The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-08-26

To the Editor Of The Richmond Whig:
Ifthere is man TO whom the people
of Virginia should feel grateful, that
man is the gentleman whose name
heads this article. Who has done them
more favors; who was instrumental in
obtaining so many pardons from the
President; who insisted so many wild
ows and orphans, both publicly and
privately; who was so successful In
having property restored to parties
from whom It had been seized; who was
less prejudiced in the exercise of his
functions, with so much cause to be ar
bitrary; who, before him, brought so
much sound and practical good sense
into the Executive chair OF the State;
who has more thorough knowledge of
the resources of Virginia. and who has
labOred more Zealously to deVelOpe
them7 These very pertinent questions
may be briefly answered by saying that
little, II any, gratitude has been evinced
for his magnHnimity. He has been cal
umniated by the very men he served, 10
wit: the men who fawned on and boot
licked until he favored them, and AFTER
wards slandered and maligned him.
Never has an acknowledgment of his
vas services to the State been made by
the press, except in few In
stances, and his leniency has been
made the subject of calumny and
reproach. Coming to Richmond in
1866, invested with the authority of
Governor of Virginia he set about reC-
onciling all parties, allayinS the fires of
discord, aud never allowing himself TO
be Influenced by the prejudices or ami
lnosities of any persons, no matter what
their political antecedents. His whole
aim was TO secnre the welfare and in
terest of the people, without regard to
parties of any character. His appoints
ments to office were made iudiciously
and well, first with view to qualitica-
tion, and next, the actual need or me-
cessity of the party applying. His mes
sages have always been full of sound,
pract cal instruction, such as never be-
fore emauated from an Executive OF
Virginia, and which have done and are
calculated to do more for the develop
ment of our railroad interests than any
like documents have ever before accom-
plished.
Governor Pelrpoint TO promote, guard
and protect our great slumberinE inter
ests, and no man In a greater degree
succeeded in uniting the discOrdant ell
ements in the State at a time when fac
tionfsts and extremists were endeRvor-
ing to array our people in antagonism
against each other. His mind rose
above all mere political influences, and
every effort was bent to harmonic ana
restore good feeling.
Himself Republican, the Governor
has never presented any radical or ex-
treme measures, but, on the contrary,
he has consistently advocated such
doctrines as would best serve the State,
and restore her TO that position in the
Union which she filled with 80 much
dignity and grace before our late dis
astrous war.
In consideration of all this, is It not a
sad commentary on the people of ViT-
ginia, whose boast is honor and chivAl-
ry, that they have become SO degene-
rate as to snpplicate and receive, and
then mRllgn in returni that they make
professions Of gratitude, &o., which
they never fulfill; that they deny au
Acknowledgement of merit when 1t has
been so eminenuy deserved. We do
not believe this. Such Is only the feel
ing OF few, a very lew indeed. The
people of Virginia recognize the patri-
otism OF the Governor, and respect him
for his straightforward, manly Ooursei
and it is our firm conviction, when he
presents himself for their support, he
will receive 1t in an unboundedr gush-
ing torrent from the slopes of the Ale
games to the waters of the Atlantic.
VIRGISIAN,