Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-04-13
Ehe Ea4Ion AWaIe1I61-


The country tor some time. that seem to be,
Iorsby Of passing notice. The states
man and student Of hnnan nature, who
has made The motives and sprisgs Of hn.
man action a life long study, cannot DO.
have observed them and may have fathom-
ed the eause, but 70 the superficial observ-
sT, there Is Somsthing almost inezpIieabIe
IN the combinations aud Developments Of
ibs timss. Whether they have grown out
Of our syttsm of government, or have
ariSsn from inherent qualities in the minds
aud condolences Of men is question yet
70 b determined. But certain 1t il that
therO has been prevailing tbrOugbout the
country what We nay eaIl, for want Of a
better term moral epidemic laxness,
or it may be only IethaFRy, Of national con-
Sciepee-a desertiOn for the time Of natural
Ibeaght and nataral feeliag that prompts
the inquiry, What Is the cause Of this
great change that has taken place In the
popular mind7 That Unborn justice and
naguanimity that made the Americans
aS 3 people grateful for benefits, and
geaeEopS in response 70 them, appears
gradually to have given place to the -iusid
ioaS advances Of a system Of public NOR.
ais and practices better snited to the at
mOsphere of some old Spanish regime.
With its eOrruptiOnS and intrigue, than to
what was once the health and purity of
an integral government, sustained by an
united people. The change we all 1eeoR-
niEe and deplore. We can cite the open
and apparent reasons for 1t, but can we
entirely fathom the primal causes that
have produced the existing state of things7
We are sometimes tempted to believe that
there is some strange lunacy-Some mad
ness, riOting in the blood OF burning in the
brain Of portion Of the people, so widely
have they diyerged from the path of rea-
son and duty. They arc impelled by an
uaaeeountabls impulse, like man who
has partaken Of some horrible drug that
drives 70 action, but browns his reason.
Could We go into the profound recesses
of the subject. to which these suggestions
invite, and grasp the philosophy aud pro-
blsmoftoeiety, aud the constituting offorms
of government, We might discover that
the ordeal through which We arc passing,
Is to pnr organized society, what disease is
to tho pbysical Fame, and which, if allow
ed TO run too long, must be fatal, but il
checked in time, will not. only admit of
cure, but win develop a moro vigorous
and healthy tone tbSn ever.
The demoraliSIng Of the popular mind
In this county has not been suddea--has
not been accomplished in day, nor
year. It has been gradual process, run.
Mug back through eight years OF Demo.
cratic misrulo and cOrrnption-brought
about by means Of, and for the sake Of, tho
patronage at the disposal of tho Executive
branch of this Government; and SO skill.
fully has the bogus democracy used the
means At Its command, so ingeniousIy for
tiled itself, and SO almost successfully or
ganiSed q plot TO retain its place and pow
or, that it has well nigh fatally usutralizsd
and rendered poSeriess the moral sense
and moral strength of tho country. The
people have been bewildered, aud have
heistated, for they hardly knew what to
believe or what To expect. For time
they have not been able to realize the true
pasture Of affairs, or decide upon course
ofduty, aud while they hositated, the enc
mics Of constitutional freedom have push
ed their approaches almost to the very cit
adel of liberty. For weeks the Govern.
ment has seemed to totter upon the verge
Of dissolution, and brave mon have turned
hsart-sicE and abandoned their confidence
In its power to recover. Aud yet, all the,
while, bold heart and strong arm have
been supporting and directing it, and now
We find chaos taking form, aud strength
coming out of weakness.
Tho spell is broken. The nation is
awakening 10 its dagger, and putting on
its energy like giant refreshed with new
wine. Like an Infant Hercules il will
seize aud straugle the suaky monster whose
folds have been Tightening around the
heart Of the Republic. The word has
gone forth that the Government and lie
free institutions must DO maintained, and
the hearts Of all true men; answer with a
responsive throb. Once more there is a
living principle to rally around, aud though
our degradation has been dreadful, 30 will
our recovery Be all the more rapid. ofan
mutabls thingS popular feeling is the most
@etaIle, ana % when the reaction, that Is
now disturbing the nation With its arst
aPhearings, fairly sets In, 1t will sweep the
Wretshsd hillaey Of secession from the
land and then woe to the traitors who
stand IN ths way Of is retributive justice.
There 10 Providence that guidsa the
dsstiny Of hatious, 2 said one of Yirginia,s
nobleSt Orators and that Providence that
has hovered over and protected the Amsri-
can RSpRbIle since TIE tlrass Of WSshin9.