Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-15
Recent Political. Events--No. Nv.
Editors IntclHgenesT::

Recent Political Evemts--NO. Nv.
Editors Intclligsncsr:
Science has its sects aud parties, as well
as religion and politics. One sect of Ge-
ologists assert that nature proceeds by
paToxysms and catastrOphes; that aQue-
Gus and igneous forces were formerly more
intense than at present; that these con
tending agents not only shook the primi-
tive world with tremendous violence, but
suddenly heaved up such vast masses as
the Alps aud the Appenines, the Andes
and the Alleghnnies. Others contend that
the powers of nature, as at present exert
ed, are amply sufficient for the production
of such effects; that volcanic cones are at
intervals, still rising from the depths of the
ocean that the internal fires are from age
to age upheaving the coasts of Scandana-
via and South America that water is not
only degrading the hills and washing away
the surface of the earth, in the shape Of
winter rains and summer showers, but by
penetrating, through assures, to the fiery
floods within, is still the proximate cause
of earthquakes and commissions aud that
the long contests OF these two mighty
agents. Is amply sufficient, not only to
change the bed of the ocean, but to adorn
new continents with new mountain chains.
Into this controversy we enter not. But
both parties agree that in Geological times
comparatively recent, and almost immedi-
Htely before the appearance of man upon
earth, glacial period prevailed. Vast re-
gions where fertile fields and majestic for
ests now delight the eye, were then frozen
waste, sterile in the embraces of unvarying
winter. We decide nothing as to the truth
of this theory. We only wish to use
it by way of illustration. Certain it is,
that cataclysms and cmtastrophes have
their analogies in the moral and political
world. In eighteen hundred and fifty-two,
the last of our great old statesmen of the
second generation, were borne to their
honored tOmbs. a set of men came into
power, mediocre in intellect, low in NOR
ais and in practice, cunning, selfish and
unscrupulous. For more than seven long
years they rode and ruled the nation till
chaos came again In the winter and
spring of eighteen hundred and sixty-Oue,
under the insupportnble burden of their
own crimes, and overwhelmed with ever
memorable rout and ruin, they fell from
power.
And may God in his smercy grant that
such another set of men may never again
be permitted to misdirect the councils of u
great nation, TO deIude its conscience and
debauch its morals. In my last num-
Der | spoke of the generous and henevo-
lent hope entertained by the Northern peo-
Pile that advancing light and knowledge,
aided by the spirit of progress, would amel-
iornte the condition of the slave, strike of
his shackles and by thus assimilating the
institutions of the two sections, prevent
the occurrence of the horrors and calami-
ties, which we now witness. This senti-
ment was we'll expressed by the Democratic
convention, which met at Columbus on the
sth of January ls4s. That body speaking
the sentiments of OSio, passed the follow
ing resolution:
ResOl0eG, That the people of Ohio, now
as they have ever done look upon slavery
as an evil, and unfavoTable to the develop
ment OF the.spirit and practicable benefits
of free institutions. Aud holding these
sentiments we will at all times hereafter,
use all power clearly given by the terms of
the nations lcomPact to preventits increase,
to- mitigate and finally to ERADICATE the
evil. -
That Convention contained learned law
| yers, from every county in the State with
perhaps, a few insignificant exceptions. If,
therefore the national constitution bestows
no power on Congress to restrain the
growth OF, this hdleful institution, they
were talking nonsense and disgraciug their
profession, The doctrine of this resolu-
tion continued for severaI years. to be Or
thodox and binding upon every democrat
in Ohio. until the pnrty leaders in the close
| and skillful management of their cups and
their balls, land in compliance with supposed
! Partizan exigencies, repealed it and removed
lit from the platform. must, in this con-
ntctiou, crave the readers pardon for quot.
| ing the resolution concerning slavery
| adopted by the National Democratic Con.
vention at Baltimore, in 1852, Mt the time oi
the nomination of Pierce. That ever-men
orable document reads as follows:
ResoEvsd, that the Democratic party vii
,RESIsT all attempts at RENEWING, either II
Congress or out of it, the agitation of the
slavery question, under whatever color ol
shape the attempt may be made.
Perhaps it may be stated us the mos
signal instance of parliamentary perhdy il
all history, that the very men elected by
i means of this pledge, volunteered by thl
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, to com
mence the agitation, which has eliminated
in wasting war andthe dissolution of th'
Union. The very excuses made for thesr
linen manifest the low state of political
morals which prevailed amongst them.
is said that they regarded this resolutiond
effete, ,ha wing p9fformed edits functions in Sc
Icuriag their own elections and that of thei
presidential candidate. This is probably
true. They seem to have regarded all poPu
lar pledges, and promises, as gambler, re
CARDS his icards and his dice, as mer
instruments ofhis selfish greed "But 9th
ers gWould,uot conform to the pledge. 9th
ers would agitate."t These men had sol
emily promised to resist those others. "Bu
it was necessary. To restore, the Sopther
STAKEHOLDER to his rigbts."H What rights o
) what wrongs did the Southern slayeholde
possess in December, eighteen hundre
and fifty-three, that he did not equally pos