Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-26
JOSEPH GALES AND w.
w. SEATON.
RecOlleotiOns of the National In
telligencer.
what Made it IA Power in the state

will last as long as republican institution
shall survive, and won for them an enduring
fame and a place in the grateful memory O.
their countrymeH:
From The National Intelligencer. June IS.
Mr.. GALES used oitent o remark to familiar
friends that Mr.. SEAToN, if he would, could
write n well as himself but this hatterinn
suggestion Of devoted friendship never took
practical form, because Mr.. SEATOv was
more Immediately the party who not only
had control Of that very important part OF
newspaper adairs-its business natter
bat Of ;he many other things Of daily prac-
tice which cannot be regarded as editing
la the latter respect he wrote occasionally
necessary paragraphs, SO to speak, and some
Tunes an article Of length, which he would
often insert in some less conspicuous type
than that usually appropriated for editorials
But when wei say that DANIEL WEBSTER
would habitually consult with Mr.. SEAToN
ln respect 20 the policy Of points in his
great efforts, and in political affairs gener-
aliy, and that JOHN QUINCY ADAMS was
almost daily visitor at his long-to-be-re-
membcred room in the Htciiigcacer building.
then we have what amounts to an admission
that he had the character, ability, and cul-
turc necessary 10 one who stands at tie edi-
torial helm. Mr. GALES had about his
room, in the second story, large packages OF
papers, in the form Of confidential letters
and communications upon political ahah +,
which he said were from the greatest minds
Of lhe land. We suppose these invaluable
documents are in the hands Of Mrs. GALES,
or some of the family Of Mr.. SEAToN.
That laborious and important part of edi-
torial life which consists in examining such
articles as those above referred TO, was per-
formed for the most part by Mr.. SEAToN,
whose rare sense and iud gment quickly de
tcrmined what was immaterial, what wrong
in principle, what verbose and practically
useless, as distinguished from what was in
tcrcsting and valuable for use and general
instruction. His well informed, practical,
aud judicious mind readily corrected por-
tons expurgated parts that were erroneous.
and supplied Omissions as to facts or even
views. 10 those communicated articles from
powerful pens in all realms Of thought, that
were a striking and valuable feature of the
hicjigaorr. Most Of the distinguished men
-oi the country, not of the party alone whose
general policy the paper supported, but
many of opposite politics, we're constant Wis
itors of Mr.. SEAToN at the sanctum. In a
single morning Mr.. BENTON, Mr.. CALHOUN,
Mr. WEBSTER, Mr.. CLAY, Mr.. TAzEwEIL,
and Mr.. BERHEN, have called upon him
10 converse upon a perhaps exigent type Of
public affairs. Mr.. SEAToN has often said
that many Of the best practical friends ofthc
HtrIigeHccr were those politicians Of the
South who were in the habit Of. condemning
II by saying that as longas it kept up its cir
culalion south Of the Potomac, disunion or
secession was impossible There was never
any loss from lis subscriptions in the South
and ia that section may be found more bound
copies of the paper than there probably is of
any other Journal in Christendom. When
iu the course ofpolitical events the Repub-
licau party came into power and war en-
sued, there was not wanting importunate
effort by parti1an 10 obtain that portion Of
public patronage which Mr. SEWARD so long
continued 10 give 10 the HtoiiigcRcer, but to
this the latter gave the sharp reprimand, on
a noted occasion, that "when he had done a
1.-THE Of the service 10 the country that had
GALES " SEAToN, he might perhaps with
political propriety prefer his demands"
As co-editor of the htciiigGcT, Mr.. SEA
Ton looked through the leading presses of
the country 70 determine by the lights of
his remarkably keen and discriminating
mind the drift ofpublic events. Such presses
as assimilated with the Htdligcncer in
politics looked 10 its leaders as the text
for party conduct as determined upon by
conferences Of the great minds of the party.
more in the Office of the htciigcncey than in
any other one place. Mr. SEATON's iudg-
ment largely influenced all party counsels.
policies and conduct Mr.. GALES residence
az Eckingtcn, in connection with that seclu-
SION That was necessary 60 the preparation
Of his exhaustive articles, and for that kind
Of reading that is indispensable to editorial
effort in its highest attributes, made him less
accessible to visitors than Mr.. SEAToN, upon
whom fell the not small part of receiving
and entertaining them. There are men bv
thousands all over the country, in highest
aud most varied walks, who have occasion
TO recall with delight the hous spent in his
society. Having been intimate with so many
of the truly great of other DAYS and having
seen or known the prominent acts of others.
hc could impart 10 conversation what ire
sisiibly attracted, and therefore much in
structed men and influenced opinion i'm all
forms of leading public interest.
His evenings at home with select friends
companions, so 20 speak-statesmen profcs-
sional men of cminencc, and diplomatists.
if they had had the good fortt,e Of nara
lion by a BOSWELL, would haNs furnished
90 the political literature Of this country
many volumes Of most attractive reading.
Mr.. SEAruN was accustomed TO say I'm his
latest DAYS, that hc would give s.. .OOO for a
correct memorandum Of JouN QUINCY
ApAMs'S conversation while sitting hv his
editorial desk. Mr.. WEBSrFil would often
call and suggest a walk, and would some
times saw, Mr. SEAToN, rs YOU write short
hand, let me see what sort of work | shall
make of it in debating an article for the
National hi,i5gwcc."
Neither Mr.. GALE nor Mr. SEATON much
visited Congress or Departments, even when
their own party was in the asccndenCv; nor,
let AS say, would they consent 10 the use Of
the AtoifgGo1' for every party call, much
less for what was a dictate of embittercd
partiSanshsp. They met the blows Of such
with indeNiblc stoicism or indifference and
reserved their powers for those assaultsupon
an enemy, written in perfectly calm temper,
which, IN reach Of thought depth of reason,
amplitude of illustration, and mexcelled
dignity anG tact, were 50 notably effective
in molding political opinions, not in this
country alone, bat abroad. We have it
from most reliable quarter, that during
any of Our international controversies, the
article. of the hidEgDaocr were habitually
and closely scanned at the foreign offices Of
European nations
From the Atlantic Monthly OS6oDl
From the time OF their coming together,
down 10 the wear lS20, CALLS aad SEAToN
were the exclusive reporters, as well as edi-
tors Of their journal-one Of them devoting
himself to the Senate, and the other to the
llouseof Representatives. Generally speak
ing, they published only running reports
on special occasions, however, giving the
speeches and proceedings entire. In those
DAYS they had seats Of honor assigned 70 them
directly by the side Of the presiding officers
and over the snnh-box, in quiet and familiar
manner, the topics OF the day were often dis
crssod. To the privileges, they then enjoyed,
but more especially 10 their sagacity and in
dusty, ale We now indebted, as a country,
for their Register Of Dehates," which with
the EntoliigRocr, has become n most impor-
tant part in our national history. As in
their journal nearly all the most eminent Of
American statesmen have discussed the
affairs Of the country, so have they been the
.f n II