Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-01-16
MONDAY, JANUARY is, 1858.

The discovery that Of the editors Of this paper
criticised tho course of Henry A. Wise in the lie
form Convention Of 1861, has provoked our nes"'''
of the Wing to very ludicrous exhibition :" h,,
prise and satisfaction. II our neighbor dlsl'".
little patience in adversely, il is not deh''e
other resource of the philosophic min" -"' Nv, leo
turn even trihcs into an occasion of i'''
tion. ;,, .,cl
The article over which the Vh'H i,!
extravapan delight was written u r.,
and under the circumstances van, -. ,ho
,o,,;n, u,otement: The wrlier' "'e" '"'''' W "
u,t ~. D.,,orrat was averse 10 some o' ''e IT,
.-.,,sod in the government Of the STATE and
.,,.t o.ncciay averse to the principle OF the 'h"'
Bo>i<. In no degree exempt from the passions and
.;,a;c,. of his section, and earnest i'll the sup
I,ort of pripsiplrs which he then thought csscn-
tinI to tho interests OF the Commonwealth, he
waged an Incorporating warfare against The
mon as well IA the measures of the Radical Party.
OF this party, Mr.. Wise was the leader par f1csr"c'
and against him. therefore the most severe assaults
in our paper were directed. The feelings and prin-
cipcs with which we entered that contest were not
the result of personal reflection and experience but
of education and association and do not hesitate
10 acknowledge that they have undergone considcra-
bic change in some respects entire reformation. Spec
ulations which We then regarded as absurd and
mischicvo,,s and measures which we contempa-
tod with unaffected apprehension, have been proved
by experiment TO be not only harmless IN prac-
,icc, but of uuQucstonnbc advantage to the IN
tercsts of the State. OF Mr. Wise We wrote rs most
men Of our feelings spoke in the excitement Of III"
struggle. With the same energy which he display
ed in support of his principles, We opposed both him
aud his measures of constitutional reform. In com.
mon with many other Eastern men, we criticised his
conduct with unmcri,cd severity, and imputed to him
motives and opinions which subsequent reflection
assures us were unjust aud unworthy Of his lofty
character We do NO, pretend to be above the Or
dnary impulses and passions Of human nature, nor
to exhibit an inaexible spirit of justice and modera
tion under all circumstances. In the excitement nt
bitter contest, when the passions were utinmcd and
each party resortcd 10 every eIpcdicn ~ warfare, an
impartial andrisiy correct appreciation of the charac
OF Mr.. Wise and Of the effect of his speeches, could
scarcely be expected Of an uncompromising nd
versary. But, if after tho return Of reason and
ber reflection, hesitate to repair the injustice and
injury inflicted in moment Of excitement, Justly
expose ourselves TO the imputation Of wtfu and ma
licous misrepresentation. We have long since made
voluntary acknowledgment Of the injustice Of our
s:rictures on Mr.. Wise in 1851; and must thank
the Wig for this opportunity Of repeating the ac-
Acknowledgement before tho public.
The West, it is said, owes a debt of gratitude to
Henry A. Wise, but his claim upon tho East IL Of
higher character and more imperative obligation We
have ilnpearhed his motives and criticised his conduct
with unjust severity, and it becomes US honorable
men TO repair the Injury. In the evaporation Of
angry contest, we imputed his support Of the IihHc
Hosis 10 II calculation Of ambition, but we know now
tha, his conduct directed by the highest motives
of PATRIOTISM He rot only elected 10 the consti
tu,ional Convention BY an Eastern constituency. rs
a champion Of the Western principle OF representa-
ton but it is beyond dispute that he advocate
of the White Basis in the first year Of his public life.
This single act elevate. his conduct above the suspi-
con of selfish interest and demonstrates the injustice
of our assaults upon his character When we consi-
der with what zeal and effect Mr. Wise advocated the
principle of ad ralorcn1 taxation, and how earnestly
he contendcd for tho constitutional guarantees of
slave property we of the East should go farther and
acknowledge an obligation Of gratitude for services
of which the value and effect will be more sisnally
illustrated in tho lapse Of successive years.