Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-07-16
s.. Mathews church Again.

duced quite a lutter among the Secession
| lists mud no little speculation as to its prob
able author. If this speculation has re-
suited in directing the public mind to the
right person, of which am not informed
II would feign hope that the discovery
| has been made that the author is one who
would not shun responsibility even II ne
were certain thathis own name was known.
| He does not seek notoriety in this D'"tter,
nor is he over anxious for concealment.-
He is not in the habit of promulgating
views which he does not believe would
subserye the public interests; but at the
same time, having discharged his duty ac-
cordinE TO his own sense of right and
wrong he is not careful about results, but
leaves them to Him to whom they properly
belong.
With these remarks, proceed to press
the natter little further in regard to the
state of things in st. Matthew's Church. AS
| to the Rector himself, am disposed to say
but little now, willing that his case should
rest upon its own merits. A few words IN
regard to him will suffice.
In the controversy now going on between
the United States Government ana the
Southern Confederacy, and especially be-
tween Eastern and Western Virginia, min
listers of the Gospel, more than laymen,
grounds, and this becomes especially ne
cessary in view of their high influential
positions in society. One minister, of a
politic, but a determined cast of mind,
like that of the Rector OF st. Mathews, by
organizing the indictments, and giving
them protection under the forms and sane
titles of religion, might do much in an In
direct way, towards damaging the prospects
of a revolution. by turning it into chan
mel adverse to the public interests. Such
an organization being subtle in its charhc-
ter, and beyond the reach of the ordinary
forms of justice, can only be reached by
bringing to bear upon it the battery of pub
lie opinion. But fancy that hear some
one exclaiming in holy horror, as the
Rector of st. Matthew's dog that he should
do this thimg2" So said the King of Syria;
and his case is sufficient illustration OF
all that could wish to say on this subject.
Read the history. Human nature is the
same in all ages. We eau have no certain
guarantee for what men will do, acting un-
der the influence of strong prejudices, in
times of high political excitement, and es-
pecially in times of civil revolution like
these. Even the venerable Bishop Meade,
whom we all have been wont 20 love and
respect, and of whose piety and sincerity
there can be no doubt, pronounces the
Southern rebellion "a holy causei" and
much as he and the Episcopal clergy have
| spokenand writtenagainst political preach
| ing, many of them are now engaged IN
| firing the Southern heart, and nerving the
| Southern arm against the Government OF
the United States. Bishop POLK, and 9TH
ers of the clergy, have even taken up arms
lin defense OF this holy ~ cause" Is the
Rector of st. Matthews, with his well
known views, more than a man, that be
| should not turn out his influence to the
| Southern Confederacy, when favorable
opportunity is presented He, with an
organized body of sympathisers, male and
| female, which he would have, were be to
remain among us, could do US much harm
| in the event of counter revolutioni which
latter, if not attempted, will only be for
tie want of n favorable opportunity
Mark that, sir. There are secessiouiSts
among us, and they are ut work; not open
~, of course, but secretly. Their trail can
be seen occasionally. II they were open
aud undisguised, We should have nothing
to fear You may know them by their
ear-marks They profess to be Union
men," but not Internationally. They
all claim to be conservative" OF
course they are. 1t is true the word
conservative has slightly changed its
meaning upon their tongues. Once itcon-
viewed the idea af saving, bnt now forsoOth
it means bridge burning, car burning
tLiev!ng and tearing down generally. But
still the end sauctifes the means, and
they are sound conservatives. Of course
they are With what self-complncency
they pronounce the word. They are free
in applying to active, energetic Union men
the epiLhets 'abolitiouist," "fanatic,"
'.craziling," not recollecting that of the
insanity now prevalent none exceeds in its
ludicrous aspects that which leads its vic
TINS into the vain attempt at riding on
the fence" as il is called, or carrying
water on both shoulders" In such feats
of legerdemain nothing is more common
than to see old party backs swallowing
themselves whole, and then look
ing round with an eager gaze to
see where their precious selves have gone
to. Witness the late wonderful feat per-
formed b. His Honor the whilom Judge of
our Circuit Court. Where is he now
Echo answers, ''Where2" Alas! he has
swallowed himself. They are great lovers
of peace. They want "peace'-thmt is all.
Only give them peace and they would die
content Aud how remarkably pious they
do become about these times. They take
refuge, as of old, in the sanctuary. They
even cling to the horns of the altar, vainly
imagining that the aveuging sword of
public opinion, and perchance of retribu-
tive justice, can never reach them. But it
should be remembered that in olden times
even the altar itself was stained with the
: blood of traitors.
Having extended these remarks to a suf-
ficient length, will defer what have to
say further for future article, in which I
may have something to remark in regard
to the lay reader of St. Mathews. But in
the mean time will urge my suggestion as
to the expediency of closing st. Mathews
entirely for the present. until satisfactory
arrangements can be made for the future.
In nlain ENGLISH. the Union men Of St.