The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-11
Gheqtt'teIIi2I,s,tlt n,
d.. GamnlfeI RaiIey.

DR.. GamalfeI Bailey.
Dom Piatt writes in the last Capital an
interesting sketch Of Dr.. Galnaliel Bailey,
editor Of the Washington National Era
the first anti-slayery paper ever published
in Washington. We have room only for
the following incident:
That evening, April 10, ls48, Doctor Bal.
lev was sitting at home, surrounded by his
family, buslly engaged in preparing edi-
torlals for his paper, while bis accomplish
ed wife sat at his side reading q magazine,
when the committee was announced.
The chairman, with some hesitation and
delicacy, approached the subject by in.
forming the Doctor Of the inhamed condl-
ton o! the public mind. He then read
the resolution, and wound up by urging,
In the name Of the people Of the District
Of Columbia, Doctor Bailey to remove his
press from Washington city to Baltimore.
The doctor heard him patiently to the
close of his. harangue, when he said, very
quietly and firmly: w
a"Gentlemen, I am here quite alone. l
am unarmed and helpless, OF course you
can do whatever you may see fit, l can.
not help myself. But I am forced to tell
youthat, recognizing my position, l can
not comply with your request. Twill die
here In discharge Of my duties as an edi-
tor, and claiming my rights as q citizen,
before I will consent 10 the removal Of n
single type belonging tO my Office. l
cannot consent. to my own degradation"
There was something about the man
that not only convinced the committee
that he meant what he said, but won
from them unalloyed admiration and
sympathy. Here he was, surrounded by
his family, q wife and anumber Of help.
less children, a slender, delicate man,
more of student than aught else, with.
his fine large dome Of head, with that
peculiar massive effect with which one so
seldom meets, q clear dark eye, a mouth
decided in It's expression as fate, and every
part Of him rejecting the quiet firmness
ofa heroic character. The committee
undertook to argue the matter, and ended
by persunding In the most earnest man
ner that he should comply with their
wishes, for the present at least. He
might wait, they said, until the storm
blew over. As they plead with him tears
came to the eyes ofsOme, and were In the
voices OF oil; but they were forced 10 re.
tire at last without etIecting their object.
Doctor Bailey went Oh with his editori-
ais, and his good vile continued calmly
her reading, when, as the night came, q
terrible noise was heard in the street, and
the windows CLEANED with torches in the
hands Of the infatuated mob that now,
like bowling beasts, surrounded tho house,
Doctor Bailey laid down his pen, and sub.
stituted his coat for the gown he had been
wearing, said quietly, "Well, l suppose /
must 90 out and see these people"
To go out ind sec these people, In that
day, meant to go out 10 violence and per.
haps death. Men had been killed for less
ofEGnses than Doctor Bailey was charged
with, and yet he appeared upon his Gle.
vatcd doorsill and faced the infuriated
crowd OF cruel men as quietly as be
would have gone To q feast. lie had taken
his life In his hand when he entered upon
the cause he advocated, and, II necessary,
It was as well to die upon that doorstep as
In any other locality. The heroic courage
and toritude of other men had helped on
the good cause, and he was prepared 10
tender his poor life with resignation in the
same service. H0 stood facing that OK.
cited mass Of cruel men, knowing that in
the great city about him there was not
one heart that dared sympathize with or
hand that could be raised to help him,
save in the helpless family before whom
he stood, their only support and,protector,
His wife followed him 10 the door aud
saw him, standing upon the steps, facing
his adversaries. lie attempted to speak,
and for few moments his voice was
drowned by the roar of the crowd that
sounded as cruel as that OF u hungry ami
NAL, But the torches flashed upon the
cool, selEposseSsed form Of brave man,
and he seemed to cow, at least to quiet,
the animals, for their noise sunk into
murmur, and he spoke to them. What he
said upon that occasion wehave forgotten,
but they were brave words and 10 the pnr.
pose. We believe be called their attention,
alter denying that lie had been guilty Of
any violation OF law whatever, to the fact
that they had In public meetings but
few nights before passed resolutions lie.
nouncing the government Of France for
prosecuting the press OF that country
the free press, the true foundation Of all
constitutional right-and yet hero they
were proposing to do in his case precisely
what they had condemned In a despotiSm.
When he had concluded, and the surging
mass began TO sway to and fro with its
cries OF vengeance, as Il trying to stimu-
late each other TO a cowardly outrage,
Mr.. Hatcliff sprang upon the steps and
asked to be heard. He was II citizen Of
Washington, well known for his Southern
sympathy, and what they called sound
principles, and rs course was the man to
be listened to with sympathetic attention.
He made an eloquent and earnest appeal
to them In behalf Of Doctor Bailey and a
free press, and at the end Of his haraDgue
put himself at their head and led them
away. b."
H Light and Digestion.