Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-08-22


THIS is emphatically the age OF political letter
writing In nlltimes since the existence of sour
glorious Yankee Nation" politicians have been
wont to make known their sentiments to the
people, by the convenient medium of a letter;
but never yet have political letters abounded
so plenteously as at the present a mania pre-
walls all over the country. From the President
and Prime Minister down to the humblest poll.
tician or ofice-sceker whose station or charac-
ter can claim him half dozen readers, there
comes an unremittent stream of these docu-
ments, all of which are daily caught up and
heralded forth by the eager Press.
If we were to take a general survey Of this
entire class of letters as it is, at present, what
issthe conclusion to which we would come? AS
it betokens change, in some measure in the
political tactics Of the present day, can VIC say
that this change has had beneficial results upon
the real principles at stake? We cannot an
swer this last question (as we wonld) in the
affirmative. Welook upon this politico-cpisto-
larry epidemic without very much congratulating
ourselves at its existence. 1t is pcrnicous
evil affecting the political health of our country.
1t is an evil which has been superinduccd,
and we may trace it to obvious causes. The
people of democracy are naturally jealous Of
the servant into whose hands they entrust the
governing power. They, therefore, usually de-
mand, of those seeking Office, an expression Of
.the7views and principles that will regulate them
in the discharge of such office. This is certain
ly a very proper custom; and were the candidates
so appealed to, always honest in making known
their principles, the peoples voice would always
be trulyhe in the administration and laws of
the government, and hence the government
would always be just. But politicians are not
all honest. They will pander to prejudice and
mislead public Judgment to suit their own in
tercsts. As it requires certain amount of
cunning (and talent. indeed,) to secure at once
the favor of two conflicting parties, so success
in political achievement depends much upon the
possession of this cunning or talent. How,
then, is the aspiring dcmAgoguc to bring this
peculiar talent into practical use BY no bet
ter means than a letter. He knows that the
press will come in and do the generous part of
publishing it all over the country. lie knows
that the people-honestly desiring to know the
principles of the candidate for oillce-will
read with avidity all that he writes. Moreover,
he can conceive better by letter than by word,
for he can work more leisurcly and cautiously
in his quiet room than upon the stump. Again;
he need never lack for occasion to act in this
IU-Nnuw ms views, ana
through him he may intrude upon the public,
For these and many other reasons, the polit-
zeal letter becomes the demagogues lavoritc and
most powerful instrument He is therefore
constantly invited to resort to them. We do
not condemn them all; for some of them are,
no doubt, written with perfect candor and hon
esty of intention. But where they abound as
they do now, can VIC help believing that chican-
cry and selfish corruption arc at the bottom of
many of them?
BUFFALO and Rochester, two cities of w cs.
tern New York, are at logserheads. Trade is
dull in both places The grain trade is not
brisk in Buffalo, nor are murders, rapes, and
suicides as brisk as they might be in Rochester.
So they have both gone into to the tight ropc
business. Rochester has heretofore enioved an
unenvIable monopoly of the tight rope busi-
ness, but it has been perpendicular feats, not
horizontal. Buffalo now backs Blondin. of Nj
agara Falls, as its pet; Rochester has adopted De
Lave as its hero. The champion of the former
city holds out at Niagara-that of the latter
over the Genesee Falls. Both heroes draw i'm
mensely, and the newspapers of the two cities
splurge Immensely over the feats. They are
now principally engaged in beating their
gongs and shouting, walk up ladies' and
gentlemen and see the ONLY tight rope
dancer in the universe worth sceing.-
Don't be humbugged with the other show,
ladies and gentlemen this is the only
great, old, original, genuine performer on the
tight rope now alive" So excited are the peo.
pie of the two cities about their pet mnn.mon-
keys, that each cntertains strong belief that
every individual in the rival town is sworn to
cut the opposition rope
Read the account of the Rochester hero, which
VIC publish on our first page this morning.
oun Richmond despatch announces another
duel on the part of o. Jennings WISE that 70.
dOubtabIc "son of his father AS usual, he
received no injury. Two shots were fired, and
there "the matter stands for the PRESENT.
which means, we suppose, that o. Jennings