Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-02-05
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENC

night, to hear Hon. Henry A. Wise After
those present were called to order, lin Liberty
Hall) Col. SHAY introduced to the audience
the bold and fearless Henry A. Wise of Ac.
comack."
Mr. WISE, taking the stand, said:
Fellow citiEens-I must crave your indul.
gence, for am weak in body have. in the
last 81 days, appeared before the public is
times, and have spoken from As to 80 hours.
My lungs are lacerated, and every muscle ia
, sore from this continued exertion therefore,
must throw myself On your kindness, and
request you to be silent that may speak at
ease.
, The last time I appeared before you, Alex
andria was q part Of the District, now she is
within the bounds of the Old Dominion; thank
God for that! Then the goose ate the green
grass in your streets; now your city has as
sumed the true business air that should belong
- the city where Washington traded, to the
|city nearest to tomb Of the Father of his coun-
try.
come before you now, not in my own
name but rs the nominee of the great Demo-
cratic party, for the highest Office in your gift
L come in the name of the Democracy Of
Virginia; come thrice endorsed by the De-
mocrscy, frst rs elector then as q representa-
tive In Congress, and now as their candidate
for the Office of Governor. If any Democrat
chooses not to vote for me because have not
invariably voted for the regular nominee, let
him stand on the ground that i have, let him
stand ON principle, and then il he cannot vote
for me, be will do the very act for which he
condemns me-he will decline TO vote for the
regular nominee of the party. IF any Wing
here will not vote for me, bee ause have not
In bis opinion, been consistent let him not 20
in the night to q secret political meeting, lest
he be guilty Of the chsrge he lays at my door,
ispplause, and much noise in the back ground |
Though / come from party, L don't come to
address party; come to the people of Vir-
ginis. Appliance
What are the considerations that should
govern the votes of the people Of Virginia for
Governor? There are six things TO be thought
of; the public credit, commerce, agriculture,
manufactures, mining, and public instruction.
= Mr. Wise now passed in rapid review the
state of the public credit of Virginia, and the
need that il should be placed on higher ground;
that its present condition was dishonor to the
State, and he promised that if elected Gov
ernor, he should recommend taxation heavy
enough to raise the credit Of the State to the
position il should occupy. 1t should be done,
and be would tax the people till they groaned
L TO do ii, if need be. He then spoke of the con
S>Sition Of the public works Of the State, but
MALT finished, and consequently Of but little
use comparatively, and said that il elected he
should use every ende to have hose wor ks of
be charge to the State, bat instead, profit;
and that as fast as one was finished he should
wish to commence another, and so on unit
all were completed before any more were COM
Wenced.
He then spoke Of the condition of agricul-
ture in the State, where the more land man
owned the poorer he was; where the landlord
skinned The tenant, and the tenant the land
where, insts sd Of owning fat cattle on thou
sand hills, they had to chase the stump tailed
steer through the bushes; where the Niger
held the plough, and his owner knew no moro
Of scientific farming than his slave. The
bowels OF the mountains are filled with IRON
copper, gypsum, coal, 10; there are enough
waterfalls IN Virginia to set 20 music the
power to clothe the world bat you haven t
dug coal enough TO warm yourselves nor
woven enough coarse cotton to clothe your
slaves; commerce has sailed away from you,
though you have harbors and rosds eads
enough 70 contain the navies of the world
You have relied entirely on the one power of
agriculture-and such agriculture. But you
have all these undeveioped resources still !;
and, if you will use them. you can surpass
New FORK as far as New York has heretofore
surpassed Virginia What :hen, is the duty
of the husbands Of the daughters Of virginia ?
You can vote against me-y0u can crush me :;
though humble man l am teo proud 10 beg
-y0a 10 vote for me (; but would kneel TO YOU,
humble as little child would beg you, on
my knees, with uplifted hands to vote for
those measures which will raise cur own State
from the dust, and give her the place she de-
serves in the Union. Give her commerce, and
abe will soon have mining, manufactures and
real agriculture. Then she will want but one
thing more.
He now spoke Of lie great want Of public
: instruction in the State. lie did not want an
A Z, doable-rule of-three, Pc.er-Pariee.
Yankee plan Of schools, but the Jefferson svs-
tem-that system that would cause an equality
between citizens. lie pronounced a beautiful
eulogy on Thomas Jefferson, saying a patriot
could kneei at his tombstone, (which styles
him the writer of the Declaration OF Ipdenen.
deDee, the founder Of the University of Vir.
ginis- and the Trainer Of the laws of religious
freedom in virginia. and politically worship
at that shrine. Virginia greatly needed a
better system Of instruction, and the State
motbe. should bear the ex pense Of educating
her children But especially she needed an
agricultural school, where planters could send
their ,Ons to learn ''cost and come to-" learn
asrie chemistry, and not political, but
DOMESTIC economy, so that they can take care
OF the plantations and slaves left them by their
fathers. III Am elected Governor, my earnest
- end-ayors shall centre toward raising our
public credit, our commerce, manufa lures.
mi ming, agriculture, and public works to tn o
plsse they should occupy. Are not these points
Of sufficient interest to cover all? But / see
yos. wish to hear my opinions of federal poll
ucs and you shall.
Federal politics have hurt Virginia more
tan all combined causes except brandy and
Cards She has given to the Union her Wash
inxt9n, her Jefferson, her Madison, and the
rest Of the GALAXY Of bright and particular
stars; but whero is, who is the great msn
whom Virginia has raised to care for herself?
tell you We have given too much attention
20 the Affairs Of the nation, and too little to
those of our own State. Richmond, instead OF
attending to her own affairs, attends to those
of Washington, where God knows there are
enough to attend to all that can possibly be
broaeked. Laughter
He now gave rapid view Of bis opinions on
national matters, approving the graduating
land Law Of 1857; giving his sanction to the
course Of jackson, Tyler and Pierce in inter
nal improvements; and thought the tariff
should recsive attention. Interstate rela-
tiops Of slavery he now spoke of. He had
passed through much discussion on this sub
1oct with the Z" old man eloquent" John q