Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-08-01
From the Washington States and Union.
DEATH OF JOSEPH GALES.

fellow-citizens nas passed away. On Saturday eve
Ming about clock, at his residence OF lexington,
Joseph Gales departed this life He had as we
learn, been prepared by his body servant to retire
for the night when he suddenly dropped down, and,
without any apparent bodily pain, went to his eter-
nal rest The departure Of his familiar form from
amongst us, though sudden might have been ex-
,pected Death, more than once, had knocked for
him. Paralysis had already unclaimed his body,
and man with less equabilIty Of temperament and
vivacty of intellect would have succumbed years
ago. But although the lamp-case, SO to speak, had
been shattered the light until a comparatively re-
cent date, kept up a genial and generous glow.
Mr.. Gales had attained the ronnd age OF sventy-
four though many doubtless thought HIM over that
he has been so long, so Familiarity, and so lovingly
spoken of as "Old Jo Gales" Probably the death
of no man in the District of Columbia could inspire
such universal harmony of respectful memories.
His genius and his joviallties, the dignity with
which he decorated and sustained his art as jour
nalst, and the llberalty by which his nature broke
loose from the trammels Of what is called worldly
wisdom, gave him claims upon all who, politically
or personally, encountered him..
At least two generations in this city have been
taught from childhood to mention his name with re-
spect and affection and the statesmen, publicists
and politicians of the whole country, dating from
half century ago 10 day. have not Oily acknowl-
edged his trenchant power buoyant w.t. and elastic
their aid and been guided by the sagacty which
their combinations inspired. This was more esPe-
ciay the previous to some seventy years back,
when the requisites for political writing and the
management of journal to counsel with leaders
and advise the people, were Of less abusive, per-
sonal and feroclosy fippant nature, than they I'M
fortunately now are. ...
Mr.. Gales was native of England and came to
this. country mere child about the year 1902. His
father was bookseller in Sheffield, the proprietor
of the Register of that town, in which paper the
poet James Montgomery, then youth. nade his
first sensation. The Register got both the poet and
the publisher into trouble. Its too liberal opinions
drove Mr. Gales out of England an exile into the
more congenial atmosphere of America; and sent
Montgomery into the clutches Of the attorney gen.
eral, who prosecuted, fined and imprisoned him.
Newspapers and pencraft came thus naturally to
young Jo Gales He came to Washington in the
first half of the first decade Of the century, and af
ter novitate in the National IntelAgencr, under
Harrison Smith, (who started it, soon became edi-
tor and proprietor and in a short time formed that
partnership with COL W. w. Seaton which contin-
ued in uninterrupted unity and fatcrnai ndentii-
cation until death dissolved it. on Saturday last.
"Gaes and Seaton," the Brothers Cheryble of
Journalism
1t would be impossible to follow the various pro-
essonal details of the active life Of Mr.. Gales but
in respect to the memory of one so familiar to the
WISE the poor, and the good and so beloved and re-
spected " time out of mind" by the whole cOmmu-
nifty, we may appropriately reset in this hasty
framework sketch which has lain in our portfolio
for more than couple of years. 1t is at once
graphic outline of the respected deceased and just
tribute to his intellect and his nature:
son entering the door, you find yourself in
low-browed, smoke-stained room, with discolored
desks and counters All the appenGages seem old
fashed even to the aged clerk, who receives you
with poleness old fashioned too. If you
come on business with the principal you vii! find
yourself ascending narrow and rather gloomy flight
Of stairs Having accomplished the ascent to the
first landing, you pause and enter a door, which
you are told is the editors room. Before table
covered with papers, pamphlets and manuscripts,
sits venerable looking man with pencil in his
left hand-his right has been paralyzcd for some
tme-in thoughtful mood as if celebrating
leader, of which but single line is written. No
one glance at that face and not perceive at once
that it is that Of remarkable man. The strong
features and firm mouth express bencvolence, ener
gv, decision, within short it is face more no.
ticeahle for character than beauty.
with the name Of this gentleman, the idea of
the National Mteiigeacer is nseparably connected.
For long series Of years he has been its conduc-
tor; and though backed by host of varied talent
he may truly be called its life and SOUL breathing
his spirit as refining and uniting principle over
that able Journal His editorials are considered by
our leading politicians to be close argument, pro-
found in insight finished in execution pure in style
and as refined in thinking as they are exquisite in
diction AS specimens of pure and perfect English,
they might stand as models. lie opposes with his
pen quietly but INCREASINGLY, every measure which
might lead to a disruption of the Union In the
defeats of his party, Of which his journal is the &C.
knowledged exponent, he never admits himself dis
do,rocsod b,,tT from,
fall seems to RISE like Antnus with renewed vgor.
And yet, good reader, he has still higher honor
in the hearts of the people about him. The poor
and unfortunate are more peculiarly his friends
t He arrives in Seventh street from his residence in
the country, in the cosy, close carriage which
has made its Journey thither daily for the last thirty
years, so punctual to its hour that its driver
and occupant wanting, the horse would doubtless
convey the vehicle in safety and STOP from the force
of habit at the precise hour before the lowroofed
building. AS he passes from his carriage to the
Office the passing beggar for once ceases to be voci
ferrous, SO certain is he of receiving spontaneous
gratuity from him. Within he is quite like to be
met with the appeal of widow, with one of those
large families of orphans who fe.ls certain of as
sistance from him. For it is we'll known in our
city, that this venerable man is troubled with a
melancholy cavity in his brain-a fatal cerebral CELL
where acquistiveness-is not Narrow-hearted
ously and say, that to see man wasting his means
on every body in this way, is enough to make the
very stones cry out Doing such useless things
and so much for other people, be ought to remeu,-
Der the rainy day."
Such is suggestive sketch of what Joseph Gales
was; and the facts alluded to in the last paragraph
need no additional establishment in the eyes of a
community in which he was so we'll known.
AS journalist friend, benefactor and chief magis.
frate of WASHINGTON he has left manv endoarino
and lasting recollections behind him.
Mr. Gales was ever an active worker. He had
an active BRAIN and his body need must be alert to
keep up with it. He soon impressed himself on
the minds of statesmen, and his paper is one of the
most valuable mines from which the historical stu
dent or writer can dig up the political details of that
early period; before reporting fourished as it now
does or was so widely cultivated or patronized by
the press For many years Mr.. Gales reported the
doings of the House of Representatives, and Mr.
Seaton kept like record of the Senate These re-
norts are now we'll known thouph very scarca NJ