Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-25
The Observation-Disclosures.

The AatiDnal lnteiiiSe"sS
son the removal of the government from
Philadelphia to Washington, Mr.. HARRISON
Smith followed with his printing office, and
on the 3lst October, $500, commenced the
publication there of the National lotelil-
gcncer and Washington Advertiser, as tri
weekly Journal By him alone 1t was con-
Quoted until 1907, when he was joined Dy
Joseph Gales the younger, who had just con-
cluded a residence in Philadelphia in per
fecting himself in the practical knowledge OF
printing. In 1919 Mr. Smith retired from
the business, and Mr.. Gales became the sole
proprietor of the National lntehgencer, at
which tine the second title was dropped
And here we must pause moment Tor tic
purpose Of looking at the antecedeGts OF the
newly dedged editor of this important jour
nal. lie was born on the 10th April, 1856,
10 the rural town Of lexington, near Shet-
field. aud when his father crossed the ocean
was nearly seven years old. On his removal
to Raleigh, about six years afterward, he
was placed at school, ard subsequently at
tended the University of North Carolina; and
his youth pref cured the coming man. As
boy he is said to have had fOndhess for the
more sterling authors, and 20 have been an
adept il the art of clocution. Like bis father
before him, he early made himself &C
duainted with the art of stenography, aud
il was in compliance with the wishes OF his
father that he removed TO Washington /; and
though at first connected with Mr.. Smith as
an assistant, he very soon became his part
Ter. and 50 continued until LETT alohe.
In assuming the undivided charge Of his
journal the young editor thought II becom-
iug i set forth one principle, which has in
variably been the guide Of his public life
1T l. the dearest right said he 10 his read
ers, and ought to be cherished rs the proud
c. pIcrugatve OF freeman, to DC guided by
the unbiased convictions OF his own Judg-
mcnt. This right it is my hrm purpose TO
maintain. and 10 preserve inviOlate the indie
pend~nce of the print now committed into
nv hands In 1913, Mr.. Gales married
,Iuliana, daughter OF Theodore Lee, esq , OF
Virginia, and niece Of Gen. Henry Lee, OF
the revolution. Ia October, 1912, proposing
10 himself the change of bis paper into u
daily one, Mr. Gales invited Mr.. Seaton, who
had by this time become his brother,lu-law,
to come and join him. The partnership was
formed in October, 1912, and the change
made in January, 1873. The youthful inti-
macy which had existed between the twain
in Raleigh, a. once matured into that friend.
ship wbch as kept them together to the
present time.
Here must we pause again for the pur-
pose o! bringing dO"n the story Of William
SeatOu to the period Of the family as well az
business alliance. lie was born in King
William county, Virginia, on the llth Janu-
, AIRY, ISj. At the old family malsiGn he
f passed his childhood, aud there, too, he trOd
the first steps of learning, under the guld-
ance of domestic tutor. lie also went
, through @ course of training at what was then
| the famous academy OF Osilve, a Scotchmsn
of family, afterwards Earl Of Findlator, who
had the honor Of teaching such men as Win
field Scott, William c. Preston, and B. Wat
kins Leigh At the age Of eighteen Mr.. Sea-
tJn eutered earnestly upon the duties OF life;
: and, being ready writer, he very soon be-
, came politician. lie first became assist.
| ant.sdtor OF ore OF the Richmond papers,
% From Richmond re went to Petersburg, and
took charge of the Republican during the
; long absence of its proprietor Mr.. Thomas
Field. His next advance was to the proprie-
torship and edi,orship Of the North Carolina
Journal, published at Halifax, the former
capital OF the State. Though it's politics had
previously. been OF the federal school, be
promptly took sides with the republican par
ty, 10 which he had been raised, and to
" hich he always Belonged and when, on &C
count Of iIl-health, contracted on the slckly
shores Of the Roanoke, he sold the journal,
it had become IL his hands twice as yalua-
bio a property a. when he purchased It,
and obtained that additional price.
Ills next move was TO Raleigh, were, in
accordance with previous arrangement, he
Joined himself 10 the Register of Mr.. Gales,
sen. and subsequently, IN 1909, married the
daughter OF Mr. Gales, and sister of his fu'
ture business partner, ty whose invitation
he came to Washington in 1872. From this
point the stories Of Gales and Seaton become
united. and, with rare conc, rd merge into
one. They have never had Inference OF opD-
ion on political questions, and never q jar or
misunderstanding OF any sort, but have, dur
iug - years, lived in the harmony of bro
theirs. They have never known division OF
Interests; from their ,mmOn Golfer each has
Away drawn whatever be chose: and for
thirty years la-t there has never been q
settlement OF accounts between them. To
sketch the career Of the National Intoli-
gencer through all the ramtcations Of our
political history for the last fifty year does
not come within the scope of this article,
aud what little remains TO be said here will
lie Of personal character. The lives Of
Gales and Seaton, since they became mature
and settled, have presented few events not
Common to all men; little Of vicissitude be-
youd # that pockets Low full and now empty
nothing tut steady performance Of duty,
an eXcrtiJn when necessary Of high sblli'
~, and the accumulation through these of q
deeply-telt esteem among all the best and
wisest Of the land = H"pcr'8 Weekly.
Administration and PennsyivBnin.
|, is evident enough that President Buoh-
anan stands on very slippery ground. Penn
, sylvania even exhibits a strong tendency to
, glide from beneath his feet--tbe State which
, formerly rejOicei to call him her taVorite SOD;
that persisted 10 urging him as candidate
, for the Presidency; that alone secured bis
t elect on hy her loyalty to him.
e. Ii Gug one would know the real feeling OF
the people in this Stat, let him turn t. the
inaugural Of Governor Packer; and read with
attention those passages Of his address which