Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-10-20
GARD.

u
H. iaeA GARD.
To the Voters OF the I'D Congregation
al DiStrtct.
Without reflecting upon either the char
acter or claims of the other gentlemen now
before you for Congressional honors, ask
for Capt. Burdett that Consideration which
his claims so highly deserve. In my for
mer article, j mentioned facts in the histO-
ry of West Virginia, during the gathering
of the storm which burst upon MS and in.
yolved the nation il war, aud referred to
some of the eminent services Capt. Burdett
performed during that time. would not
now refer to that article were It not that
the Hon. W. G. Brown, in an address pub
lished subsequently,, speaking In reference
to that article uses the following language:
81 could give other instances, but only
wanted to show how easy it is for q preiu-
diced mind or hired scribblers to fall into
errors" With all difference to the honor
able gentlemau's position, trust he will
permit me without being personal, to state
that my mind is not 'pFejudiced," !" nor am
l "hired scribbler," but citizen exer-
cising my right to support that man for
Congress whose zeal, devotion and sacPi-
fees so eminently'entitle him to the conf
dence of the people. When gentleman
who has been so highly honored as Mr.
Brown has been by generous constituent
cy, he certainly must, in his own estimR-
ton, lose most of his self-respeCt when he
stoops so low. as TO apply opprobrious epi-
thets to any citizen who may in a respect
full manner choose todiffer from him.
L ! support Mr.. NBurdett for Congress be-
cause have been an eye witness to many
OF his sacrifices, both for the State and
Nation, and because Of my desire to see
deserving men rewarded. have already
shown that when West Virginia was shaken
to its centre-When the stOntest hearts
.quaked beneath the storm that spread its
dark folds over the eeoantry-whenS Senators
and Congressman etogd aghast, terror
stricken and speechfess-it was then that
John 8. BuFdett returned from Richmond
where treason held carnival and threw him
self at once into the front ranks of those
battling to stay. the storm and drive back
the black waves of treason. By his elO-
quepce and his example he encouraged the
people to rally around the good old flag of
the Union-and they followed him With the
true instinct of patriots. When at Rich
mond, traitors threatened him with assast-
nation, but they could not deter him from
doing his duty to his country or Ia bis con-
stinuents. When he returned home and
found the vampires sucking the life blood
from the vitals of his country, he gener.
ously offered himself a sacrifice with the
noble impulse Of his nature, he placed bis
hands on the altar Of his country and VOW
ed before high Heaven that until armed
treason was crushed and the traitors pun
ished, he would serve his county. Driven
from his home by fiends at midnight who
sought his life because he was one of the
Recognized leaders Of the Union men of
West Virginia, aud because for his noble
stand at Richmond and at home, he had
been styled by the Wheeling InLelligeHeeT,
"THE PATRIOT BURDETT." None can now.
more fully appreciate his position then,
than those gallant refugees who have since
been driven Cfr6m their own mountain
homes. He was friend of the new State
when some of the present high function
aries declared to be treason 10 advocate
. resumption of the abdicated State Gov
ernment, aud through It to achieve sepa-
rate State organiERtiopi but now that the
new State is fixed fact, we find those
men who did the least asking for the high
est honors. Wercanuot believe that the
people are so ungfateful or so unmindfnl of
those who were friends when friends were
few, as TO permit set of stay-at-home
politicians TO occupy oil the places of
honor while those who have sacrificed
most are eternally crowded to one side.-
We trust that Mr.. Burdett will receive the
support of every friend of the Union and
the new State 5,,-.ce
tMr. Brown sueers ct the position Of Com
misssry, aud says his nephew, George
Brown, didn't get hurt while he was issu.
log rations. That is very easily explained.
Mr. Brown ,is a Congressman, and, as q
matter of course, his nepheW's duties were
so arranged that be was never near enough
TO hear the sound of bullet or see the
smoke. of a battle.l ~ l'a Z
When this rebellion commenced, Capt.
Burdett was stra0ger to me. hrst met
him while wanderer from his home ID May
1851. The fortunes and accidents of war
from that time TO the present, With the exr
Iceptio65 Of a few months, continually plac-
ed me where was witness to his faithful
devotion to his duties as citizen aud as
soldier, and assert WhRtI know Rhen l
say. that ohayeaeen Capt. Bntdett In the
performances OF his sduty-s'issuing rauonsu
I-upder4the most severe fire that was ever
Witnessed in modern wartaFei aud w1ll
here remark that 1t was very fortunate toE
i Cspt. Brown that bis paele was Con,
gresham, for bad It not been so, possibly
he would have been performing duty 10
!. the Army of the Potomac where every
commfssary, by special order, is sIsquired
to remata icoGstahtly At bis post and par
tiouIarly during an engagement lishaVe
not only seen Capt. Burdett 50 exposed
once, bat in every great battle IN which
) the Army of the PotOmac has been engag.
ed. His duty required him Be where
there was great danger and De slammed il
not. He passed through the fiery ordea
of the series of battles on the Peninsula
Antietam, Fredericksburg ChancellOrs-
Vile aud Gettysbprg.5 On eVergf feld hav'
seen him feaflessly breast the storm OF bat
ltle, aud supply his his men while IN line o
battle, and It mpst be borne in mind tha