The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-11-13
The NatIonal InteIIIrenoer.

us cOnlfeFeS.
The National InteIIIEeneer.
We took occasion few DAYS
since in publishing an extract from
an editorial in the National Inteui-
geHeer in regard to the recent cleo
tons, to notice the change, for the
worse, in the ancient tone and
status of that venerable sheet. From
having been at one time under Gales &
Seaton the very beau ideal of dlspas-
sionate, dignified and prominently
national sheet, patronized and commu-
municated with as such by the leading
statesmen, literary and scientific men
Of the country, it has fallen from its
high estate to a position below the aver
age level of the partisan press of the
copperhead party. 1t is said that the
sweetest of all sweets are capable of be-
coming the sourest of substances, and
that the purest types of human nature
have been known to become the most
degenerate, whenever they lose any of
their essential characteristics. We have
thought that the personality of Gales 81
Season long ago passed out Of the col
umns of the National INteLLigencer, ard
that it has since been steadily lapsing
until it is no longer quoted or consulted
by tho same class of men who used to
read its ample columns without the
least apprehension of finding a line OBJ
jectiOnable to the most correct taste
We remember that our old friend,
the late Jesse EdgingtOn, of Brooke
county, was accustomed many years
ago to shy that no man could read the
National AlteLligencer five years with
out becoming n gentleman. Now we
fear he would say, were he alive, that
no man could read it one year without
serious detriment to whatever gentle
manly instincts he possessed. The style
is altogether changed, and has become
coarse, rancorous and inscriptions.
Like Sampson shorn, it has grown
common and weak. When the good
Gales and Seaton closed their eyes for
ever, the spirit of the once renowned
IateEligencer departed. 1t was as when
Ulysses went on his wanderiugs over
the seas and left no arm at Ithaca
strong enough to bend his matchless
bow.
Bad and common place, and, even low,
as is often the tone of the InteLLigencer
nowadays, we have not seen anything
in its columns quite so outrageous as a
recent circular issued from the Office
and sent to its subscribers, requesting
their exertions on its behalf. We have
been handed one by ngentleman in this
city, who received it through the mails
in an envelope franked by Hon.
Reverdy Johnson, United States
Senator from Maryland. The docu-
ment is long, bitter and abusive, and as
unlike the tone of the ancient InteLLi-
gencer as Johnson's speeches and Addi-
sons Spectator. 1t speaks of the Union
members of Congress as ga ruthless
and INSCRIPTIONS yet powerful cabal
of rule-Or-ruin politicians, who, to nc
complish their selfish purposes, are
willing even to strike at the nations
life and the constitutional basis of our
government" 1t further speaks of
them as "maddened with n thirst for
political power and stimulated by sue
cessful preliminary usurpations," and
that 'emboldened by the unsuspecting
passiveness of the people" they are
determined to accomplish" for their
town ACKNOWLEDGMENT the dismember-
ment of the Union. It further says
that the aim of the Union party is "to
acquire in the National Legislature a
numerical power which may override
whatever constitutional check the Ex-
ecutive may attempt to oppose to its
contemplated outrages." All these ex-
pressions, and many moro similar ones,
are contained in the circular.
Our friend to whom it was sent has
been n reader and subscriber of many
years standing to the National Inteui-
gelceT. He is conservative man, too,
of the old Gales 81 Seaton school, but
this circular was more than he could
stand. So instead of using his intlu-
ence to extend the circulation of The
ancient sheet, as requested by the ed
itors, he sat down and wrote to them
as follows:
WHEELING, w. VA, Nov. u, 1866.
MEssRs. Snow, CoYLE Il Co., Washing
ton d. c.:
Ihave received from you uranked by
r. Johnson) several copies of a pros
pectus of the Weekly National II1teLli-
gemcer, with a request that should
laid in bringing 1t to the attention of
the Conservative people of your (my)
neighborhoOd:" also number of adj
dresses headed 'The Weekly National IIl-
teiLigenceT." In reply, 1 say that my con-
servatism would not BIO conserved by
the circulation of such papers as the
last mentioned. deem It low down
partisan appeal, and better calculated
to excite another insurrection than to
allay the passions engendered by the
late war. You may discontinue send
ing to me the I|i- Weekly IRteIligencer,
and appropriate the money have over
paid you to the relief of Southern Wild
ows and orphans, made such by the eF-
forts ofunscrupulousP politicians. Ihope
there may sometime be more modera-
ton and wisdom displayed by those
whose Office 1t should be to instruct and
enlighten, rather than excite and embit-
ter the people of our common country.
Yours, DC.