Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-09-03
a...- A CARD.
REV. MR.. oRIFFIrH's REPLY TO JAMES Il. BINGHAM


We regret to be forced into the unwelcome
task ofreplying to an unpeasant.man. During
temporary absence from Moundsville Mr.. j,
B. Bingham, of the Times visited our town,
CLEANED few items of news from questionable
quarters, and heralded us, in supposed infamy
to the public. As we have been ruthlessly as
sailed, without ceremony OF reserve, we desire
to offer few coWments on the said Editors
Objectionable article. Christian magnanimity
and lorbearance would, in most cases, dictate a
course of silence. Were not our moral charac-
ter and ministerial reputation involved in the
lslanderous assault, we should obey the teaching
,ofthese virtues. It would be enough TO leave
our reviler to the lashings of his own con.
science-if he has one. But we feel the more
summoned to the defence as Mr.. Bingham did
these wicked things without Just cause or pro.
vocation While we believe that he does not
possess the influence, or command the position,
to affect our character unfavorably, yet an an.
swer is sheer act Of justice to those we paste.
rally serve. Indeed, it becomes matter OF
duty personally. These considerations prompt
us to vindication from the foul aspersons OF
this thoughtleSs editor.
We are unable to discover by what authority
or precedent in respectable journalism, he as
sumes the right to attempt our defamation
He cannot plead the usage of a dignifed paper,
the custom of an honorable editor, or the exam.
pie of high minded gentleman. Neither such
nn editor nor suchH paper would be guilty of
so fragrant violation of the laws of propriety,
or so indecorous an Infringement of individual
right We just happen to think that Mr. Bing-
hamlmakes no pretensions whatever to honor
ablencss in his conduct, dignity in his bearing or
gentlemanly civiity in his behavior And if he
DID, it would be bare audaciOus presumption.
We are equally at a loss to divine the hidden
motive or sudden impulse that hurried him into
the indiscretion of committing SO palpable a
nd CO OI1f
der. Can it be his incurable love of notoriety?
Perhaps So CAN'T be his unquenchable thirst
for sc-ibbling? 1t may be so. Or CAN'T be some
petty motive of personal spite? One would
really think SO, as these petty motives are so
natural aud congenial to him.
Now, the circumstances. of the case do not in
the least relieve him. They not only do not
justify him, but condemn him. They put the
mark Of a reckless scGRdaEiser on his brow, and
brand him with the, shame Of a heq9fless trddu-
Ger. The whole case is briefly this: Yeintend.
ed visiting our parental iheme, from which wc
had been absent over two years. We have an
aged Father and intirm Neither whom we longed
to see. we announced this purpose both pub
iicly and pri0Htely. We7talkedswiths our official
members aboutit. 1t was therefore known that
we intended to go. Several days before We
werc ready to start on our homeward trip, n
gentleman, engaged the Patent Right business
madc his appearance in our town. He stated to
@us that he was member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, &C.; he would be obliged 10
us if we would give him information as to the
solyency or insolvency of parties with whom
he might be able TO contract. We did SO. For
this service he was grateful, and offered us the
right for Maryland as remuneration. MARX
IT-the serrico rendered consisted in inT0rna.
tion. We thought we had right to take the
offering. We saw no ha.m or wrong in it
We accepted. We took the machine along with
MS; had a gentleman with us to exhibit it: and
preach the merits of the machine . touched
hut three points on orr way homeward; dis