Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-02-05
RETIREMENT OF THURLow WEED.


direction he has been identified during the last
thirty-three years, and under whose management it
has acquired national reputation for all the quail
ties which have deserved, as they have commanded,
the respect of his contemporaries man of
great' sagacity, and particularly endowed with
that dscernment which guides to sound OPT
Mons on public affairs and measures of political
administration, he has long welded an influence
which is universally recognised throughout the
land and it is simple justice to say that that infu
ence has been patriotic in its inspirations it
has been effective in its operation.
The withdrawal Of such man, in the ripeness
Of his years. from the field OF usefulness he has so
long filed, cannot be regarded as other than pub
lie calamity; but our sense of the public loss is
greatly heightened by the cause to which it is due
and the unhappy circumstances under which this
decision is taken. On this point Mr. Weed, in his
farewell address, writes as follows:
Never the history of State has editor enjoyed
long so largely the confidence and regard of those
politically associated with MIN and in other editors
experience have political and personal relations been
happily blended. But We have fallen upon evil times Our
country is in immediate and imminent danger. differ
widely with my party about the best of crushing
the rebellion That differences is radical and reconcable
neither impress others with my views surrender
my solemn convictions TIE alternative of living in
strife with those whom have esteemed, withdrawing
is presented have not hestaed in pursuing the path Of
peace as the path of duty If those who differ with
struggle, all will be well, aud nobody hurt
Ii the country was not in condition to awaken deep
anxiety should look forward with cheeruness and hope
to that condition Of life which
- Exempt from public haunts
Finds tongues in trees books in the running brooks
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing
into the army for the country is entitled t. the services of
all it's citizens; and it is privilege than duty
defend Government under whose benefcent end be-
ngn rule have enjoyed protection prosperity and hap
pness and in the destruction of which the best hopes
the highest civilization perishes.
SO far all things personal concerned my work
is DONE Should the occasion the opportunity to
my country friends with head band offer it will be
gladly embraced And now with all that relates to
rial wants in life abundautly suppied-wth personal
interest or aspiration uugrathed-with humblng
seriousness of having experienced through life benefit
ihsn have deserved and vastly than have been
able to recprocae, and with determination to devote
such brief time may be allotted to to the practice Of
Dr. Frankins golden precept of doing much good and
little evil to ohersas possible come to the ineva
ble-arewell =
Well may the veteran and patriotic journalist
say that we have fallen upon evil times" and it
is not the least among the indications of this mel
anchoy fact that one who probably did as much as
any other single mind in the country to give shape
and direction to the policy of the Republican party
is now compelled by solemn sense of duty to with
draw from the political fellowship of those who
give {" form and pressure /" to this same party as
embodied in the present Administration The
detection of one such man, under the constraining
influence of conscientious convictions as strong as
they frankly stated might well deserve to give
pause" to any Administration which has embarked
in policy that is to ALLEVIATE the fastest friends
as well to provoke the bitter opposition of po-
litical opponents The considerations which have
compelled Mr.. Weed to take the step SO much to
be regretted for itself and for its cause are known
to our readers but that they may have clear
statement of the views under which he has acted,
we cite the following article from his pen in the
Albany Evening Journal of the 18th instant, IN
der the head Of "Where are we, and where drift
ing"
"In 1860, when only distant mutterings of rebellion
were heard among the few who recognised in
those threats the certainty of war; and who in a mea-
sure comprehended both its magnitude AID it's horrors
1t always offence in an individual to foresee evils
and especially to attempt to avert be pre-
pared for them For article then written asking the
President Congress- and readers to raise their eyes
aud thoughts above the horizon of party and contemplate
crisis which would tax the energies of the people, and
test the strength of Government incurred the de
nunciatons of many and the friendly Of most of
the Republican journals. T.
Subsequently when rebellion rampant in the ex-
treme Southern States question: whether North Caroline
and Tennessee should in the Uuion 90 out It,
arose We all remember the Border State Proposition
upon the adoption Of which, by Congress- rebellion from
the Mississippi to the Atlantic would have been bounded
by the southern lines of Tennessee and North Carolina
With modification which the Border State representa-
tives offered to accept advocated that compromise
And for this also severely denounced In the
Peace Congress- where the Legislature honored with
gen. the Border State Proposition again rejected
consequently two States majority Of whose citizens
yearBed to remain In the Union lost With North
Carolina ard Tennessee In the Union, Virginia could not
have gone out of it We should therefore Instead of
sacrificing hundreds Of thousands of lives and hundreds of
millions Of treasure in North Carolina Virginia Tennessee
and Kentucky have reserved those troops and that
to crush out rebellion in the Colt States.
1.-The rebellion--as wanton and wicked as any that
stains the pages OF hstoythUs embracing more States
than necessary has been nearly two years in pro-
gress with what measure OF and with what pro-
mise Of termination can Judge well another
It's lessons teach that it requires all the strength Of
united North TO the Union and uphold the Govern
ment We had at the commencement of the war united
North The elimination Of treason in its attack on Fort
whole North East, and West All merely partisan feel
ing merged in higher and nober impulses. All good
aud true men, in imitation Of their ancestors at Concord
and Lexington in l776, rushed 10 arms contributed
money. Then were, The language Of Mr. Jefferson
all Republicansal Federass orr In other isnguags,
all Republicanssl Democrats For the frst year tie
war had with few exceptions the hearty support OF both