Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-08-05
GOVERNOR WISE's GRAFTON.

The following paragraph, complimentary to Cover
nor Wise, We clip from one Of our Northern ex
changes. 1t shows the high appreciation entertained
in other States for his eminent talents aud moral worth
independent Of political considerations. Our space
being limited we extract only portion Of the sr
cle
"The Grafton Of Governor Wise delivered at Lex
ingon, Virginia, on the ish Of July, 1885, at the Ger
mony Of placing its pedestal copy in solid bronze
of Houdon's marble statue Of George Washington
Was OF those mastery productions for which tn.
gifted orator is famous. Few men in this any
other country possess the faculty of concentrating SO
many masculine thoughts in single Grafton as Henry
a. Wise. Apparently without any effort or prepara
tion his solid, aud at the same time brilliant intellect
transmits to his auditory ideas both profound and
beautiful EIoqueuce dwells upon his lips, and revels
there IN undsturbed possession But II Is not alone
III this adornment that lie has earned the title u great
In LrHe fctre accomplishments he stands almost with
out rival while deeply schooled in the practice of
statesrnanship Who can forget the thrilling apos-
trophies which flashed from his lips during his canvas,
Tor Governor against the kuow-Sothing organza-
ton Searching nvecve and whitening satire scared
the very soul of the Secret Order and let it blasted
and forsaken body To Henry A. Wise we are in.
debted for staying the march of the monster through
the South, as il had stalked through The North His
burning elnquence and devoted patriotism aroused
tfe chivaric sons of Virginia TO q keen sense of
they beat back the fend that would have severed thr
Union All honor to the hero, patriot, scholar and
statesman, Henry A. Wise, Of Virginia.
In all the speeches and orations Of Virginas gifted
son, there is always something both TO instruct and
please the mind OF the reader. Often quaint and al.
ways beautiful he clothes his ideas in language that
is to attract, by its force and propriey No one
is like him in this country. Confident in the power
Of his own intellect, he scorns the beaten track Of
literature, and makes a pathway for himself The
stubbornness OF his virtue, and his known high sense
Of honor, to give interest to all he says and
does, while the glowing fervor of his patriotism kim
dies sympathetic fire in the bosom Of all who listen
to his eloquenoe
We do not wish to fall into language Of panegyric
because Il fame solid and well deserved as his can
need no eItrnsic assistance to make it lasting. Our
only desire TO call the attention Of our readers 10
the noble orston delivered by Gov. Wise, on the re-
cent anniversary Of our independence. His theme
was the character of Washington. How dear the
subject to every American heart, and with what con-
sumnate ability WIS it handled. Well might he ex-
claim III the opening of his gddress:-"We come not
either TO bury or TO praise CGSar-we come not like
Romans 10 solemnze the apOtheosis Of all Emperor.
or the canonization of Saint; but rs ChristIans-as
citizens of the United States-as more than citzens
children Of the family of the State where he wa
born, and is buried-ss SONS and daughters OF the
Liberty his valor and wisdom won-to bow reverent.
ly before the Virtue which haows and embaluis tn,
memory Of our country's Father"