The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-15
Henry A. Wise ON the stumIs-The Cabinet
Organs and the Know Nothings-Wise and

who is now ont in Virginia on a stumping tour,
as the democratic candidate for Governor. This
is rather a novel feature in our Northern re-
ports of Southern politics, and affords very
favorable view of the peculiarly Southern IN
stitution of the stump Brief, too, as is our
report of the speech in question, it establishes
the facts that Mr.. Wise is an experienced and
sagacious politician, and an able, ready and
eloquent speaker.
II is evident that Mr.. Wise anticipates de-
feat He betrays this conviction in the drift Of
his argument He exhibits none of that saucy
mockery of his opponents which has heretofore
characterized the champions of the Virginia
democracy of that exulting confidence
concerning the rubbish and clap trap of Balti-
more resolutions, democratic principles, and
democratic invineibility, which has hitherto
ruled the State. He has nothing to say for
Pierce or his confederate spoilsmen-he appears
to have virtually abandoned them to their fate,
ard to have adopted at last the sober policy of
resting his case upon the great local interests
OF Virginia. His last speech is rather that
of an independent progressive statesman prac-
teal and free spoken, than the harrangue of
sApi vi VIC OuulhCv. IL loOhS us IL uc udU Cusb
off the sbackles of the Richmond Cabinet Junta
in disgust, and had taken the field as an indie
pendent candidate, upon the common sense
platform of practical and tangible utilities in
stead of the stale distractions Of '9s and '99,
and such trash. Mr.. Wise, also, appears to be
DESTROYS now rather to conciliate than to exas-
perate the Know Nothings; and but for the
dead carcass Of the administration, which he is
in measure compelled to follow, it would be
difficult task to defeat him upon the strong
progressive Virginia policy which he has for
hims IF adopted.
tits unfortunate for Mr.. Wise that he is iden-
titled with the cause of a sunken dynasty--un-
fortunate that while he is conducting his case
before the people Of Virginia upon practical
questions of the first consequence to the State,
that he should have TO carry about with him the
bad odor Of Pierce and his Observation-Disclosures
tunate that the Cabinet organ at Washington, and
its faithful lackey, the Richmond Enquirer,
should persevere in their unavailing efforts to
get up the hue and cry Of abolitionism against
the Know Nothngs in Virginia, just as the old
fsherman's wife insisted upon sweeping the
ocean waves out of her cabin with the tide still
rising against her. But this is the last despe-
rate trick of the Cabinet spoiismen to create a
diversion against the new American party,
which seems to be carrying every thing before
it in the " Old Dominion y and it is therefore,
quite natural that the Pierce fugleman should
stick to it with the tepacity of despair.
From the spec imen which we have given our
readers Of the stump speeches of Mr.. Wise, it
appears that he has softened down his antipa-
thies to the Know Nothings from fierce hostili-
ty to facetious byplay. He knows all about
their signs, grips, pass words, triangular pieces
of paper, andso forth but he is not one of
them. He is unfortunately against them, and
if they intend to sink him, he is quite willing
to sink with W. Fl. Seward. The Cabinet organs
and agents at Washington, Richmond, New
York and Albany, on the other hand, preferring
that Wise and Seward should swim together, are
labcring with the zeal of martyrs in the common
cause. And so, while the Washington Union,
Richmond Enquirer, and the rump Of the
Richmond democratic sweat house, are urging
upon the Virginians the necessity of extirpat-
ing the Know NothiDgs as nest Of Stewards
emissaries--the instruments directing the
movements of Tammany Hall are, we have
good reasons to believe, actively CO operating
with the secret agents of Seward in behalf OF his
reelection. Manifestly the reelection Of Sew
ard will operate to the advantage of Wise, in
the same proportion that the defe at of Seward
will work in Virginia to the advantage of the
Know NOthings. 1t is evident then, that the
administration desire the reelection of Seward
as q stepping stone to the salvation Of Virginia.
The mock heroics of the Cabinet organs con-
corning the alleged anti.slavery instincts and
tendencies Of the Northern Know Nothings are
stand how it is that good democratic admins
tration Nebraska men should have been cruel
fed in the late Pennsy lvania, Ohio, Indiana, IL
| linois Michigan, Iowa and other elections,
or how the Know Nothings should
have combined with the free sellers
in the election Of anti-Nebraska free soil men
in such cases, unless the Know Nothings are
thoroughly seasoned with the leaven of abo-
ltionism. But this question is more simply
explained upon its true deinit ion. The Know
Nothings set out during the last summer to
take the field for the Presidency. Their first
duty was to clear the track of existing obstruc-
TONS The administration and its spoilsmen
occupied it, and Seward and his Northern anti
slavery league were preparing to enter upon
it. The first duty then, was to remove the
goods and chattels Of the administration and
their spoilsmen from the course; and the Know
Nothings, to this end used the implements at
hand. SO, then, if good Nebraska men were
! thrown out with the other materials of the Ca
binet coalition, it was because they were part
and parcel Of the imbecile and corrupt estab-
lishment at Washington, which it was neces-
| sary 10 set aside.