New-York daily tribune., 1854-08-29
Gnv. WISE.

who had for four years represented ia Congress the
Accomsc District, Virginia, as Republican of the
originally Crawford, then jackson schoo, had been
gradually alienated and estranged by Gen. Jackson's
quarrel with Calhoun aud attachment to Van Buren,
by the extreme centrazisg doctrines or the Proca-
nation agsintt South Carolinss multiplying attitude
written by Edward Livingston but adopted, signed
and issued by Gen. Jackson and by the violent eager
ness Of old Hickory to push matters to extremes
with Calhoun and his followers and have them hung
under the Force bill. Oldfashioned people, like Mr..
Coke, not nimbe in turning short corners, and it
puzzled him to see how President who had petted
Notification in the abstract and praised Haynes
speeches of 1929 in his i-starred controversy with
Webster as embodying the true Democratic State
Rights doctrine, could now affirm the exactly op-
posite doctrines Of the Proclamation and be 80 fierce
for hanging Calhoun, McDufie & Co. for acting in
consistency with the so-lately.commended doctrines
of Hayne. So Mr.. Coke, with many like him, grad
ualy fell off from Jacksonism, and, without making
any change in his professions became identified in
feeling with the Southern Opposition which finally
crystalzed into support of Judge Hugh L. White
of Tennessee for President in 1885,
Now Os33) came forward Henry A. Wise, as
young paadin of White House Democracy in oppo-
sition to MIR. Cekes reelection. He harangued the
People throughout the District, accusing Mr. Coke Of
dsafection toward the President and dsloyaty to
the party and exhortng the elec ors to repair the
breach in the Democratic buwark by sending him to
Congress in Coke's stead (The Democracy, by tho
way of this part of Virginia is rather peculiar since
the Accomac District was a stronghold of Washing
tonian Federalism; Mr.. Coke himself Mr.. Wise's
II mis- sfaL Kan
having all been stanch Federalists in the olden time
but the most ultra Of State Rights Democrats under
the new dispensation) Mr.. Wise'sveorous eloquence
prevailed, and he was chosen to Congress. Mr. Coke
took personal Ofense at something said by Wise du-
ring the canvass, challenged him to duel and re-
ceived satisfaction in the shape of broken arm,
.hivered by Wise's bullet. With that memento, he
sank quietly into retirement, and after few years
died.
Mr.. Wise went to Congress, and stuck to the
Jacksonism which had served him well nearly two
years. Then he discarded it, for what precise
we do not remember; but were abundant in
that unbrdled reign Of violence and despotism. He
supported Judge White for President in 1886. and
was among the foremost opponents of Van Buren, and
bis Sub-Treasury policy through 1S37-1O. He was
active and ardent canvasser for Gen. Harrison in
1910, making strong speeches at POughkeepsie and
elsewhere in this State, also in other States. and
finally trying to get up on the battle field of York
town Three Days Encampment" in the middle of
October, which failed, the People being already
out by political gatherings in that protracted and
excited canvass. We believe Wise was soured by his
defeat and disappointment in this project, so that he
did not even vote the Harrison Electoral Ticket next
month, though he had made many and able speeches
in its behalf.
Gen. Harrison was elected and Mr. Wise returned
for the ffth time to Congress; but before it
bled the Peoples President died. and everything
in the wind. John Tyler succeeded to the White
House. and began to cast about him for the means of
creating personal party and securing his own cleo
tion in 1s44, with which view he began blowing with
all Of strange cattle. Mr. Clay and the great
body of the Wings resisted him. aud insisted that the
Whig policy should be carried into effect by those
whom the Whi9s had placed in power; but Tyler
vetoed successfully two Bank bills, Zone of them
shaped under his own directions a Tariff BILL River
and HarbOr bill, and raised jolly row generally
Through all this commOtion, Mr.. Tyler's chief ad-
wiser and most efficient champion in Congress was
Henry A. Wise, who was rewarded in due season by
the Embassy to Brazil one of our most desirable Mis-
siOns.
Col. Polk, on his accession to the Presidency, su
perseded Wise by one of his own followers, but Wise
he's since adhered to the school of what is face
tously termed Democracy The Accomac is a
slavebreedng district, and, though intensely Couser
vatve and strongly Federal in its politics. has chosen
to be represented in Congress, since Wise's with
drawa by Gen. I. H. Bayly, who calls himself
State Rights Republican and is one of the weakest
and windiest of his school. The District rolled up
decided majorities for Harrison Clay and Tay-
lOr, but gave only 81 majority against Pierce
in 1852, and MAJ be set down as henceforth at
tached to the car Of what is termed Democracy
so long as it shall grow slaves to sell aud our semi
tropical neighbors shall have Cotton and Sugar lands
that We may steal. 1t was the boast of Mr.. Wise
when in Congress that no newspaper was printed
within ts limits boast which could hardly be made
good of any other District in the Union.
Mr.. Wise is yet in the prime of life active ambi.
tOus and energetic, man of original and vigorous
mind, good stump speaker and in private life 1--WE
believe) beyond reproach He married, some years
since daughter of the late John Sergeant Of Pha-
dephia for his second wife; but we believe she too
is dead He was member of the last Constitutional
Convention of Virginia, and distinguished therein
by his ability aud lberality. He is in short man
of Ideas therefore of Progress and the natural anti
pode of an Old Fogy.
He has recently been brought forward as a caudi.
didate for next Governor of Virginia, vice Joseph
johnson, mere stick of whom his party is heartily
tired. Two competitors are urged-Sheton F.
Leake, now Lieut.. Governor, and Willis p B,cock,
now Attorney General; but Wise will walk over