Wilmington Journal

We noticed that several of our cotemporaries referred to the fact that Edwin G. Reade, a member of Congress from this State, had voted along with the abolitionists of the North to censure Lawrence M. Keitt of South Carolina for his failure to turn common informer in the Brooks and Sumner case, but forbore allusion to it, for we thought that there must be some mistake about it. It could not be possible that any member of Congress from North Carolina would so far disgrace himself and his State, as to place on record his approval of dishonorable conduct, or his censure of good faith and gentlemanly bearing. No man could have expected Mr. Keitt to become a common informer—to lodge information leading to the arrest of his friend who, in confidence, had trusted him with his counsel. No man from North Carolina, surely, we thought. But, unfortunately we were mistaken, and we are compelled to acknowledge our error. Edwin G. Reade stands recorded side by side with the abolition censurers of Mr. Keitt, and still this same Edwin G. Reade parades himself and is paraded by others as a bright and shining light—a very illuminated pagoda—a perfect pyramid of political knowledge and reliability—a prophet after the manner of "Sam." Surely there is something rotten in Denmark when Edwin G. Reade, the man who so places himself on record, is the head and front of any party in North Carolina. So big a man that for his sake they were willing to have sacrificed their much loved alliteration of Fillmore and Gilmore—to whose success it is necessary that they should gull more people than appear willing to be gulled at this time; for it is known that Mr. Reade might have been candidate for Governor at a word if he had only said it. It is in Mr. Reade's district that Mr. Gilmer's friend expected to do great things. It is his influence and his ability—God save the mark!—by which the State is in a great measure to be carried. The man is worse than Kenneth Rayner, and that is saying enough to commend him to the best respects of Charles Sumner & Co.—Daily Journal 4th inst.