Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-04-30
Gov. Wise ON the Presidency.


Governor Wise has been comparatively quiet
That great effort appears TO have exhausted his
strength, and he has taken time to recuperate.-
For at least three weeks he has written nothing
for the newspapers, and painful apprehensions
would be felt in regard to his condition, but for
the fact that he was able to appear at a Demo-
cratic meeting in Richmond week before last and
deliver short speech.
But the Governors anxious friends and the
public generally have been gratifed by the re-
cent publication of a letter written by him on
the 9th of March, and addressed to the Cores
ponding Secretary of the "General Buchanan
Committee of the State of New York" In this
episte he gives his views on the Presidential
himself.-He has had no part in the presentation
OF his name for the Office of President, and viii
have none further than to grant the use of it TO
his friends SO far, so good--no aspirant, it is
presumed, ever does more.
Next Mr. Buehanans position is considered.
At the last National Convention the Governor
was the avowed friend of that gentleman's NOM
ination, and would have so declared now, had
he not expressly understood that he would not
be a candidate" He does not mean that he is
not now friendly to him, but that he is not COM
mitted to him or to any other man. Surely II
the Governor only wanted to learn that MIR.
Buchanan would be a candidate before the Con-
vention, he has had ample time and opportunity
a. e,1 - or+ and IL, f,;lura to daclara for him
must be accounted for in some other way. 'Vir-
gnia," proceeds the Governor, soffers no candi-
date On the first balloting she will vote for
Buchanan, and if his name fails she twill expect
Pennsylvania to go along with her for her pre-
ference" "She would doubtless, looking to
men alone, prefer one of her own sons-for ex-
ample. Mr.. Hunter of the Senate, or some 9TH
er; but the proposal of the name OF one OF her
sons she would defer to her sister States, and to
none more especially than to PENNSYLVANIA
Who the ,'some other" alluded to is, can easily be
guessed, Hunter and Wise being the only Vir-
ginians spoken of in connection with the Presi-
dency. This then is doubtless the other way for
explaining the Governors non-committalism In
reference TO Mr.. Buchanan There is "some
other person in whom he now feels deeper
interest, and whose nomination he considers not
impossible. To secure the desired end, Penn
sylvania is blarneyed-shc ''has always stood by
virginia"-and when she is disappointed in get
ting her first choice, what so natural, and proper
and sisterly as for her TO come to the support OF
the Virginia candidate And who so likely to
be proposed by her as the 'some other" than
Mr. Hunter, who defers so respectfully to her
chOicel
Some weeks ago Mr.. Wise seemed disposed to
set himself up as a critic of good taste and pro-
priety, having pronounced the commentator OF
Mr.. Fillmore's Administration by member of
his Cabinet, indicate. What will now be
thought of his poorly disguised electoneering for
the Presidency
The rumor from Washington is, that the Gov
errors letter has caused sensation in political
circles. A Washington letter writer says The
Virginia politicians, in the main, regard the pub
lished letter of Mr. Wise, by the Herald, as an
impairment interrneddling in a matter in which
he has no more right to speak for Virginia than
the humblest member of that Commonwealth!
Whilst he has a majority who agree with him in
favor of Mr. Buchanan, there are others who
place an unfavorable construction upon what he
says of the Virginians not wishing candidate
for the Presidency. This the Hunter men con-
strue as directed in malice against this gentle
man, who has for some time been considered by
the Wise party as standing in the way of the
latter. II am permitted to look a little way a.
head, think can perceive something of inter-
est, as growing out Of this Wise publication"