The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-03

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his district for Congress in 1852, aud
was defeated; was the Wing candidate
for lieutenant governor OF Virginia in
1859, and was defeated. In 1860 he was
a delegate to the convention that nom!-
mated Bell and Everett for President
and vice president; was member of
the Virginia convention in 1861, and
voted against the ordinance Of seces-
sion; was elected by the Legislature of
what was called the Restored Govern
ment Of Virginia at Wheeling to a
seat in the senate Of the United States
to take the place OF James NJ. Mason,
who seeded with the mother state; was
a member Of the Constitutional conven-
tIon at wheeling which framed the first
constitution for West Virginia, but be-
ing at the same time United States
senator, he did not take an active part
In the proceedings OF the convention;
was member of the second eonstitu-
tionaI convention at Charleston In 1879,
that framed the present constitution of
the state; was elected one of the ftrsE
United states senators from West VIr-
ginla in 1853, and drew the short term Of
two years, At the expiration Of tho
term he was reelected to the same
position for the fun term Of six years,
which expired March 4. 1871.
Conspicuous in the Church.
"F'or more thanhalf century Senator
Wiley has been a conspicuous member
Of the NJ. e. church. In 1872 he was
elected the first lay delegate from the
west Virginia Conference to the Gem
eral Conference OF that denomination,
but owing to pressure Of business de-
ctined to serve. In 1880 he was again
elected to that responsible position and
took an active part in the proceedings
Of the General Conference; was a dele
gate-at-large to the national Republi-
can convention at Cincinnati In 1876. In
November, 1882. he was appointed clerk
OF the county court Of Monongalia coun-
ty to NIL vacancy occasioned by the
death of the then incumbent. In octo-
ber, 1884, he was elected by the people tO
said office for the term of six years.
Madison College, from which Mr..
Wiley graduated,was merged into Allie
gheny College, Meadville, Pa, and the
latter conferred upon him the degree of
master Of arts. Some years later, tha
honorary degree OF master Of arts was
conferred upon him By Augusta Col
leRe. While Mr.. WIllsy was senator
in Congress, Allegheny College confGr-
red upon him the honorary degree of
doctor Of laws. A few years ago the
West Virginia University conferred
upon him the same degree.
Was Great Orator.
at Is impossible in the limited space
at my command to more than allude to
the life work OF such man as ex-sen.
ator Wiley. For n quarter of a cen
tury before the late civil war, he and
the late George W. summenrs OF Ka-
nawha county, were universally regard
ed as the Wing wheei-horses Of West
ern Virginia. In a majority of the coun-
ties that now compose West Virginia
Mr.. Wiley, during his entire public
career was the Acknowledged champion
OF his party. He was a man Of great
industry. But few public men delivered
a greater number Of addresses and lee
lures on subjects OF general interest.
Besides, he wrote much for newspapers
and periodicals on both political and re-
llgious subjects.
"He was for half a century almost
constantly ON tho 60. He was great
orator. The writer has heard him In
his prime when the sweep of his power
was utterly Irresistible. Rising to the
magnitude of his subject, the electric
current could almost be sesn to scintIi-
late from the ends of his long, bony
SnEers. as his high genius illumined his
kIndllng eyes. HIS great oratorical tri-
umphs on the platform, In the halls OF
congress, and at the bar are scattered
oyev a period of more than nifty years
and alone would furnish material for
large and interesting volume. At hls
home in Morgantown. the seat Of the
west Virginia University. and now
nearly eighty years old. he Is kindly
spoken of as the old-mnn-eioquent'
and NIL classes admire him with that
degree OF esteem that reaches absolute
reverence.
His Character Was spotloss.
"But better than n reputation for ora
tory, statesmanshlp and legal attain
ments is character for honesty, sobrl-
ETY. and sterling integrity. Mr., Wllleys
reputation for problty in public ana prl-
vate life is as spotlcss as II naiden's 8
and as unsullled as a ray OF light
Through his church relations his name
has become flmniar 70 thousands oi
the homes OF the llnl az thl synonym
for purity and exalted Christian char
meter. His memory viii b. perpetunted
glgnally and with lasting certainty
| through tho influence or n lofty exam-
ple. in which are exhibited all the noble
qualities that enter into the composition
of n. character which combines u just
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