The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-10-27
JOSEPH GALES, FATHER AND SON.
BY JAMES PARTON.
From the New York Ledger.)

| N
BY JAMES PARTON.
From the New York Ledger.)
From how many scources America
centuary and half, after the planting
of the thirteen colonies, it seems as if
the despOtic governments of Europe
had done their utmost to drive to these
shores the best of their subjeets-the
men of brain, benevolence and public
spirit. Joseph CAKES, for forty-eight
years the senior editor of the National
lntelligencer, would never have seen
this continent, in all probability, if
thought had been free in his own
country. We owe the transplanting
of his valuable family, rs we owe so
many other blessings, to the ignOr-
ance and arrogance of George the Ill.
He came of a line of worthy men
who exercised, in parish of English
Derbyshire, the joint offices OfschoOl-
master and parish clerk--yocatiOns
that were frequently exercised by the
same individual in the oltlen time.
His father, Joseph Gales the elder,
chose to learn the trade of printer,
and, being young man of much in
telligence and energy, found the
means i'm due time to establish HIM
self in business at Sheffield which
was fast rising into importance, both
as a centre of manufactures and a
nursery of liberal opinions. In 1857,
he started the Sheffield Register, a
weekly paper of liberal politics, which
brought him swift prosperity and ex-
tensive influence.
The French Revolution had burst
forth. Every country in Europe was
deeply agitated, and none 80 much as
England. AS the poet, James Mont
gOmery, remarked at the time:
"There was such conflict of minds,
such activity of the highest powers of
the human soul, az had never been
exhibited since Britain was an island.
Every man, woman and child in the
kingdom was politician"
These words were written in Shelf
field at the period i'm question. Mont
gOmery, i'm fact, was the assistant editor
Of the Sheffield Register, the eloquent
though moderate mouthpiece of the
liberal party in the country of York
shire. In the midst of this excite
ment, who should come upon the
scene, fresh from the conflict in
America and the Revolution in
France, but Thomas Paine, then in
the untarnished lustre of his fame?
Edmund Burke wrote his celebrated
pamphlet, entitled, reflections on
the Revolution i'm France" in which
the conduct of the reyOlutiOnists was
denounced with the matchlcss ele-
quence of which that great genius
was master. Paine replied in his
"Rights of Man." Tens OfthOusands
of copies Ofboth pamphlets were sold
Joseph Gales printed and sold vast
numbers of Paine's work.
Strengthened by the melancholy
detection of Burke, the government
at length resolved to repress the agi-
tation by force. Many conspicuous
leaders of the liberal movement were
arrested, prosecuted and condemened.
One day, when Joseph Gales was
absent i'm London, an American of
distinction, named Thomas Digges,
called at his store, and asked to see
Mrs. Gales. This gentleman had fire.
queutly visited the shop before, where
his frank demeanOr and interesting
details of American life had captivat-
ed every mind, and given the family
their first impulse toward the young
:epublic. On this occasion Mr.. Dig
ges took the lady aside, and asked
her, with serious and anxious cOun-
tenance:
"Have you any of Paine's works in
the shopw
eyes" shercplicd, "a great many"
"Letme, them" said he, "as friend
entreet you to put them carefully
aside, and, if inquired for, to deny
the possession of a single copy. have
indisputable authority for saying that
to disregard my advice would be pro-
ductive of positive danger"
1t added to the weight of these
friendly words, that Mr.: Digges was
visiting at the time the Duke of Nor
folk, and had other means Of knowing
the Intentions of the government.
Mrs. Gales acted upon his advice, put
away the books, and notified her hus-
band. This lady, from whose letters
these facts are derived, speaks i'm warm
praise of the character and behavior
of Thomas Paine at this time; bear
ing testimony, as the recent biOgraph-
er of her family remarks, Ito Paile's
sincerity-the simplicity and sweet
ness of his nature, and tho sprightly
wit that charmed the social circle AT
this time, the reader will remember,
he had not published any of those
words which afterward brought such
Odium OIL his name.
Riots occurred in the manufacture
ing districts of England particularly
at Birmingham, where nf, friestley
invited the friends of liberty to cele-
brate the anniversary of the destruc-
ton of the Rastile, The Tories mus
tered in great force, aud burned DIR.
Pricstley's house, with thoapparatus,
the manuscripts and the library,
which he had been forty years i'm col
lecting; and drove the venerable
champion of liberal principles to seek
an asylum i'm Pennsylvania. York
shire grew too hot for so decided q
republican as Joseph Gales, and he
removed to America also.
Arriving ip philadelphia after q
long voyage, he had little property
beyond his skill rs q printer and short
hand writer. At that time, short
hand being still an unknown art I'm
the United States, the daily report of
the debates i'm Congress were meagre
and incorrect. We may imagine the
amazement ofthe people of Philadel-
phia when they saw, one morning,
i'm their newspaper, full repGrt 0f
the previous days dehate: II Created
what We 9pW gall d SENSATION. The
edition rapidly disappeared, and the
new feature was the topic of the day.
The possession ofthis dirt almost I'M
mediately enabled Joseph Gales 20
become the proprietor III the indie
pendent Gafettter, which became SO
popular and prosperous that he was
soon again i'll circumstances of peeu-
mary ease.
The recurrence of the yellow fever
in Philadelphia caused him, i'm 1879,
to remove to Raleigh, where he cstab-
lished the Raleigh Register, sound
and moderate republican journal,
which he continued to conduct with
success and honor for thirty-four
years. His Philadelpaia paper, tito
independent Ghsettcer, Which he
sold In 1879, was removed to WASH
ington a year or two after, when the
government was transferred thither
and was re-christened the National
Intelligencer. 1t held on its way i'm
the new city, supporting Mr.. Jeffer-
son with much ability, but sadly
lacking in the department ef the
Congressional renQrta. t"' y "
Seten Years passed. Joseph Gales,
the younger, had become an accom-
plishcd man and skillful editor under
his fathers eye, being proficient also
i'm short hand The Cider Gales i'm