Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-04-18
UNiCATIONS.
FOR 79fE ave CikER.
FOR TIT. F.N RLIhEH.
TO THE VOTERS OF OLD ACCoMAC.
WASHINGTON. 5;h April, 1913

TO THE VOTERS OF OLD AccoMAc!
WASHINGTON, 5;h April 1913
Gentlemen Will you allow stranger TO inter
pose word or two in behalf Of your fellow citizen,
Henry a Wsc' Your known courtesy smy guar
antee that You will regard me as oiciously med.
ding with your affairs.
MOI that can say any thing 10 elevate the cha'ac.
ter oil Henry a. Wise in your estimation, but my wish
IS TO show you how his rejection by the United States
rs regarded IN our sugar and cotton planting region Ct
Louisiana, and how mnch value we attach 10 his con
tinued services in the public councils
II ~ TO me, gentlemen, OF very little consequence
TO winch OF The parties o the country you beong.-l
do not address you as Democrats, or as Wings, bu,
speak to you ns American citizens, with view To
urge upon you the importance of your vindcang the
cause of the country from the attacks of faction by
returning MIR. Wise to Congress with an overwhelm-
ing majority.
In LOUISIANA, distant as are from the influences
Of Washington politics. and consequently better fitted
10 Judge OF public men, impartially We have ever
looked upon Henry A. WISE from the beginning of
lbs political career, Of extraordinary abli.
ties, as an ornament to his country and his State and
as rejecting the highest honor upon you, the const-
tuency of Old Accomac. Nor do We stand alone in
this estimate of his powers. Other sections Of the
Confedc.acy have borne similar evidence TO his excel
lence, as the records Of public opinion have from time
10 time, amply shown.
One of the greatest merits of Henry A. Wise
gentlemen, in my humble opinion, lies in that quality
of character which enables him, without flinching-
without hesitation, 10 burst asunder the shackles of
party, when the principles and acts of the party to
which ne may chance 10 belong are in his view Of the
questions at ISSUE adverse TO the high interests of the
country. Would that it were so with all our public
men Then would the true benefit of party organiza
ton be felt throughout the land-thc adrancemeat of
The general good
In all Constitutional Governments, men band toqe
ther to carry certain objects OF State policy be!ev
ing that they are right Ii was in consideration of this
intention, that the party league of 1910 Effected
or that party. Mr.. Wise was prominent and power
ful member Your votes show, gentlemen, that mao-
rty of you believed the principles of The Harrison and
Tyler organization to have been right But no sooner was
the victory Of those prnc the principles of the
opposition known to the country than direction
was attempted to be given 10 The triumphant party by
Mr. Clay and his friends This attempt was resisted
by Mr. Tyler, MIR. Wise, Mr.. Gushing, MIR. Profit
and others. They in this movement, operations,
which they believed to be hurfu to the counrys good
and they hesi,ated stand up against MIR. Clay
and his associates, and oppose hem with all their light
and main.
There was in my opinion, and, believe, in yours
too, principle in the contest of 1910 better under
Stood than that the Harrison and Tyler party were
committed against the establishment of a National
Bank. No of unprcjudiced judgment will, for
moment assert, that majority of The people Of the
United States were then or are now, in favor of such
an institution. Nor do know of one single point in
any of the States, where The Bank flag hosted By
the Wings of $40 On the contrary, their principal
speakers expressly repndiated The idea that Bank
WIS one of the questions OF the canvass The straight
out Democrats, who united with the old Wings, and
gave such tremendous majority to Harrison and Ty.
Ter, believed the assertions and professions of Mr. Clay
aud his coadjutors, Justify made upon the hustings,
upon the stump, al conventions, at barbecues, and in
letter after letter published in the newspapers. The
adverse party that supported Mr.. Van Buren, charged
boldly upon the opposition, that their object was 10
hv IN thp Raryp
and when once IN power that their rst act would be
to establish Bank.
