The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-26

In praise Of Henry Percy
do not think brave gentleman,
More actye-valiaut, or more valiant-young
More daring or more bold, is now alive,
To grace this latter age with noble deeds"
KING HENRY w.
THE NON. HENRY A. WISE,
Since he has held seat in the United States
House of Representative, has commanded an alien
ton and degree of notice that few have attained
and still less number are probably destined 10 eh-
Joy. His talents, his genius, and his eioquehce,
soon won for him the notice Of his countrymen ere
he had held seat three years in Congress, he was
ranked among the maserspirits OF the times, VINO
were and still are, destined to WIN name ana
glory that mmortalize the aspirants for pariamei-
tary hoDors and distinctions.
MIR. Wise made his appearance at me Capitoi' III
the year 1892, Representative OF virginia ana
of a district that had not formerly been regarded as
a geographical limit Of distinction. MIR Wise resid-
ed in the county OF Accomac, part OF The state oil
Virginia, that lies the northeastern shore OF The
Chesapeake and which, from its position and na''i-
raj resources, is clearly allied TO Maryland hah
to the Old Dominion.
The county of Accomac is not remarkable Tor the
fertility OF lis soil, the enterprise OF ITS peoiie
and il was at the moment MIR. Wise made his APP
pearance in Congress, deemed somewhat improbable
that member coming from the Eastern shore OF Vlr-
gnia should be the possessor OF any thing remarkable
These facts had AN unproptious bearing on the
prospects of Mr. Wise at the outset and undoubted-
~ were sources of some little impeachment. hide
pendenty of these things, the personal appearance
of the young orator of Accomac was somewhat
against him. He was very young but few months
past that period in life, which il necessary for
him to have attained before he could be constitution
ally admitted TO seat in Congress and his smooth
and pale face and abundant iaXen locks, gave him
an aspect far more juvenile than his actual years
justified. His whole appearance was decidedly boy
ish and not till he had an opportunity to en-
gage in debate that il was discovered that he was "a
man, ay every inch man. and knew how to enact
his part in the worlds vast theatre.
MIR. Wise was elected a friend and advocate OF
General Jackson and his administration and to the
latter rendered prompt and good service, until he
discovered thought that ne had discovered, that
some Of lis administrative agents were corrupt and
iniqutous. Believing that II was not entitled to his
confidence, he formally took leave OF il, in the year
1886, joined the opposition, aud became one of ITS
most prominent and leading members. lie pursued
with unabattd hostility and industrious opposition
till it brought 10 close, by the expiration Of the
second term of service, for which the old hero had
been elected ; and when MIR. Van Buren, went into
office, he seized upon his administration, and was,
beyond all doubt, Of the principal agents Of its
proslraton.
An opponent SO formidable, foe so relentless and
determined in his course Of opposition, was an OBJ
ject equally Of terror and of solicitation and hence
is not very easy TO dsbeleve the reports that
busly circulated in Washington, in the years 1899
40, tina, overtures had been made by the party in
power "to lay him up by the presentation OF place,
under the administration Of Mr. Van Buren,.
But if overtures of the kind were made they were
advanced to the very last man on earth that any one
should dream of div, rting from what he himself con-
sidered to be his path Of duty. No gold, no place,
promised possession of post OF honor could sue
cessfuy apply itself to such man as Henry A.
Wise, and he who could hope to sway him by SIMS
ter appliances knew but little of the man, or know
ing him personally only, had studied his character to
no purpose
Be these ihings as they NAV, Mr.. Wise remained
well with the Wings as long they continued true
to themselves or to any fixed principles of honor and
integrity, and manly probity; but when they lost
sight Of all else than designs that looked at the attain
ment of power, at the sacrifice of principle, and
uniting in one grand crusade for conquest at all haz
ards without reference to Interior consequences, he
bolted; and if he did not at once abandon them, he
at least refused TO unite in their log cabin orgies and
'' hard cider and coon-skin" carousals.
Mr. Wise was not singular in this respect on the
he had many noble and honorable associ-
ates, Wings, who could not and would not sacrifice
every thing at the shrine of party, or violate the
plainest dictates of reason truth, aud Justice to
proptate their political fortunes, and CRAFTY The lust
of unholy ambton.r
Mr.. Wise never INDUCED in the excuses Of the
Wings. AT no time did he participate in the political
carnvals Of lS39-40; but at that moment, when
madness seemed to bear sway and he vast veslibulc
of the six-andlweniy United States echoed and re-
echoed back again, the chauns of " ZAP Coon and
the " Buckeye blacksmith, he retired from an arena
which presented little else than scenes of absolute
disgust.
When the present chief Executive of the United
States assumed the robes Of the high office he now
fills, and determined 10 tranquze the country by
destroying The MoIoch Of party, Mr.. Wise united
with him IN crusade that is destined to be recorded
on the entabalure of glory. He aided and assisted
Mr.. Tyler Is concentrating the schemes that have
die niied his administration and in doing So has
ma nies ed zeal and patriotism equally ardent and
The history of his connection with
President Tylers administration is yet green and
fresh and on the lips of every intelligent citizen.
Mr.. Wise is yet on the sunny side of forty his
a ppearance l. juvenile, and when speaking in the
House OF Representatives, IS generally taken TO be a
man of less summers than thirty.
As an orator and declamer, he has no superior
on the stage of the great theatre of life. HIS eo-
quence lie bold, manly and heroic his voice as Graf
ton said of the Earl of Chaham's is "the music of
the spheres His invecliye is of the mos, whitening
and scathing order and him who is its re-
eli lent.
In debate, and in observance Of the decorum and
order due to Parliamentary dignity, he is aulless
aud IT is here asserted with confidence that chalen-
ges conli ovcrsy, that no man even knew Mr. Henry
"A. Wise To be guilty OF uerng disoldery sen encc
unless provoked TO the act Ivy tie insolcnce and at
tack of adversary. Ii attacked and if the author
of II be worthy of reply he is not backward in de-
tending himself la all the controversies he has had
with Mr.. John Quincy Adams and they have been
both frequent and violent he has in every instance
acted on the defensive only. And it may be added
here that, inasmuch Mr. Adams originally assail.
ed Mr.. Wise, without any known cause and repeated
bis assault with perfect impunity because the object
of their anathema was unwilling to utter stirring and
reprcachiu things of venerable for his wears
and great talent as Mr.. Adams is, it did for many
months, elicit the especial wonder of the whole House
of Representatives, when they witnessed his forbear-
ance.
Much might be added here, but time and space for
bud lis uterance at this moment, and IL must neces-
sary be deferred I'LL another occasion.
There was one remarkable instance illustrative of
the position here assumed, that occurred in the House