The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-09

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of Virginia, has just laid a new bronze statue
of Washington on its pedestal at the Virginia
Military Institute, with a handsome speech
1t is only day or two since we chronicled
similar ceremony here, and we must say
that so far as the speeches are concerned, the
parson makes a poor show beside the politician.
With all his occasional violence and hot headed
toolshness, Governor Wise is eloquent; he can
made as good speech as most men, and better
than many who tyrannize the press The life Of
Washington is well enough known, and not a few
Of the quotations he makes are tolerably hack
neyed; but the incidental sketch of Virginia socie-
ty is good, and the narrative Of Houdon's statue
and the bronze cast from it is interesting and ex
cellent in its way.
1t was, indeed, a grand old society, that Of
Virginia in the olden time, which Governor Wise
SO loves to celebrate; with grand old characters
stalking through it, and belttling their descend
ants by the contrast; and grand manners upon
whose decay it is painful to reflect; and grand
patriarchal simplicity in the mode Of living and
the style Of thought. Virginia was, indeed, in
those days a breeder Of heroes. Such q breed of
men as Washington, jefferson, Madison, Henry,
Randolph, and their compeers has hardly lived
at any other time or in any other country
men Of large minds, with enough theory and
enough chivalry to embrace what appeared good
in matter Of novelties, and yet enough
discretion and caution to avoid being
beyond the domain Of practical realities; brave
souls who never knew what it was to skulk, or to
msrepresent, or to conceal, and who were as for
ward to admit error as to vindicate truth; iron
men who left their stamp on the character Of
American institutions full as deeply-though
their influence was so short ived-as that of her
generation Of remarkable men who inherited re-
publican liberty from their forefathers and be-
queathed it to us. Well may Governor Wise love
to dwell on their memory; for alas in the State
whose chief magistrate he Il, and for whose honor
and glory he il 30 solcious, there is no trace Of
any such now.
Virginia breeds no more heroes. The race Of
great men who secured to her the control Of the
federal government for SO many years over the
heads Of the Franklins and the Jays and the
Adams Of her sister States, is now wholly extinct.
NDaleNtr mas uOuc H-NuciutI Tue luug pOS-ce-
sion Of power has enfeebled them, or the decline
OF agriculture in the State has led to decline in
the character Of the agriculturists--it Is now
quite certain that Virginia exceIs in nothing but
her small politicians and her negroes. On these
points Of excellence, Mr.. Wise touched happily in
his last speech, showing their remarkable connec-
ton with each other, as exemplfed In the rise in
the market value Of niggcrs which viii follow
Mr.. Buchanan's elevation 10 the Presidency and
no doubt 1t Is matter on which the Governor Is
competent and well informed witness. He
knows the niger market, and is undoubtedly
well qualified to say what win initiate or what
depress it. We cannot, unfortunately, share bis
emotions, as the commodity is not dealt in here
abouts; and therefore perhaps We are unable to
participate In the glee-we had almost said the
exultation--with which he unconsciously admits
that the State Of which he Is 80 proud-virginia
which was formerly famous as breeder Of he
roes, is now chiefly known to the world as a
breeder Of niggers