Mr.. Wses opinions upon the constitutionality Of
National Bank, well known to be favorable 10
such an institution; but when his party sncceeded 10
power he too honest, too straight forward TO
out and break The thousand and ten promises made
during the con;es, and advocate q Bank Mr.. Clay
aud his friends strange 10 tell, verified TO the letter
the warnings Of The presses of the Opposition, and pro-
posed among the very first ucIs of the new Admins
traticn, the erection Of National Bank, when they
knew the public sense was utterly opposed TO such
institution. Then it that Henry A. Wise
found standing up in vindcaon of the pledged faith
Of the dominant party, made voluntarily to the people
efoIe the election. lie saw that Bank, if es'a-
b!ished would never succeed in lis objects; and that,
above ALL the legislation Of Congress ought not TO lie
conducted in violation of the known and expressed
will of the people of the U. States.
Gentlemen, you may search TIL doomsday for rea.
sons explanatory OF the late rejection by tie United
States Senate, OF your Ielow-czen, Henry A. Wise,
and they may appear TO you as abundant As the falling
forest leaves in Autumn, after nppng FROST but they
will all resolve themselves into this one-hdt MIR.
Uise did not go eih Mr.. Clay fer Nationat Bank,
at The Erra Session, but ,cent ,cih Mr.. Tyler in has
ccioes of the bills proposing to establish such an Iasti
tution
We, in Louisiana, see this thing as plainly as the
noon. dny sun in clear sky. In February, ls4l, at
the close Of the session of Congress- MIR Wise warned
the Wing party against the proposed Extra Session OF
the new Cong ess-warned them against attempting TO
establish Bank, in violation OF all their professions
the contest just gone by ana IN consideration OF inc
existing state of public opinion The subject. But
his warnings were not needed, and his prophecies IL
the results have been fulfilled to the letter. His fore
sghl on that OCCASION stamps him at once the States.
man and the Philosop her. But his daring to oppose
Mr. Clay arraycd that individual and all his friends
AGAINST your feiow-citzen and your representative,
and they swore an oath never to cease in their oppo
stion 10 him. This is the true key 10 his rejection by
the late Senate, and so, in Louisiana, we regard It,
There are some men in the world, gentlemen, of
whom no man can be the friend, unless he becomes
their dog too Mr.. Clay is Of this class Of men-
He will tolerate no man him who may dare to
nave an opinion OF his own, on any subject. This Is
all well enough. Ii is the nature Of all men who are
born 10 be tyrans. But Henry A. Wise, MIR. Clay
found not to be of The plant stuff 10 make tool of and
the destruction of the hgh-mlnded Accomackian was
resolved upon.
Mr. Clay and his friends have done their worst,
have struck their last blow and it will remain for you,
voters of old Accomac 10 arm yonr devoted ReP1esen
tatve who has stood by you for so many years with
shield more mpervous than that Of Achilles, and
spear more terrible. Elect Henry II. Wise 10 the nezt
Congress and you uu haze done your duty.
If men, like Mr.. Wise, can, in this republic te os.
tracsed by the Senate of the United States for pre-.
Stunning oppose the attacks Of party upon the gene
raj good then American liberty thing to talk about
and not 10 enjoy.
see it set up as why Dir. Wise was re
lec,ed tina, he is not fitted for foreign embassy IN
consequence of the fiery temperament OF his d'sposl-
ton and character 1t is easy TO get up excuses for
actions but not easy 10 satisfy ourselves OF their
validity. The very same objection may have been
urged against General Jackson why he should not
have presided this coniederacy but we all know
that his violence of temper did not IN any way unit
him for the discharge Of his duties Ga the contrary,
the possession of this quality of character associated,
as il was, with other qualities of the highest ORDER en-.
abled him TO conduct his administration OF puoc al
fairs TO the most brilliant close Mr. W'ses character,
we have oil seen, compound of the most command
ing and powerful qualities. HIS temperament warm as
i, is, is balanced by judgment which never fails
Among the Senators who voted against hun, DO not
III. ..lIll he