Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-03-19


Monsieur De TocqueviTe, in his Democracy in
America" should bave become rather despOnd-
ent over the prospect of perpetuity oil the
Iindependent and ritaI principle in Republican
government One of his chief reasons for SO
supposing, was the rapid tendency to party
prescription, which he had observed setting in
soon after the earlier administrations in our gov
eminent Party despotism was just as pro-
scriptive of Independent thought or action as
monarchy, and the more compact the organiza-
ton of any party-whether held thus compact
| ly by the force of central source of an i'm
mense patronage, or whether held together by
the mistaken notions of its majority, the dan
ger was, that the Generalization of political
opinion would gradually, but fatally set in.
These suggestions were called to mind by the
case of Maxwell McCaslin, formerly of Greene
county, Pa, and well and fnvorably known
through this whole region of country. He has
been removed lately from an office of public
trust, for no other reason than that he was too
true-too ortspoken and frank man to be n
successful politician
In the concluding portion of Col Forney's
letter, extracts from which We quoted yesterday,
we find the following fOrcble allusion to the
case of this worthy man:
1t is said that Frederick the Great-I think
that Lord BroughaIn's short sketch of him con-
tains the statement-would sometimes demand
of his ministers to talk to him boldly; and when
they did he would lose his temper and beatthem
for their candOr. There are many good, brave
men in Washington to-day who would give their
worst of thoughts the worst of words, if they
had the chance. But the eye Of greatness has
no welcome-the of greatness no hearing
for such men. If they attempt to speak out,
they are turned away or left standing 'alone
in their glory" Let me give you the last
instance of the way things are done here
One of the best men ever sent from. Western
Pennsylvania to our State Legislature was
Maxwell MCaslin. His very name is a house
hold word in Washington, Fayette and Greene.
Everybody liked him during his long residence
in the latter county. Honest, faithful, intelli-
igent, and brave, he was fine specimen of that
Scotch Irish element which has infused so many
sterling traits into our Pennsylvania character.
We'll, Maxwell is not over rich; and so, after
having served his constituents with honor, for
many years, heasked for and obtained an Indian
Agency in Kansas about two years ago, from
President Pierce. He had been a Buchanan
standard bearer in Greene county for, think,
some fifteen years, fighting our excellent friend
John L. Dawson, IN many a hard contest, when
the latter led the anti-Buchanan column III tine
West 1t was natural that such man should
feel free to speak the truth without fear, espe-
cially to save his old chief, Mr.. Buchanan, from
harm. Maxwell MCaslin saw the wicked and
merciless tyranny in Kansas. His honest nature
revolted at it. He saw the he had labored
for about to be damaged by the authors of this.
bold villainy. What did ne do? Did he wait to
think of HIMSELF No! Like man who sees
his brother in peril-for Maxwell MCasln is
about Mr. Buchanan's age-he rushed in to save
him. He wrote imploring letters from the
Territory, telling the powers here that they
were deceived. He begged them 20 halt
in their career. He told them that the pco-
pie of Kansas never would submit to Lecomp-
ton, and that it was cruelty to ask them
to submit to it. He appealed to the friends of
the President to drive off the vermin from that
Territory, who were here bcsieging power, and
deluding and deceiving the Executive. These
letters, written in all the arlor ofod friendship
andin the credulous belief that no one would
question their Sincerity-alas vain hope cost
him his head. One of them got into The Press
through Mr.. Kincaid. of Greene, now n member
of our legislature. 1t doomed the writer. On
Tuesday last he removed from his little
place, and his successor appointed. can realize
how this act of grace will be received in Greene
county, and all along that rebelliouS frontier
My regret is deep that, by AN act of mine-by
the publication of that unfortunate letter.
should have been the innocent cause of his re-
mOval How did he write, let the following ex-
tract from one of his last letters (Which cannot
iJulS uOM " Spciih 10 Tue Teiuer- III The
Lecompton constitution is adopted, and the cleo
ton of the 4th of January is given to the fire.
eaters under Calhoun, it will noFonly make
dark day in Kansas, but all over the Union
I'll the President had stood his ground with Gov
ernor Walker, amidst the millions OF Conservative
men ichO leouLd hare rallied around him, both
North and South, all would have been cell
THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DEMOCRACY
WOULD HAVE MAINTAINED ITS CONSIS-
TECY, AND STOOD UPON THE PILLARS
OF ETERNAL TRUTH AND JUSpICE"-
This fatal letter is dated on the 10th off bruary,
and as John Campbell my Irish neigh ,.r across
the way, is not only first rate bookseller, las
we'll as book rcader,) but is also fond If auto
graphs, will give this letter to him if he will
come and get it. $50 mach nor BucEi CHAM"
You will that am committing a great
imprudence by writing SO plainly. certainly
do SO with no personal purpose, My franlneSs
may disturb some sensibiliies-and may give
some greedy and aspiring gentlemen good
chance to help themselves by abuse of me; and
if SO, shall not be sorry. But claim the
right TO speak out on this grave subject Idoit
more in sorrow than in anger. feel that we
are on the verge of frightlul abyss; and in my
vocation as an Independent Journalist, and as
one who would tomorrow serve James Buchan
an, If felt it was right, with all the artior of