Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-23
DELIVERED AT I'M


nished by Mr.. Bolts to one of our editorial
corps, now in New York. and by him forwarded
to US. 1t has been looked forward to with SO
much interest by all parties, that we make no
apology for taking up SO great share OF our
paper withit
MH. CHAIRMAN AxD GzSTLFMIx: Et
appear before this vast concourse of my
fellow countrymen, day, in obedience to an
invitation extended TO rue by the order of Unit
ed Americans, Of which organization am proud
To be regarded worthy member, to deliver
an address, on this the 12Tth anniversary of the
day that gave to the world, for the benefit of
mankind, our common father, the immortal and
heavenly gifted Washington.
It is due to the Order that should correct
silly report, which has found its way into the
press, that the object of this occasion was to
put me fairly the course for the next Presi-
dency. That their objects were wise and patri-
otic, / have never doubted, but that they reach
ed to this exalted and sublime height, they have
certainly given me no reason to believe.
1t is due to myself to say, that when was
honored with the invitation, accepted it only
on one condition: Il said to the committee, l am
no fourth of July speech maker, for have
neither the genius or the inauguration that
would fit me for such style OF oratOry;-but
ours is political organization, designed 10 ac
complish patriotic, political results, for the com
mon benefit of all who are interested IN the
perpetuity of our institutions, and can con-
ceive no more appropriate occasion, for an inqni
ry into the political condition of the country,
than on the birthday of rWashington;-if, there
fore, it shall be agreeable TO the committee, and
to the order of which you the representa-
tives that should undertake to show the de
plorable condition to which it has been reduced,
the causes that have led toit-and the remedies
to be applied, in which ] shall necessarily DEAL
with an utsparipg, hut just hand, with the
democratic party, TO which all the evils and Gu
Iaulities that have befallen us, are be traced,
then will venture an attempt, and eDdeavor 10
present such views as are calculated to arrest
the public attention, with contiding trust that
they may provo beneficial to our common cOun-
try.
These conditions were accepted, and am
here to discharge the task have undertaken.
Any attempt at an appropriate or suitable
eul0gy on the virtues and services of Washing
ton, Of whom it was as beautifully, as ii was
grnphcally, and Justly said, ''He was the first
in war first in peace, and first in the hearts of
his conntrymen" would be as far above the
reach of my limited capacity, as his imperish-
able name aud fame, above the necessity Tor
eulogy,-and beyond the reach ofenvy, jealousy
calnmny detracton.
Washington stands out from all the rest of
mankind, alone, without rival, and without
peer. Between himselfand others, comparisons
are not instituted, because none have been will
ling 10 suffer by the contrast; for not only in
blessings, but even among the savage and bar
barous tribes, the name of Washington is known
and revered, as among the sngacious, the most
4eise; as among the unSullied, the most pure;
aud among the good, the best.
1t is moi, then, in n vain and idle desire for an
ostentatious and pedantic display of oratory, or
of learning, Ito which set up no pretensions,)
that am here to-day. 1t is not to reap in a
field where nothing is left to CLEAN, that come
haryest;-it is not of Washington that come
to speak, but of those great works oil which he
was the chief, and mighty architect; the llbcr-
ties of the people, and the union of the states,
for which he fought in the battle field, and la
bored in the council chamber, and which, hav
ing at length perfected and set in order, he
transmitted to us, his unworthy children, as
the richest inheritance ever bcqneathcd to hu-
manlty, in sacred trust, TO be handed down ny
us. unimpaired to our children, and their de-
sccndants, fur generation upon generation, yet
unnumbered and unborn.
That there have been, and still are, those who
OCCUPY high positions in society, eminent places
in the government, and who enjoy large share
of the respect and confidence ofthosc, by whom
they are surrounded at home, who nelIoer APP
preciate the virtues and services of their anceS'
try. nor the advantages, and blessings OF the
Union, we are furnished with abundant evil
dence not only through the public press but IN
our daily intercourse with the world, aud IN our
common walks of life;-and although We see II
not unfrequenuy happen lhaI suCu ihe", " ~
nammatory appeals to the sordid passions, or
sectional preludices, of a more honest and con-
fiding constituency, manage TO worm them.
selves into official stations, sometimes even as
representatives of states, yet do not believe
there is single state in this Union, that mas
become so basely degenerate, so unspeakia!oiy
depravcd, as to calculate its value by dollars
and cents, whether for the cotton Of South Car,
Olina, the negroes of Virginia, the mules $ oil
Kentucky, the hogs of Ohio, the lands OF the
West or the manufactures Of the North.
The representatives of the people are not at
ways to be taken as a just index of the sentiment
of those they represent. My own state mas iur,
nished more than one nullifyer, secesSionlSt ana
disunionist to the public councis;-but take
both pleasure and pride, in paying just tribute
to the integrity and patriotism OF the conslitu'
ent bodies they left behind them, when tney
vent to Washington, by declaring they are as
true and as sound and loyal on the questions o.
the Union, as were their forcfathers IN the GAYS
of the Revolution;-then if you ask Eie %hy
they select such men to represent them an an
swer, lst because they cannot he made 10 oe,
lieye the Union is in danger; and I'd, because y
is the result of party spirit and party orga"'Aa'
tion.
Yet it is unauestionable, that there has been
change in public sentiment, in some sections
,f ,h;s co,,rtr,, ,r;fhin the last twenty years