Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-11-05

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Probably no great influence, so power
full either for good or evil, has ever been
so prostituted to the service of so bad 6
cause as was the Press of the southern
states when "secession" was frst agitated
The "Fourth Estate, F" as it has been called,
became powerful lever in the hands oi
the desperate men who had determined
the destruction of our national Union.
The fact that g. horde of disappointed
politicians controlled to great extent the
newspapers of the South Will In great
degree account for the complete subserv-
iency of. different public journals to the
secession conspiracy. The statement that
this astonishing unanimity, characterizing
the action of the southern organs, was
owing to upurchase" is7 incorrect; such
was the case in no single instance of the
very many coming to the notice of the
writer. Butto the unfortunate fact that
politicians controlled or owned most or all
the influential journals in the South. can
be traced that dreadful abuse of talent and
power as seen in the advocacy of secession
principles by southern papers, which aided
so materially the spread Of that heresy
that has brought ruin aud desolation on
the once fair southern land, and sunk in
gloom and death so-mauy hearts and hopes
throughout our beloved country,
The danger to society from public jour
nails being completely under the control of
politicians can here be witnessed, and it is
to be hoped that the lesson will be serious
ly remembered by the American people.
This great power, SO abused and used for
evil, may lin hands of like men) be turned
to the purpose again. Politicians and
time servers are alike unsCrupulous in
seeking mere selfish aggrandizementa at the
expense of the nation, and the only safety
of the republic lies in keeping 30 great
power as the Press as free from the talnt
of political corruption as may be possible:
There we're many editors and writer's in the
South, who, like many public and infuen-
tial men of the Alexander b. Stephens
school, although opposed TO the principle
of secession at first, yet finally bowed to
the storIn, and sipRed against God and hu-
manity by sacrificing righ and truth to
mere expectancy. These men had no better
excuse than many other American politlr
clans and prominent men, who believe "ln
going with the crowd" or "sailing with
the stream" Such men have a great hor-
ror Of martyrdom.
% There is a terrible meaning in the pro-
verb, TTbe mills of the gods grind slowly,
but grind exceeding fine.p have seen the
awful truth exemplified during the war.
There are but few left of the dashing host
of editors and writer's who in 1861 entered
the arena Of strife. A fatality sure as the
tayenging Eemesis of the aucients has at
teuded the fortunes of southern editorial
sinners against light and truth. The false
guides who led others to destruction nave
been one by one eDgulfed in the yaWning
chasm they were Instrumental IN creating
The hand of the Unseen seems to have
guided, one by one, the best and 6raVess
of the hopeful band of '6l to bloody and
nnhallowed graves. Disease, drunkenness
and the bullet have each done their ap-
pointed task. ,r .,,----..-....
It has been remarked inithe South since
this war began that whenever bullet
Whis.led around, some editor or politician
found death 81 and facts justify the saying
In the very frst fight on the soil of Vir'
ginia two of the most powerful writer's o.
Caroline and Georgia met their death, and
SO it has beer. all through the bloody strife
of the past four years. o. Jennings Wist
ofthe Richmond Enquirer, Gardiner of the
Augusta 0hrO1ieEs, Lomsx OF the Montgom'
cry AdvertiseT; and 0olquitt ofthe ColumbuI
Times, were representatives OF that clasI
which has perished on every battle-h field o
the South with demoniac ardor in the uu-
holy cause. Few ftuched or seemed de.
Isirons of avoiding the dread ordeal o
battlingr sword in hand, for the principles
ItheY had advocated With the pen.
T. The fate Of Captain Wise is well known
Ito the reading public. Colonel Lomaxi
editor and proprietor of the Montgomery
Adpertiser, was man little known out o
Georgia aud AtRbsma,; in both of which
states he had contacted leading politiea
organs. He had obtained q frst-class Por
siTion and welded a. great influence oVei
the part of the country where he wal
known. His FIRST fight was his last. Pey'
ton, Oolquitt succeeded Lomsx in the pro-
pristorship Of the Eimes, of Columbus
| Georgia, q journal founded by Lomax, whit
sold out TO John Forsyth, well known z
the public by his Mexican and DouglA:
notoriety. Colquitt conducted the journa
on The same principles as his predecessors
| aud by,it was fast obtaining that inhueuci
and position politically, to which he as
pired. As the career of this man will givt
a notable conhmation OF the statement
made az the beginning of this article,
brief sketch of him may not be unfnterest
ling or destitute Of value to the youth o
our country lesi.f - .5.-.- - - ..--
f. PeytOn Colquitt commenced life viii
tsvsty aggqEy Of future success. His tami
lily Influence WAS SUCH as to give him
good start in the race for political honOrs
and be IL Known, 'sfAhilS'' f6Ruepce is al
lmost ss necessary to q young aspirant 70
| public favor in any OF the southern state
as it Is in Englandor any other mouarehia
country "a QqlqGitth d4tA ibis; his fsshe
was Judge ,GOlQpttlr long con sidered as