Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-03-18
letter fom Hon. A. II III Stuart In reply to
Henry Wise.
SrAuNroN, March 18th ls'

SrAuNroN, March 18th 1856.
TO tAe Editors Of The Richmond Uhig.
Gf%TLEMES.-l have seen in your paper of the
10Th instant, letter from II. A. Wise. in regard
10 certain remarks made by me in the National
Convention OF the American Party ut Phiudel-
phia which seems 10 demand some notice from
me. | therefore usk brief space in your columns
to make the proper explanation. And as my re-
marks on the occasion referred TO were made
amidst much noise and confusion and enthusiasm
created by the auspcion result of our labors in
the nomination of Mr. Fillmore, and were conso-
quenly imperieo,ly heard and misreported
hope will be pnrdonod for giving the substance
Of what did say.
After the nomination of Mr. Fillmore had been
officially announced TO the Convention, there
were loud calls for Mr. Erastus Brooks of New
York, rs one of the immediate representatives
of Mr.. Fillmore, Mr. Brooks promptly respon-
ded. in appropriate terms To the call similar
call was then made upon me, to which replied
by making my acknowledgements aud saying that
was aware that was indebted for the compl.
ment to the intimate personal and political rela
tons which hid existed between Mr.. Fillmore and
myself, of his confidential friends and
constitutional advisers. | stated, howeyer, that !
did not come forward to pronounce any formal
oulogy on that distinguished man, His conduct
and character stood before the country in bold
relief. and must speak for themselves But l.
upon another occasion in regard to him. | had
known him intimately, and had seen him in the
midst Of many nnd severe trial but that | had
never known him to do act, which, in my
judgement would have been unworthy of the cha.
raoter of Washington.
then stated that ms we had placed him before
the country as a candidate, "a heavy responsible
ty rested upon us to labour for his success. We
must dismiss all feelings of dependency, and go
to work like men who had great and patriotic
object to achieve. We must be daunted by no
difficulties but determine to surmount them. |
then adverted to the struggle of our fathers in the
revolution, and pointed to Washingtonth great
leader of the American party of that day. In the
darkest hour of that evenful period ct our histo
ry, when disaster preceded disaster, and defeat
followed defeat, rapidly as to appal the stoutost
hearts, no feeling of despair found place in the
great soul of Washington. 1t was under these
circumstances that he penned the celebrated let
ter in which he said give me but II flag and the
| means of planting it on the mountains of West
! Augusta and will yet rally around me the men
| who will raise up our bleeding country from the
| dust aud set her free"
I | told the Convention that came from that dis
| triot Of West Augusta, and that we intended to
plant the American flag on her mountains, and raj
ly round it the of those who had been the last
| hope of the great Washington stated that
believed we had it in power to rally the Old
in the ensuing election; and to show that this was
no idle vaunt, would give few of the reasons
| on which my opn n was founded. In the first
place, Mr.. Fillmore had strong hold on the af.
fectons and confidence of the people of Virginia;
| that his administration had commended itself To
the favorable regard of all parties and had extor
! ted eulogiums even from his political opponen Is
In this connection remarked that in the canvass
of 1852, Mr.. Wise had pronounced the admstru
ton of Mr.. Fillmore to be "Washington- like ~
| added that it unquestionable that the ele-
ments of opposition to Democratic misrule were
strong enough in Virginia to effect its overthrow,
if they could be consolidated that, in the last G u
bernaorial canyass,the American party had cast
| near $4,000 votes, which was in round numbers
about 5000 more than Gen. Pierce had received
in 1882 that,according TO the best estimates had
| heard made,there were not less than II 200 Whip
votes. which had not been cast at all, or had been
cast for the Democratic candidates. Now If these
voters could be brought to the support of Mr. Fill
more, las | believed they oould) we should have
an aggregate of 10000 votes, which was major
ity of the whole number Of voters in the State. -
/ then stated that Mr.. Wise. in his speech in
| Washington, was reported TO have acknowledged
that he was indebted to Wing votes for his cleo
ton as Governor of Virginia. and presumed that
no well informed man could doubt that such wa
the fact.
then proceeded to state various reasons f,.
surprising that the Wings would unite with tba
, Americae party. Among them was the fac,
that the Wing press would generally give n cor.
dial support to the ticket. mentioned that tho
Editors of the Richmond Wing had assured me
: that II Mr.. Fillmore were the nominee they would
run up his flag to their mast head and ia bel
for him with as much alacrity as thew had awau
4 done for Henry Clay. added that there was an
other paper which exercised powerful inan
Is ence over the public. sentiment of Virginia. :.
0 paper which among the sound conservative