Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-02-27
HENRY A. WISE.
4 correspondent Of the Dubuque Iowa s!ero'd
Of Mr. Wise's speech in Alexandria.
WAsai:nro1. u. c., Feb. 4th, l555.

WAsIiTGro1, u. g., Feb ith, lS5j.
! Messrs. EGor-:--i heurd Wisa-IIenry A. Wise.
Last tight about : O'clock p VI. took the Geo.
! Washington" tor Alcxandr!a-tound her crowded.
| cabin, guard deck, and iorrcasiie, with persons
bound OH the errand. The canvass, the man,
Abolitionisni, Democracy, know.Nothingisn and
'Old Virginia wcro cilsscd and discussed on board
in all sorts Of ways by at sorts OF plemildy and
| mady-but Wise and Democracy were r the ascen-
daut- Nothingism and Aholition!sm were at a
heavy discount. and sold Virginia" the most
! glorious old Commonwealth in the world. Saw one
excited Wise man. bet SlOU to 80 that Wise would
triumph. Got tn the ancient citvthe base Of "KnOw-
Nothing" operations for The South, and their South
ern strong hold, about d o'clock. Took supper N
City Hotel'-gooi supper at that. Started with
my company for Liberty Hail. fine antique looking
building blazing with gas light. Doors OF Lecture
Room. third story, not opcn--flve hundtcd people
in the street, and tho stairway iamlncd with
ono dense mass Of men, from foot 10 las: step,
holding on to railing, to coat tails 10 nny thing TINT
afforded u hold GrGnt noise, ha!lciinC, shouting,
| laughing, cursng, jostling, shifting, smoking Put
my foot on the lower step, the 55Oh mail--grabbed
coat tail, and WAS towcd up ut the rate OF step mi
nutcgot into the Hall about halt-past six O'Clock
hat threeccrDerc coat minus buttons pocket full Of
amber, toes sore, and brcad-beSkct considerably
squaslled-jumpcd over the benches, crawled over
! two men, who inquired whnt tho hc--l wnS hbout,
rot good seat the sGg. and stood up in II, 10
what was going Found the Hall nearly FULL
the door still dinGorging into it, and general serum
BILE for seals. When the Hall packed stairs still
full and COCO in the street Monsrous fuss on the
stairs-crus oi 'gc ahead "-couldu't go ahead and
could mt 20 down. Shouting in the street, crash went
Il bench, every body jumped up, and finding it was
not the floor sat down again. Man put pitcher Of
water on the stand md turned n chair around-great
applause which continued for ten minu.es Cries of
"tfrrc he is-hat's Wisr"-amd tho orator walked
on the stage with his frends. tremendous cheering,
renewed tinc and agnin ttrave looking gentleman
steps forward and gnys "Fcllowcitizens, introduce
TO YOU the Hon. Henry a. Wise, the nominee of the
Democratic party for Governor Of the State--the
able and fearless champion of Democratic principles
und Of the rights and honor of Virginia"
Thunder is n weak word 10 express the wild roar
that went up from 2DO0 throns, 1000 heeed boots,
1910 hands with my number Of Mount Vernon and
Monticello canes uu:.i the vaultcd roof echoed, the
windows shook and the gas flames iiared az i'll
II storm The MAS stepped {" The front %. the stage.
Hush aud silence, unbrok'n and almost oppressive,
succeeded. He began by nliusI"n To ms iatgucs
and i'll health and an appeal To the courtesy and Tor
bearance al Virginians. Next hr alluded To his for
mer adirrs. them, fourteen years ago, wien they
run in the District Srate'-now they were in the
"O!I Dominion" Then the goose piucked the grass
in their streets, their wharTca were silent and
yer. RAPIDLY hurrving 10 decay. Now the rat
tie and hustle of trade shonk their pavcments, aud
the forest ot rpsts III their harbor eloquent
symbol OF what that remuneration to the Mother State
had done for them. He alluded to the historical
citation nf the city, spoke nf her nrghbnrhood to the
tomb Of Washington, of her seat next 10 the Capitol
of the Union, Of her prospecfS in the future, OF The
hope Of Virginia in her, and the efforts for her. This
exordum, delivered III his matchess style, and with
exhibition OF real feeling brought down the house,
time and again, and won for him the attention of the
immense and crowded audience. | cannot undertake
to follow him through his speech. | would soon
hope to follow the lightning that leaPa down from
heaven 10 burn upon the mountain summit the bird
of Jove as hr to the In the glorious image
nv, the sublime thought and the gorgeous yet grace
iu elocution he resemblrd that emblem bird. In the
withrring scorn, the scahng sarcasm, the frceness
of HE denuncation he like that leapIng thunder
bolt.
For three hours did this remarkable lnan, by the
power Of his matcless eloqucnce sway the feelings "t
that immense throng az the waves are swnyed by the
storm. At times all eyes moist-again ian-hter
ang throughout the hall-thcn TIE teeth were clehch
ed and heavy breathing told of mut:ered curses upon
whoever or whatever be hurled his anathtns''
shall rnYar forget IL long live. woudi eA-
change the memory and the varied emotion. oi tnoSe
three hours for those Of any year "i my Po'ca MS
tory. g., .,
In one part OF hs speech ION The land system) he
ennla of IN, men of the west ard western men,
never were more ,ruthfulIy feciingy and thrlingly
nmnIman,ed II went through the crowd like an
erirc shockand cheer on cheer for the gallant west
hooi rho hall The crowd outside, As in sympathy,
took mp the sfoai. ana roar "i voices came
I'D from the street.
M Wise is about IS or 81 years Of age, spare
buil,. feet II inches high-light auburn hsir--eagle
grey acquiEe nose, and large expressive mouth,
with thin, firm looking ips. llis voice is not strong,
hut he has fine command over it, we'll as his iea
lures, aud his Kissing whisper OF scorn seemed to cool
itself in every while his tones pleasant in
reasoning, and deep and impressive in his flights Of
fancy. His forehead is not high, broad pale
but nevertheless it il Enthusiastically intellectual He
evidently not in good plight, and may not have
looked TO me he does in health. Mason Hunter,
Dodge Joras, Hem. Richardson, and numerous 9th
or Senator's and members were present. Thousands
afn
- o'clock found us all at home Were not this letter
too long now, would give you sone funny incidents
of the return trip. PAPOOSE.
[Mr, Wisa Is in bis 49th year.-Enquner.l