Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-17

were landed at wellsburg, and for no other
reason than because ola firm belief among
our Union people that Mr. Sweeney would
exert every influence against their safe
distribution here. When we had meetings
of twenty, thirty and fifty Union citizens,
to consult for the public safety, Mr.. swee-
ney was never Invited nor expected. BE
was always counted on the other side. We
telegFaPhed back and forward between
here and Pittsburgh in cipher, for no other
reason than to keep from him all knowledge
Of what We were doing. Union citizens
at that time would have about as soon sent
news to the enemy at the front of what
they were doing as to have communicated
it to Mr.. Sweeney. If the Copp erhead pa
per considers such status as this as con.
stitutfng a model Mayor, then was Mr..
Sweeney indeed "the most eff
lent Mayor who ever held Office here"
Mr.. Sweeney was a model Mayor in those
days in the eyes of only one portion of this
community, and it is the same portion who
in chief part will support him for re-elec-
ton next Monday. He was not the Mayor
of the Union men of this town. They ig-
nored him then as they will next Monday.
We honestly believe that it was a part of
the programme of Mr.. Sweeny at that time
to Subordinate the Union element of this
city,tO the domination of the secession ele-
ment. We were all in doubt and darkaess
then. Our reasons for so believing have
their justification and Vindicstion not only
in the facts to which we have alluded, but
in the existence of certain document that
emansted from under the firm name of Mr..
Sweeney in those days, which was stopped
on its way to Richmond at Washington city
and sent back here labelled, Unreasonable
correspondence" Many citizens of this
town have seen and read that document,
and they know how utterly at variance with
even neutrality standard as regards this
war were the utterances of that letter. II
brsathed spirit of cordial sympathy with
the rebellion. No reader of 1t could mis-
take the authors aud endorsers of it for
Union men. Hence we say now that Mr.
SWeeney's. altered status in relation to the
Union cause is BOT attributable to such a
change IS should commend him as can
didate for the Mayoralty of Union city.
We are thus explicit in meeting the'point
raised by the cOpperhead paper because of
it's attempt to escape the real issue and to
gloss over a record that will not bear
examination. No diversions of that
character will answer. Mr.. Sweeney made
an issue with the Union people of this
city on the night of the oath of last Janu-
AIRY when there was no opportunity to test
it with him on election day. The last hour
of the last night was chosen, and the pur-
pose intended to be subserved in 80 doing
cannot be mistaken in the light of the fac Is
to which we have but barely alluded. Next
Monday is the frat opportunity for trial
vote upon that dark lantern scheme Mir.
Sweeney is a candidate as its representa-
tive man. Let the facts connected with and
explanatory of it go before the people, aud
let all the rest of the Htste know whether
the city of Wheeling endorses the attempt
made here to obtain political control of
their Capital by striking down the rights
of those who have given their health and
their lives to save it from the torch of the
enemy at our front. We cay now in ad.
vance that we do no! believe that the peo-
nile of the city of WhpelinO will aIect for
their Mayor one who was mainly instru-
mental 10 this scheme. Aud we appeal to
our Union citizens to save the reputation
of the city in the eyes of the rest of the
State