Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-11-04
THE LESSON OF To-DAY.


will for the next four years. This will be, if we
remember right, the eighteenth time that such
a national event has happened. When compa-
red with the SUGGESTIONS in the long desceuts of
European dynasties, it seems, indeed, but an in
strtution of yesterday. Yet when associated
with the American history, of whichswe might
say it is a synopsis, it seems to US of this day
as an old, time-honored custom. There vet
live men who were voters at the first election
whose privilege it was to express their gratitude
TO ''the father of his country" A few remain
ing veterans of that, to us long time will to-day
most probably cast their last vote 1t occurs
10 US that in the minds of these aged fathers,
very peculiar thoughts must arise. They re-
member when that Constitution, under which
we to-day exercise this privilege, was commit
ted to the consideration of the people of the
thirteen States. They remember how, for
months and for years, it was deliberated upon
and amended by the Legislatures of these States.
They will recollect the many doubts, fears and
hopes which were expressed concerning the re-
suit of this, the grandest experiment ever in
stimted.
They, in the single span of their experience,
have seen each provision of the constitution an
slysed and expounded, and have been mem
hers of parties formed upon difference of opin-
ion as to these provisions. Once they were Fed
eraIists, inclining to the belief of strong CEN
tralized power. They had seen the French Rev
olution rise, and under the name of liberty de-
lrlgc the landin blood, and then merge again into
despotism. Then, as time demonstrated the ca
pacity of the people for selfgovernment, they
became more jealous of their rulers and new
disputes arose as to the powers of the govern
ment. A peoples party. known as the Re-
publicans came into power upon this issue of
delegated and constructive powers AS the
country grew in wealth and population, new
issues arose, and the people again divided off
into Wings and Democrats. Now we see them
again, this day, ranged off into three parties,
each claiming for itself the popular sentiment of
the country.
The lesson to be learned from review of this
part of our history, is that party can arise and
continue among a progressive people without
Incorporating in its creed new issues 1t is use
less for parties as well as individuals to talk
about the stability and identity of their preten-
sions. We must progress or retrograde. The
party of a past age must refit-must adapt itself
to the developing requirements of the country.
The venerable men to whom we have alluded,
seem to us to have been fortunate beyond what
generally is allowed to mankind. They stand
as the connecting link between two great con-
flicting ideas; like the eight survivors of the
deluge, they seem tho people of two worlds
Born under king, in whose right to rule over
them-to enjoy a privilege or exemption not
allowed to their subjects, they had no agency,
they have lived to see themselves and their chill
dren after them, selecting from their own peers
the person who shall carry out for short period
what they shall please to dictate. Well might
such men say with Simeon of old, "now let thy
servant depart in peace" forasrnuch we have
seen our species attain so great growth towards
that stature which wise Providence has doubt
less purposcd they shall yet attain.
THE NEW ORLEANS DELTA.
We present to-day an extract from the N o.
Delta. We attach but the smallest significance
to its tire-eating proposition about re-opening
the African slave trade. twill find no backing
from the Union men of the South, for we be-
lieve that every day adds to the reprobation of
such an idea, and that the African slave trade
viii forever remain condemned and outlawed
upon our national statute book. America will
never degrade herself to the level of Portuguese
and Spanish pirates
Without further comment we commend to the
Northern born editor of the Delta, the eloquent
speech of the Hon. VIM @. Rives, or that por-
ton of it in which he avows his suspicious of
that man, reared in the North, who goes South
and strives to scatter firebrands by outdoing
the South in praise of her institutions, and to
engender greater hostility between the two
sections of the Union;
SLAVERY IN CENTRAL AMERICA
(Prom the New Orleans Deta)
We have more than once referred to the ne
cessity of introducing slavery into Nicaragua as
the only means by which Walker and his follow
ers could consolidate and perpetuate their new
republic, BECAUSE from the nature Gifts climate
and products, the Anglo American settlers were
unable to cultivate the soil profitably themsel-
YES, aud the native mongrel inhabitants were
almost totally worthless and inefficient as free
laborers- We also alluded to significant assn
g'dRces zoe had feeeieed from authorised sources,
that Walker designed soon as Ae,c could pru-
IDENTIFY do SO, to publicly legatize sIGrery tcithm
his do1ainionS md inpite Shareholders to end
CRATE tsither NTH their stGres. We 1He1o some
toeeks since that decree to tbSs effect had been
drdieR up, and ice holo learn that it has been
promulgated.
We confidently pronounce it the wisest, most
president and statesman like act of his admin
istration. 1t is the one thing needful. Without
u, rain could hare been his conquest. rain has
iReiaci6le army cain has reconstruction Of
gorernuaeat and rstarmasioB of commerce !,
iciti0ut an el5icisnt la6or-systeRl as basis, all
must sooner or later dare faded array ike the
GasHbstaRtidE fabric or a UisiOH. Numbers of
shareholders have already written to US to know
if they could safely take their slaves into Mic
aragua, cultivate sugar, coffee, rice, indigo
chocolate plantations as the case might be- We
have always assured our correspondents that
though slaves were not recognized by law in
Nicaragua we have no doubt they would be se-
cured to their owners during Walkers admin
iStration, and that ultimately slavery would
have an existence there of law as well rs fAct-