquaintance with The man, and especially
during the pas, few years, when we have
labored together in the same field, II a
practical way, 10 prevent the spread OF he
cankering curse Of slavery, has soiiened, IL
not entirely disappointed our p'ejudic's
and a, this time, when he Is leaving he
field, worn out with service, with impaired
health, scan'y purse, 10, how many there
are similarly siiua,ed) we can think Of him
only as The stern. incorporating foe 10
slavery, who has, with equal honesty and
ability, for long years fought the battles Of
freedom with martyrs power and spirit.
We bury deep in the waters OF Lelhe all
unpleasant, memories, aud enshrining only
in our heart the membranes of that
which has been pleasant, in our intercourse,
we par, with our editorial brother with re-
grei, and with the expression of The wish
tina, beneath some more genial sun, and in
u Wilder cline, 10 which we understand he
has'ens, no may find that restoration 10
health which he goes 10 seek, and that he
may yet llvs 10 see tho fall oGulgence Of
that blessed light Of freedom, whose mora
ing.lighi seems now 10 be breaking. anita
the coming of which he has long labored
and farvenily prayed.
We copy from his parting words 10 the
patrons Of the Inquirer, the following
II is hard 10 terminate our relations with
you, cemenied US they are by long years Of
mutual toll and sacrifice in one of The no.
hles, causes that ever engaged human effort.
With thousands we shake hands rs old part.
ing friends only do. In hundreds and hun.
dreds Of your families, we have invariably
met snch greeting and such blessing rs bind
US TO all with ties of precious memories TOO
strong for time TO sever. We boast Of more
strong personal friends here, and among the
choicest population of the State, than any
other live man, and that shall DO conso-
laiion.
I, is hard for an old soldier 10 give up his
rifle Just as victory dawns on the field OF
proirac,ed strife, even though hoping before
long and somewhere 10 return TO the com.
bat. The sigh, OF over $1,000 Of tho best
voters Of the State, embodied around those
principles where but 1913 were found in IS.
40, renders il comparatively easy 10 retire
and rest. Over sixteen years of intense
mental labor and endurance demand il, and
we must obey.
We pause not Tor any self.jus,ilica,ion,
did strength permi, il. Our arguments, our
labors, our sacrifices, are before tho State
and the world. Most sincerely have We
sought 10 DO no man injustice, while un-
swerving integrity and honor should mark
all our course. No doub, we have erred
far more 10 our regret than any o,her's.-I
We have no complaints for injuries nor 9th
er than the best wishes FOR all No oppo-
men, will embrace the truth without becom-
ing our friend.
Whether the cause, so far as we were
concerned, has been conducted with all the
wisdom aud success Of which the means
and occasion admitted, we argue moi, bu,
unboas,ing poin, 10 RESULTS, and say TO all
il with no greater resources you could have
effected more, the whole field OF human
welfare is before you-try il. Not on earth
will il ever be known what The early stages
of this reform have cost. The martyr graves
OF those who led i, are 10 be their chief rec
ord here, unless a country saved by their
sacrcd heroism, and the grateful tears OF an
emancipa,cd people should hereafter offer
tribute 10 their memories.
Blu, meagre fraction is lell 10 US pecu-
niarily for all oar toll, bu, from the heart
we thank God for permitting us 10 take the
part we have in such cause. We began
by the side OF tho crushed slaves, and il
God shalt adjudce us faithful 10 the rights
there plundered, we res, peacefully for