Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-11-21
For tie En1u,rcr
Messrs. Editors In The EaYHVcr Of this morning
| find the following communication:

For he Enquirer.
Messrs. Elitors In The EnYDvcr Of this morning
| | find the following communication:
"WIIAT'S IN TIE WIND!
at s undcrstuod that the articles Ill the Erdminc
arninst Mr.. Wise, are written by Mr.. PntrIck Henry
Ayctt who, within tie last few weeks publicly an
nGunccd hi. preference for that gentleman over all
other prominent candidates. What's III the wind
"a. i. r."
As the opinions, preferences, and prcjuliccs Of n
private and obscure individual arc OF no Importance
TO the public cannot admire either the taste nr spi.
r;t Of The above communication. In the articles in
question which have appeared III The Examiner,
frankly and candidiy acknowledge the change which
has taken place in my opinion respecting Mr.. Wiscs
claims for the Office to which his friends desire to
elect him. The following passagcs mny be found in
| one OF these articles:
Until the last few months entertained the opin-
ion that Henry A. Wise commenced his IN
ultra STATE Rrhts Drmocr@, and tllnt his election to
Congress in 1888 the result OF his fearless defence
uf the rights of the States against the doctrines OF
IN. Proclamation. And as have always entertain
ed cordial and profound admiration for the GAL!
liant men who hruved much peril in 1888 and built
I'D the State Rights party, m2 l"rt,rrnc's THrc fo,
.ur IIis' ~ c"".|2".n" % mas S"To>sd c'tA"@"ly
ot his bitter hostility the Independent Treasury
Svs,cn and oi his abuse of Gen. Jackson his Cahl-
net and the leading measures of his Administration,
could readily have pHrtloned his opposition To our
purtN uurllr lUt CuuNhSS vi l'i''
.A that have written goes to establish the pro-
uos;tiuu with which started that it, in the selection
nf candidate for tho office OF Governor, you NOM
mate Mr. Wise, you will disregard the claims and ser
vices of much older, and certainly as efficient nen-
bers uf our party who were the adv"cntes Of the
measures of two Democratic administrations to which
Mr. Wise was bitterly opposed. With no unkind
feelings to Mr.. Wise but with high appreciation ol
his private virtues, ami mM originally strong prs''-
lcctI0ns for linn a, pol'tc'dn, destroyed only by n
patent examination of bis Congressional history and
career reassert the force, TRUTH and eternal justice
OF that position
Nv early preferences for Mr.. Wise were the con
sequences OF my high esteem for his private charac-
ter and Of my entire Ignorance Of his political career
,,rrrious 10 lSi0 Since reading his speeches, and
carefully examining his congressional career previous
10 TINT year. my opinions of him as politician have
materially changed. have never pnd'irLy declared
nv preference for any of the distinguished gentlemen
whose claims upon The democratic party have been
presscd BY their friends. In private conversations
some time since expressed my great esteem for Mr.
Wise, and my preference Of him 10 other gentlemen
whose names had been mentioned.
Nv private opinions and preferences, however, n.
have said are nf nn importance 10 the public an!
whilst regret the publicity which ha. been given TO
nv name. | am not unwilling TO assume MI necessary
r.sppn.ibility fnr the articles which have been writ
ten in review of Mr.. Wisc's career as public man.
Very respectfully, 7. II. AiLElT.
Novcmbrr 9Th. 1851