The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-11-17
A feu More words about the Post.


Omeo.
OF course We did not expect to satisfy
the editor OF the Wheeling Register in
regard To our resignation of the position
of Postmaster in the summer of 1854.
We therefore did not write in that view.
Our aim was 70 meet his insinuations
and assertions to the public in regard
TO our holding on to TIT position, for
themere loveOfit, until at last deprived
of it by his present patron, President
Johnson. We showed, by cita-
ton from our letter of resignation,
that the controlling motive that induced
ussto offer our resignation, was that
we might the more exclusively devote
our attention and energies to the inter-
ests of this paper, and, in doing SO, to
aid in the reelection of Mr.. Lincoln,
and thus, strengthen as far as possible
the prosecution of the war. We also
showed how 1t happened, contrary to
every expectation that we entertained
Mt the time of resigning, that our sue
cessor did not qualify. He had, as we
said, and as the records show, mean
while been elected member ofthe Leg
islature, and therefore, for that reason
alone, did not accept his appoint
ment.
OF course, we knew what the
editor of the Register would say
Gin answer to all this, for we
had his version of the matter once be-
fore. On the 18th of January, 1885,
when an election for United States Sem
ator was about to come up in the Leg
islature, he, surprising that it would
damage whatever prospect the writer
of these lines might have before that
body for that positiGcl, came out and
insinuated that Mr.. Gorrell, one of the
members from this county, had not nc
copied his appointment of Postmaster,
because It was part of the programme
that he should first take his
seat in the Legislature and work for the
election of his friend. This was the
substance OF the Registers article on
that occasion, and the same thing is re-
peatei in its columns yesterday. Most
of our readers will recollect the modest,
forcible and complete recitation given
by Mr.. Gorrell to that article in a speech
made by him in his place In the House
of Delegates on the 10th of January,
1885. His remarks were as follows. We
quote from the published reports of the
proceedings in the House on that day
Mr.. Gorrell rose to II question Ofprivi-
lege, and said If II was now in order he
would make personal explanation.
He read from the Wheeling Rc1iSteJ. of
"a 1a, tn sl09h In nd
ing the first. article, his first impulse
was TO resent the charge against him,
but upon reflection concluded TO let il
pass, believing that 1t bore upon its
fRce its own refutation, for 1t involved
adegree ofignorance and moral obliQui-
tythat would not be tolerated in an in
telligent community where the facts
were known, and in this case the facts
were known to at least a large
portion of the citizens of Wheel
ing. This morning, however, the
charge IL renewed in another
form, and, while believe tho purpose
of the author is to establish another over
my shoulder, yet the motives imputed
TO me would uutit me for n seat III this
body, and would destroy what little of
influence l might be able to exert. 1
therefore deem 1t my duty to all con-
earned, to lay before this body all the
facts connected with this Post Office
appointment, and my position as n
member of the Legislature, n position 1
neither expected or desired. My nomi-
nation by the County Convention WAS
an entire surprise to me. As to the
l received the appointment, but
did not accept or qualify. About
the time of my nomination for the
Legislature, a day or two before or
aIler-l believe 1t was afler-Mr. Camp
bell called me into the Office and in
FfnRN Il l..
resignation to the Department, and
read me his two letters to the POstmus-
ter General en- the subject. The first
was dated several months prior to that
time. 1t simply rendered his resigna-
ton as Postmaster, with the reasons
therefor. This Resignation they failed
TO accept. Again, in September, he
rendered his unqualified resignation,
and asked to be relieved at the end OF
the expiring quarter. The Postmaster
General replied, requesting Mr.. Camp
bell to name some suitable person as
his successor.
Mr.. Campbell then told me that as 1
had served in the office for two years to
his satisfaction, and he believed to the
satisfaction of the public, he would re-
commend my appointment to fill the
vacancy at once agreed to 1t, and
told him that felt grateful to him for
his kindness. then supposed that III
the appointment was made It would be
done at once, and could withdraw as
candidate for the Legislature and al
low time for some one to be nominated
in my stead. The documents. how
ever, did not reach me until the middle
of October. The tickets contain
ing my name had then been
printed and distributed through
ont the army and elsewhere,
Friends insisted that could not with
draw without disadvantage to the
Union cause, aud that / should abide
tho result of the election and net after
wards In this matter. 1 did so, md un-
fortunately for me, was elected. had
expected that could resign and new
election could be held In connection
with the Presidential election, but
found upon examination of the law
that It could not be done. Not desir-
ing To involve the State In the expense
of a new election, and some OF my
friends who had supported me for the
Legislature Directing TO my accepting
the appointment and forcing them
into new election, declined,
an important pecuniary consideration.
There are some men who cannot I'M
derstand why one should act from dis
interested motives. Nor can they ap-
prectate generous action, whatever
may be the sacrifice. They think there
must DO some mercenary motive be-
hind.
Tho charge that Mr.. CampbOll wanted
me In the Legislature to vote for him
for U. s. Senator refutes itself, for il
had become Postmaster as he intended,
could not have occupied u seat in this
body.
In conclusion pronounce the charges
and insinuations made in those articles
false in their whole tenor, letter and