Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-03-25
Hons. d. $. Reid and Bedford Brown.


The North Caroliuian8 in Washington City
recently presented Hon. David S. Reid, late Senator
from this State, with handsome goldheaded cane,
token of their respect and appreciation,
Mr.. Reid deserves to be popular. He is sincere,
clever gcnteman-courteouS and obigng at al times,
and ardently devoted to the interests of North Carolina
No one who met him at Washington City could have
failed to be Impressed with his uniform kindness and at
ention to any of the citizens of his own State whc might
visit the federal capital
1t has got to be fashion to undcrrate certain mcm
beers of the democratic partyto cast slurs on hcmO
attempt to betlc them. This has been the to-
wards Mr.. Reid. Nobody will claim Cor him intel
lectual status equal to Webster Calhoun But he is
entitled to all the position that is properly due to homes
ty OF purpose purity of principle and cearness Of udg
ment backed by more than average amount Of what
is commonly called ability
Mr. Reid is no longer Senator of North Carolina.
He has no patronage to control-no power to WELD,
and we can thus freely speak of him without laying our
motives open to suspicion
We have alluded to the sometimes too successful effort
to cast rdicule upon and to bette leading gentlemen
belonging to the Democratic party in this State. A
striking example of this presents itself in the of
Hon. Bedford Brown. Mr.. Browns public life in this
State appeared to have closed before that OF the MAORI
ty of the present voters of the State had commenced
and comparatively few had seen Or heard that gentleman
for themselves The tales of the Opposition had made
him figure as pompous conceited thickheaded man,
until really, what with Mr. Browns absence from public
life and from the State-what with the pertnacity and
assurance with which the tales against him were repeat
ed even the members of his pary-at least those
who had entered the Of manhood since his retire
ment from active political lie-actuay got to thinking
that these things must be and venture to say that
no man surprised the younger members of the last Leg
islature more than Mr. Brown Instead Of the unfavor
able image that had been built up, all parties were com
PEELED to recognise and respect Mr. Brown as the very
model of Legislator and gentleman. Quiet, attentive
courteous, watchful thinking and speaking clearly wher
he spoke at al-of liberal views and almost unerring
Judgment his influence most sautary and the value
of his services in the Senate could hardly be estimated
1t is not saying too much to remark that the rappear
ance of Mr.. Brown in public life and his heightened
bearing in the Senate of North Carolina has sencec
the tongues of the little Writings whose stock in trade
has consisted of stale Jokes at the expense of Hon. Bed
ford Brown.
1t is due to Justice that the reputation of leading
public men should be defended from rdicule upius
mputaton and the duty of doing So in tie case 0
Democrats is that devolves especially upon the
ductors of the Democratic press.
bas@Poor Mike Walsh is dead With all his fail
ings and he had good many of them, Mike was mai
of strong native sense, and VIC Think contr0ilin!
disposition TO act honestly, and to do what he though
was right.
Mr. Walsh was of Irish parentage, and % raised ur
der rather dsadvantageous circumstances in the City
New York. He may have accumulated some little pre-
perty. We think be had but it is to his credit that, a
though mixed up with all manner of ward politics an
the like, in that not very scrupuous city, the charge
bribery or pecuniary dishonesty was never hnte
at by his worst enemies in connection with his
In Congress he took higher position than any on
would have been willing to prophecy for him. He wa
rare bird in the New York delegation He was 500
found to be perfectly honest, reliable man, with
private purposes to advance private ends to
Many Goldfish TafUenueS were ready enough to sneer
the Hon. Mike Walsh, but Mike acas an honorable maj
according to the lights before him.
1t is thought probable that he may have fallen dow
into area, excavated space in front of basemen
while intoxicated Perhaps he did and perhaps he di
not. His queer associations led him into queer habit
With better education and better training Mike Walls
might have been most worthy and useful citizen,
he had the elements that might have made him such.