Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-01-24


in his first speech he took ground against
the removal of the deposits, criticising the
measure as usurpation of power, and
Is involving'much loss to public credit
and private interests, butin no way im-
pugning the character of General Jacksonl
or Of his administration.
Among the measures, Of public policy
whichswere agitated during the admins
tration of General Jackson, there was one
which deserves especially consideration,
in review Of the political course Of Mr..
Wise for it serves 10 illustrate the con-
stancy Ct his devotion 20 The principles Of
States-rights Democracy. The famous
act Of deposit, which was nothing
less than Disputes Of distribution, was
passed in 1887, aud was approved by
President J acksOn, though with reluctance
and with regret, which he was afterwards
often heard to express. In the House OF
Representatives there were bus fo'$y-four
votes againet the 1neasUre-many Demo
srats supporting and only one Of the OPP
position resisting il. That one WAs-Hen-
~ A. Wise. He Denounced the scheme
81 one time a. . violation of principle,
and no separated from his party rather
than countenanes it. The Democracy Of
Virginia have approved his course, aud,
70 this day she refuses to receive her
share OF the tgsnty-eight millions. Here is
an incident OF fidelity to principle which
deserves commOmeratiOn. Many Demo
Gratis were seduced intO The seaport Of the
schenne, and have been forgotten; surely
Hr. Wise deserves applause for adhering
to his faith against the influence Of party
and the strength Of the public sentiment
that day. ..... a..
In the last year Of General Jackson
administration. the question Of the sue
session was the issue before the cOuntry,
and Mr.. Wise nrrayed himself asSinOt the
administration in its support OF the for-
tunes of Martin Van Buren,. In his let
ter of 1859 he said, with many OF she
truest Democrats OF the South, on the
question OF Staterights, slavery, and the
annexation of Texas, l threw myself, with
ell earnestnsss and honesty, in opposition
both to the election and administration Of
of Mr.. Van Buren,. The old jackson re-
Eiment who had wheeled out Of line could
not amalgama!e With the Federal party.
In 1889 we nominated for our ticket
Cato Of his times in the Senate, Jeffer-
aonian and Jackson republican. and John
Tyler Of Virginia, who was born and bred
. Democrat, and who has never WaVered
Of his mother State"
In 1910 Mr.. Wise supported Harrison
and Tyler. but on M5 platform Of tie
Virginia address.
Il is needless to describe the campaign
OF 1910. II resulted 10 q total and al
most hopeless defeat of tho democracy
The Wings in Virginia, up to the time Of
the election, had proclaimed q complete
Democratic Republican creed. The ad-
dress of the Richmond Convention was
Anti-bank, anti-protective Tariff, antrim
ternal improvement, Anti-disIribution, an
ti-proscription, and pro-slsYery! 1t boas-
ted of better Democracy than Democrats
claimed for itself.
But hardly had the Wings been elected.
and months before they were elected into
power. they began stringent organiza-
ton 10 restore the old Federal aud Nation
a Republican principles aud practices.-
When Congress met in December, 1870,
Mr.. Clay openly rejoiced that ''the party"
would emo longer be embarrassed by
Virginia's peculiar opinions Caucuses
where held and the fidelity Of Democrat
ic Republicans WAS put to every Test of
temptation and torment. Mr.. Wise fought
the Corwins OF Ohio, the EVAnses Of Maine
the Smiths of Connecticut, the Davises OF
Kentucky, the Bells Of Tennessee, the
Bottses Of Virginia, the StAnIeys Of North
Carolina, in caucus, until he saw it was
in vain. He was left almost alone, but
FIVE sided with him-Csleb Gushing Of
Massachusetts,. Irwin Of Pennsylvania,
Profit of Iudiana.g Francis Mallory and
Thomas w. Gilmer Of Virgins. Even
the ohivalry Of South Carolina, States
rights, William G. Preston aud Waddy
Thompson, deserted the Republican por-
ton of the Wing party, and went over to
the National and Federal wing. In 1886
the Republicans were about one third oil
the party now that honors and spoils
we're to be divided, they all merged in the
majority, except Si1. That number sig"
won the soubri9ust Of the Corporals
Guard !" They were derided as Captain
Wise's band Of Strict ConstruclionisLs, and
State rights were scoffed and secuted
The caucus went seriously to work TO ap-
point Cabinet officers, parcel out places, |
and to fix policy to be pursued by Gen
eral Harrison. A called session WAS de-
termined on. Its objects were Io-lst.
Pass a United States Bank. Cd. 10 dis
tribute the proceeds of the public lands,
though there WAS deficiency of forty
millions in the Treasury. Sd. To revise
the Tariff Compromise scts of 1928,
and to raise the duties. 4th. 10 enlarge
the appropriations to hArbor and rivers,
and all works of internal improvements.
AS soon as Mr.. Wise definitely saw the
designs of the Wings, he left their eau
Gus, and made the famoWs speech on the
Treasury Note Bills, in the House of Rep
sentatiYes, on the 9Th, 2Gth and e9lh of
January, 184l.
That speech, delivered as it was. under