The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-22
THE LAMENTATION OF A LAME
DUCK.
a RACy Letter from Man whose
Prospects Have Becn BIIEhIed.

The writer OF the following, As the
Reporter Of tho New York Times, at
tended the Convention which Sat In
this city In May, 1861, and was cap.
tured by the rebels ut Harpet's Ferry
shortly thoreNiter. lie has been Clerk
OF tho New York Assembly several
years, but now that the Democracy
having come into power, recognizes the
fac! that hC 10 no longer wanted, and
writes in happy philosophical vein,
q circular letter TO the Republican
members. II will be found readable:
To Hon. -:
My DEAR SIR:-'A change hath
come DER the spirit OF my Dreams A
fortnight since was confident that
should, for another season, bask In the
sunshine OF official honor and emolu.
ment; but, since the day Of election,
there has been thunder all along the
Bky! believed not the portents Of the
coming storm. l even laughed OF the
sinister prognostics OF the High. pres :
sure Pill and Perennial Hair Dye AL
manac which said, OF the first days OF
November, "about this time look out
for squallsl" Though 1.-THE Lord tenn
pereth The wind TO the shorn lamb"
have found, neither In Sterne (who
used that beautiful language). nor In
Scripture, any consolatory saw or die
tum 10 Rssuage the autferlngs OF the
party patriot left out In the cold and
exposed 10 the full sweep OF the hyper
bolean blasts Of Lake Erie during the
Winter months, with coal Sll q ton on
rising market. in the negotiable paper
Of the United States OF America
| thought 10 hoist my official heels
for another season on the mahogany OF
the clerks desk In the Assembly Cham.
Der: and, In exultant 'Veai, Uidi, Viei'
ostentRlIon, thought to grin At the
wind, and the rain, and the snow, and
the slest, and the hail, and the tempest,
and the tornado, and the hurricane.
even thought TO mock the calRmities OF
mine adversary nominated by the eau
Gus Of Democratic members, as, with
hungry look :and concave belly, he
should shiver In the vestibule OF the
Capitol, aDxiOusly awaiting the hour
for free lunch In the bar.room Of Con-
gress Hall. But the fate and feast !
had prepared for him hath been melted
out to me, and, with bilious counte-
nance, accept the sad, the solemn, the
almost sepulchral situation. II, In my
melancholy mood, have driited Into
metaphor, l have simply intended
thereby 10 convey the idea that we
have met the enemy and'-we are
theirs. II IL painfully apparent that
there Is redundancy OF Democrats In
the State Of New York. II Is easy 10
show how we Republicans might have
been In the majority. Some, with slate
and pencil, may, In midnight's solemn
stiffness, setenely cipher, and may
make convincing cr post Jdcto demon.
STATIONS Of the previous political pos
sibilltle9. But 1t Is far easier to satisfy
any unprecedented mind that, as shown
by the election returns, we have been
tremendously whipped. The Republic
can party rulght have carried the State
and the Senate and the Assembly;
but, like the bull-pup that was anxious
TO whip the boa constrlctor and the
gorilla at the sams time, 1t wasn't nu.
msrous enough for the occasion,
Notwithstanding the despairlng view
have herein taken OF my own pros.
pective fate, l shall seek the Republl-
eau nomination for the ClerkshIp oil
the House, for the year OF grace 1870
even though the appalling fact stares
me In the face that can never make
my calling and election sure! But
there Is, sometimes, a classic dignity In
standing up TO be knocked down; and
this may be one OF those fortunate CO.
castons. Hit Is, want my name TO be
the one engraven upon the enduring
monuments which perpetuate the
memories OF classic dignltaries. The
fact that such u distinction doesn't pay
cash, cannot make me falter In my
heroic determination! In rattle fol
Immortality, l am always willing tc
take chance. lam, yours respectfully
EDWARD F. UNDERHILL.
Brocton, ChGwtaQua o., N. Y, Nov
II, 1853.