Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-10-18
Remarks of Governor Henry A. Wise.

Remarks Of Governor Henry A. Wise.
A Democratic meeting was held in Rich
nond on the Goth of September, 1856, am
was addressed in a most able manner b,
Robert G. Scott, Esq, and Gov Wise. 4
correspondent of the New York Herald fur
nishes that paper with sketch of the pro
seedings of the meeting The following il
his report of Gov Wise's remarks:
Governor Wise was then called for from
all parts of the ball For awhile he seemed
to disregard the calls, and had gotten nearly
as far as the door, on his way out; but the
calls for ''Wise, WISE" came still thunder
ing from every part Of the hall, and he al
length yielded. He took his position at g
remote point from the platform, rendering
it somewhat difficult for the reporter to heal
some remarks at the close of his sentences.
After the applause had subsidized, he said
Mr.. President, ifthis was an ordinary po-
litieal eanvass--if we were not standing up
on the very brink of the most terrible of
revolutions-if | was not standing in the
position that | am, charged with your trust,
bound by your obligations, clothed with
your power-not only responsible to my
God, to my country and to myself, but Off
cially bound by judicial OATH would
deligh sir, to address this assembly tonight,
The ordinary topics could calmly touch !;
the ordinary arguments, pro and con, as
parties have commended heretofore, | could
Heigli calmly and not distrust myself; but
| say to you. that as the chief magistrate of
thl: State, / do not feel that can anticipate
coming events, which cast their shadows
befc hem None of the old issues dis
tura Hif in times like these-about old and
stale differences on mere party positions
There is a weight at tins moment resting
upon Tie minds of sorious men, which is
oppressive. You have heard o. that past
time which has tried men soa Times
are coming, and are near upon 5hieb will
again try who are men, who are ,.iAels, and
who are traitors. Enthusiastic cheers. -
You, whose minds are occupied in the way
Of ordinary business may talk and feel as
usual about a Presidential election; you are
not called On as am, 10 think and feel about
nothing else but the business Of the State,
the safety of her people and you may not
see the dangers around us as | do, because
it is not so much your province as mine to
md what shall be done for the Common
Wealth. though that, as patriots, is your
concern as well as mine. But as for me,
every moment, every hour almost-eyery
hour because the small hours are taken from
sleep to think ssy every moment is oc-
eupied in rejecting what must the Governor
Of Virginia do in the coming contingency =
feel that it is no time to trife with, no
time to hesitate, and yet ne time to rashly
anticipate any thing, or to say lightly what
shah be done.
Do not misunderstood me sir. Dread
full as these responsibilities are, let no tnan
do me the injustice to suppose that an, at
moment like this skulking from this res
ponsibility. Enthusiastic eheers.) Do not
suppose that regret you have placed me
where / may be called upon in this border
STATE first to act. oumay have found
and would to God you had found-a stronger
man TO lean upon, but such as | am, physi-
cally, mentally and morally, thank God
that am where am, and that | am with
you, prepared for the worst. (Cheers.)
need your assistance, and every man needs
that OF his neighbor, but if the worst comes
to the worst and the thunder and the light
ming, and the Storm must rage [ say shall
meet itwithout fear. Enthusiastic cheers J
The terms are presented to us and we have
to choose these which are most favorable to
cur interests. Each party now in the field
! holds out certain terms and the question
with us is, which are we to acceptI l say
if there is a conservative party left in the
Countrywide only national, the only Union
loving party, whose flag waves and floats in
every State of the confedelacy-tbat party
is the great Democratic party. Cloud
| eheers.) On the one hand you have peace,
safety, prosperity, progress-on, on, as we
have been going for more than seventy
years. But on the other hand, if this
ground swell of fanaticism, not in the North
Scr there is evidence that we have fanat-
les among us--if the evils of all ihe isms
shall combine, and that which yesterday
was the last is no longer the worst; but we
have another present which is last and
worst If all The isns, | say, combined in
the speculative ism, which | denounce as
demonism, shall prevail against Democracy,
God knows the question fearfully arises,
what will we do? 70 decide this will not
depend upon one or two. This puts the ar
gumont OF the election in its proper light /;
aud whilst feel the gloom Of the RESPONSE
bic position il which { am placed, | may
console n, self, sin. aud do, that am but
an humble State executive odicet-that
wiz BE- bat ministerial. shall have to
obey o,le.- legislative orders, couyeution-
Al order have more masters dian ore
Your organized logisia'fe and judicial pow.
er may control me; but above all, that
which IS above Legislature judicial and tn.
ecutiye power@the constitutional p5ger o
the people may control me, lam giad tha
I have these great Instruments to doieud m,
against the weight and pressure Of thai res
possibility which is now so heavy, aud may
be so much greater in the future.
! About year ago, or little more, warn
ed you Of that black insdious, midnight or
der, which stalkcd this State with its darl
lantern aud which deceived many homes
minded inen IN; none of its leaders-I warn
cd you Of the fact that Know Nothingisn
would terminate in demonism TO distract The
South aud to fuse in the North. I am no
going 10 debate the question here Tonight
who is right or who is wrong. God forbic
that | should ever debate the question VIII,