Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-03-29
From the Raleigh Sentinel.


historic landmarks of our beautiful 4" CFy
of Oaks" How full of historic association
is that old house. How many memories,
both pleasant and mournful, crowd upon
the mind and heat.
1t was in that house, the writer of this,
then school boy, was introduced by his
father, a special friend Of the family, to
Joseph Gales, ST., and his accomplished
wife, both then venerable, not ouly i'll
years, but for the universal respect in
which they were held by the community
in which they SD long lived-with which
thhy were so thoroughly identified in in
terest and sympathy, and which they both
so well adorned by all the attributes which
elevate dignity and illustrate human nature.
The mental photograph is fresh upon
my memory. The wcll-set, stout English
figure, with the unmiStakable face
and look of intelligence, Honesty and
resolution of the one, and the gra-
cious, self-possessed and lady like manners
and address of the other, could never be
forgotten when once seen. Then, too, L
think of the elegant and generous hospi-
tality, in the olden style, which they so lib
orally dispensed to friends for so many
years i'll that same old mansion, while
their ready charity for all that were needy
was proverbial. Then there comes, too, to
the mind the recollection of the sweet poet,
Montgomery, their lifelong friend, whom
they left in England, when compelled to
flee from political prosecutions, to reach,
through many trials and travels, a land of
civil and religious liberty. That old " Old
Sheffield Register the sturdy advocate Of
both, comes up to the memory as the pro-
totype, which he had to abandon as editor
in England, of the well-known " raleigh
Register" which he subsequently estab-
lished at his new home III this city, in Oc-
tOber, 1899, and which he so long and sue
cessfully conducted i'll the spirit Of that
noble liberality embodied in its motto of
Ours are the plans of fair, delightful
peace-unwarped by party rage, to live like
brothers,"
The editors Of the Register attracted to
their support large portion Of the respect
and influence Of the best and purest men
in North Carolina. 1t was the recognized
organ Of the old Republican party during
and after the war of 1872, and of the Wing
party from its organization till its final dis
solution.
Then we think of Fisher Anes' great
speech on jays treaty, which the students
| delighted to speak on the rostrlIm at ali
the colleges i'll the Union, and which was
so faithfully reported by Mr.. Gales, when
it Was delivered in the old Congress at
| Philadelphia, and when - short hGRU' was
| indeed rare art in this country. And he
! was, too, the venerable Reporter of the
proceedings of the famous Convention Of
! North Carolina i'll 1885.
! And then again comes up the memory
| of Western Il. Gales, on whom SO worthily
descended the editorial mantle Of The Raj
| eigh Register, II gentleman in every sense
! Of the word. Need l say more to COM
mend his cherished memory to his Cote1p-
poraries in North Carolina, where he was
so well known and SO much beloved? My
fria nd I,a
sociate of the best and most distinguished
men of our State in your time-I leave you
with the recollection of many happy days
spent together in social communion and
political sympathy.
And he, too, left son, now in our
midst, our well known Major Seaton Gales,
to illustrate the virtues Of a worthy ances-
| try-On whom, at All early age, the same
editorial mantle fell for a while, though
now thrown aside. OF this son and for
mer inmate Of this same sold house, it
may be safely said that the fruit is not less
than the promise, and that North Caro-
lima will never forget the gallant soldier
who took his life in his hand, in our great
est trial, for a cause we believe to be just,
and who proved faithful to the end.
In that old family mansion, now so soon
to pass away, have enjoyed scenes Of
mirth and pleasure, in the joyous glee and
|
| whom were near and dear to me, all as
sembled in evening play, and encouraged
by the smiles and CHEEKY words ofparental
affection. But other and sadder scenes
| have been there, too, in that old house.
! LOve-romantic lOve-a brief and happy
welded life-and then death-a sudden
startling death on the battlefield and
another in the sick chamber at home, and
the fearful suffering of sickening suspense
for loved ones far away in the tented field
or bloody fight!
! All l remember me, Of young and
| lovely maiden-the impersOnation of I'M
selfish love-the admired Of all who knew
her-a ministering angel, who passed away
| Wilted flower, with many tear OH its
bliShted bloom and early grave. But
would not draw aside the veil that shrouds
the sad memory Of the dead or the hal
lowed grief Of the living. AS long as the
names of Cameron, and Anderson and
Gales, are remembered in our good old
State, (and how long will they net be?
| these mournful thoughts will crowd the
memories of kindred and friends when
they think of the cold Gales house."
But when look at that sold house as
strong hands are tearing it down, our
thoughts fly to another and greater CITY,
| We think Involuntary of Gales d SeatOn
and the old National IptcIHgencer of
Washington. Who, Of ordinary informa-
ton, i'll all this widespread republic, has
not heard or read ofthem? Jo Gales, Jr.,
and VIM. w. SeatOn, one the oldest son
and counterpart il personal appearance,
and the other, Il gentleman, sans pcurct
SdI1S rcpr0che, the pr0tcge and future SON
! ln-laW of Ou% own and vencrated 10. Gales,
ST. These were the world renowned edi-
| tors of the National IntcUige11rcr, who
for more tEan the third of a century pub
liShed the political gospel Of the best and
and purest men Of this nation. My earli-
est recollections are associated with this
grand Cd journal, which with the
Raleigh Register, was for years
and years together, as household words
and Of the highest authority under my pa
rental roof and in our family circle. We
recur with pleasure even now to the tren-
chant and exhaustive leaders of Gales, and
think with cherished memories of the ever
genial smile--the model character and
winning and elegant manners of SeatOn,
while the opeu-handed charity and gener-
Gus hospitality of both were as proverbs
with all. And their accomplished wives,
too. How wildly L recall the brilliant
gatherings of great statesmen-and the
famous in art and science and literature, at
the old "Seaton mansion" n Washington,
where the distinguished hostess, Mrs. Sea-
ton, was tie cynosure even in the later
period of her life, of refined society-ready
wit and intellectual excellence.
Gales and SeatOn were the associates
and friends of Madison, Monroe, the young
er Adams and several of their successors
in the Presidential chair. They were tie
contemporaries and companions Of Lown-
DIES, Cheves, of CASTOR, and Macon, of Cal
hOun, Clay, and Webster and Crawford