Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-11-07

LEVI L. TATE, EDITOR.
Bloomsbury, Nov. 7, 1857.
From tie DanviHe Mtel5gencer.
Death of Gen. v. Best.


We have, this week, the painful task of
announcing the decease Of Gen. VALENTINE
BEST, Editor and Proprietor of this paper.
This melancholy event took place at o
o'clock on Wednesday evening last, 2Sth
inst. For more than year Mr.. Best has
been very feeble, but possessed as he was
of an unusual amount Of energy and per-
severance, he PERSISTED in giving more or
less active attention to his business until
about three weeks since, when he became
so much enfeeblcd as to be unable to leave
his bed. Mr. BEST was born near Dan
vile, on sth March, 1901 and consequently
was aged So years, mos, aud 20 days,
He did not have the advantage Of any
thing more than the simple school educa-
ton common in his boyhood At the age
of IA or Is, perhaps, he commenced learn
ing the printing business, in Danville, with
DR.. Daunell; but the greater part of his
apprenticeship was served with the late
Gen. Frick, of Milton. For a short time
he labored as journeyman at Washin ton
and, in 1928, he commenced the publca-
tion of the Danvillc Intclligenccr, which he
has continued to edit and publish unintcr-
ruptedly up to the present time. 1t was
his effort and pride to be always faithful TO
his subscribers as an evidence of which it
may be stated that, in all the period If 80
years, of his roprictorship of the Inteli.
gcncer," he never failed to issue the paper
at the regular time except once, and that
was when the Office was being removed,
and it was impossible. III January, 1s39,
Gov. Porter appointed him Prothonotary
and Clerk Of the different Courts of Co.
un'Lia CO., to Au Vacancy This offioo
he held unit the following Oct ,bcr, when
Jacob Eycrly was elected by the people
to succeed him. An admror and ardent
supporter of Gen. Cass' nomination for the
| Presidency in 1943, he conducted the
Harrisburg .Ar9uS, and laborcd earnestly
for the elevation Of that distinguished
statesman to the Presidency Of the United
States. In l847 he was elected State
Sena or for the counties of Columbia, Lu-
zcrne, and Wyoming, During the last year
of his term, at the session Of lS49-50, he
was elected Speaker of the Senate, and
presided over the deliberations of that body
with marked ability and faithfulncss -
This was his last service in a strictly public
capacity.
For years ever Jealous and watchful of
session of the legislature, with perfectly
$ unselfish devotion, as lis intimate friends
Q hnoa0 certainly, and will testify, and be,
y lioving that the project for the division Of
Columbia and The establishment of Montour
County was entirely right and just, he
J. labored diligently, faithfully, and success,
:, fully for the accomplishment of that end
AS an evidence that his services were
I'd appreciated, at the following election, al
n which he was an independent candidate
for reelection, though defeated in the
Is district, he received nearly unanimous vote
pe in his own County Of Montour. In Dan
, vile he received 70l votes to 3 agains
= him. Interesting himselfin every projec
proposed for the good of the town, ant
Is possessing the eutirc confidence of the peo
, pie, his name could always be found as
trustee, manager, director, or member O
's the different benevolent, literary, and pub
lie enterprises OF the town and County. II
laborcd, too, with more than ordinary yea
with pen, and means, and personal appli
cation, in every good work.
In his capacity as Editor of this paper
q, he performed, perhaps, one of the mos
important of his labors as citizen. n
isG So discriminating mind, familiar with tn
Intelligencer during his long editorialshiI
EN- but knows that it was marked by the evi
to dence Of a solid judgment, and unirorl
~, regard to the great moral interests of tn
/" community. Though decided in, and pei
fectly convinced of the truth Of his polit
cal opinions, he always kept them in abey
nyi;; iyi;; ancc to his dignity as a gentleman and h
for principles as Christian.
2I as But it was in the private relations ofliG
in the social circle, in the bosom of his ow
family, where his virtues shone MOI
brightly, and where his worth was mo-
ON 0m' appreciated. Possessed of a very gonerol
E of and benevolent disposition, he was col
Op. stantly solicitous Tor the comfort al
wolfaro of his Immediate friends md fon,il