Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-07-25
Tor the Intelligencsr.l
F.. w. Russell and the Democratic

b party. NOT only utterly announcing AF.
Douglas and his doctrines, but actually go
ing SO far as TO read out of the
Democratic party all those who, adherins
to the ancient landmarks of their faith,
refuse to affiliate with the disuniun-se-
ccssion movement inaugerated by YAncey
Co., aud in which our talented friend
has become uuaccountably interested with
in the last few weeks. Now, under any
circumstances we would contemn the ut
terauce OF any sentiment which would
have a tendency to disturb the harmo-
ny and good feeling OF the party; but par
ticularly in the present existed state of
party feeling, do We abhor this spirit Of
vindictiveuess which, laying hold of the
petty differences which exist in the party,
would add fuel to the FIRE and fan the
fame of discord until all the elements Of q
great national party were consumed and
destroyed. Ii seems to US passing strange
that Mr.. Russell, accredited to the National
Democratic Convention by constituency
+! in which the Douglas element, if it did
not predominant, was, at least, equal in
strength, and who, in his published mani
festo, while he avowed his preference for
zone of Virginias honored sons, expressed
no diSapprobation of either Douglas or
I LIS pa luNl piCSi OOl SSCuCN ~ iSSG4 u lis AL
most certain nomination by the Conven-
/ ton as something to be desired. We say
it is passing strange that Mr.. Russell
should, in the short space of three weeks,
become so cmbittered against the man and
his principles as to publicly denounce him
and them in terms as discreditable to him
self as it was unmerited by the objects of
his pretended malice.
And, as if the more surely to convince
us that there was ga method in his mad
ness" we do not hear one word of his
I ''nurtured malice" until after his with
drawal from the Baltimore Convention
But no sooner is the Rubicon crossed, and
his fate cast with those who, Aruold-like,
when they cannot force a free people to
bend in servile submission to their will,
would ruthlessly destroy the fair fabric
reared by our fathers, and cemented with
their blood, than, feeling that he would be
called to q strict account for his steward
ship by an indignant constituency, he
seeks to bolster up his waning popularity
by charging upon Judge Douglas and his
friends, the odium of bringing about the
dismemberment of the Democratic party.
Thus adding insult to injury, and with a
want of principle which characteriZes dis
unonists under all circumstances, he
seeks, by placing the burden upon anoth-
I CT GuOuIuClSs " CSCdpS Tue IRuOuIIhl
which to all eternity will cling to those
who preach Disunion. We regret the
course pursued by Mr.. Russell, for many
considerations; first and foremost of which
is, that by his fatal deviation from the
path of duty in this instance, he has not
only blighted his own future prospect for
ever, but he has created a division in the
ranks of Democracy, which time alone can
heal, and for which the party, no matter
how great or sincere his repentance, never
can or Will forgive him. The democracy
mainly charge upon Mr. Russell the I'M
toward results which followed the with
drawal of the Virginia Delegation from
the Baltimore Convention. They assert
and with apparent reason, that, had the
Virginia Delegation remained true to the
post assigned it, and held its place in the
Convention, not more than one or two
states would have seeded, and conse.
quentlv no organized plan of action among
the secedcrs would have been resolved
upon. upon. and no disruption would have re.
the Convention, of the magnitude oil
which few are aware. Standing as me-
diator between the opposing factions, look
ed toior aid and counsel upon the one side
while she was respected for her fidelity
upon the other, each side locked to Vir-
glnia as the presiding Genia of the hour
who arising in the majesty of her dfsinter-
estcduess should roll back the wild surges
OF sectional strife, and say to the warning
elements, which threatened to submergc the
laundering bark Of hope, Peace! Be still!
Each side desired the cooperation of Vir-
GINA in strife, which, if maintained
must inevitably result disaslrously to the
Democratic party, and each side felt weak
eued without her aid What then WAS the
course OF action already indicated to the
virginia Delegation! ASsuredIy to remain
III the Convention, and, if they could not
avert the impending danger. to perish
IN the ruin, rather than desert the most
which duty had assigned them. But, per
haps, some caviller may say that Mr. Rus
sell did not compose the Virginia Delcga-
ton. True, he did not But will any one
presume to assert that Nr. Russell, as
Chairman of that Delegation did not WELD
powerful influence for good or evil
among those over whom he had been
chosen TO preside? Deliberatiye bodies
10 not generally select as their president.
man in whose wisdom and integrity they
nave no confidence, and whose advice they
would hesitate to follow.
Promising, then, that he did possess this
luluence, and as the sequel proved that he
welded 1t to the destruction of the Demo-
clNt!c party, we can easily imagine what
must DC the feelings of those old Demo-
Gratis who have grown gray in the faith, Mt
being stigmatised as rebels by one whom
they look upon as j traitor and a rene
gade. Smarting under this uncalled for
and ungenerous conduct of Mr.. Russell is
1t any wonder that they retort upon him
win the charge of selling the Democratic
party tor a scat in the Supreme Court /?
ihey view with suspicion his sudden
change of sentiments in regard to Sir,
Douglas, and mark it as a singular coinci.
dence that the era which dawned npon tho
demise of Judge Daniel, ushured in the