Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-03-19
STANTON, March III, 1856.
To the Editors of the Rich,noud Whig.

which seems to demand some notice from me.
therefore ask brief space in your columns to make
the pruper explanation. Ana as my remarks On
the occasion referred to were made amidst mucl
noise and confusion and enthusiasm, created by
the suspicious result of our labors in the nomination
of Mr.. Fillmore, and were consequently lnp,rlectly
heard, and unsupported, | hope shall be pardoned
tor giving the substance of what did say.
Alter the nomination of Mr.. Fillmore had been
officially announced to the Convention, there were
loud calls for Mr. Erastus Brooks of n. Y, as one
of the immediate representatives of MIR. Fillmore
Mr.. Brooks promptly responded, in appropriate
terms, to the call. A similar call was then made
upon Inc, to which replied by making my ac-
acknowledgements, and saying, that was aware
that was indebted for the compliment to the
intimate personal and political relations which had
existed between Mr.. Fillmore and myself, as one
Of his confidential friends and constitutional advl-
sers. stated, however, that did not come tor
ward to pronounce any formal eulogy on that
dis,ng uished man. His conduct and character
stood before the country in bod relief, and must
speak for themselves. But | could not Orbear
repeating what | had said upon another occa-
sion in regard TO him. had known him intimate
| ly, and had seen him in the midst Of many and
severe trials, but that had never known him 10
utter sentiment, or known him TO do an sct,
which, IN my judgment, would have been unwor
thy Of the character Of Washington.
| | then stated that as we had placed him before
the country as our candidate, heavy responsibility
rested upon US TO labor for his success. We must
dismiss all feelings of dependency, and 60 10 work
like men who had great and patriotic OBJECT 10
achieve. We must be daunled by no difficulties;
but determine to surinounl them. then adverted
| Ihorct thor nluttI and
pointed to Washington the great leader Of The
American party of that day. 10 the darkest hour
OF that eveniful period OF our history when disaster
succeeded disaster, and defeat followed defeat SO
rapidly as to appa the stoutest hearts, no feeling
OF despair found place in the great soul Of Wash
ington. 1t was under these circumstances that he
penned the celebrated letter in which he said 'give
me but 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 and set her Free"
told the Convention that came from that
district of West Augusta, and that We intended
to plant the American flag ON her mountains. and
rally round it the sons OF those who had been the
last hope of the great Washington. stated that
believed we had ii in our power to rally the Old
Dominion 10 the support OF the American ticket IN
the ensuing election and to show that this was no
idle vaunt, would give few of the reasons on
which my opinion was founded. the flrst place,
MIR. Fillmore had strong hold on the affections
and confidence OF the people of Virginia; that his
administration had commended itself to the iayora
bic regard of all parties, and had eXtorted euogi
ums even from his political opponents Ia this
connection remarked that in the canvass Of 1852
Mr. Wise had pronounced the administration of
Mr.. Fillmore to be Washington like" added
that it was unqueStionable that the elements Of
opposition to Democratic msrule were strong
enough in Virginia to effect lis overthrow, il they
could be consolidated that, in the last Gubernaio
rial canvass, The American party had cast neal
$4,000 votes, which was in round numbers about
5000 more than Gen. Pierce had received in 1852:
that, according TO the best estimates had heard
made, there were not less than 1000 Wing |
votes which had not been cast at all, or had been
cast for the Democratic candidates. Now, il these
voters could be brought to the support of MIR. |
Fillmore, Gas believed they could.) we should |
have an aggregate OF 10000 votes, which was
majority OF the whole number of voters in the Stale
| then stated that Mr. Wise, in his speech in
Washington, was reported to have acknowledged
that he was indebted 10 Wing votes for his election
as Governor of Virginia. and presumed that no
we'll informed man could doubt that such the
fact.
then proceeded to state various reasons for
su pposing that the Wings would unite with the
American party. Among them, was the fact
that the Viii, press would generally give cor
dial support to the ticket. | mentioned that the
Editors of the Richmond Wing had assured me
that if Mr.. Fillmore were the nominee they
would run up his flag to their mast head and do
battle for him with as much alacnty as they had
ever done for Henry Clay. added that there
was another paper which exercised a powerful
over the public sentiment OF Virginia.
paper which, among the sound, conservative.
Union loving portion o! our people, held place
second only 10 their binies and their prayer buks
the National Intelligencer-and that. frop an
interview had had with one of the Editors of
that journal, had reason to believe than it would
give 10 Mr.. Fillmore cordial support. With
aids like these. aud regarding 1t az alike nalura
and proper that the old line Wings should unite
to break down the Democratic party whose
tyranny and misrule and corruption had heen me
theme of their eloquent denunciasiuns for more
than twenty years. coud not doubt that there
would be a cordial and lraternal uni1n Of The
Wings and Americans, and that Virginia would
be redeemed.
This is the substance of my remarks in the
Convention, as far as cen recall them. lspoke
unexp ctedly and without a moment to collect my
thoughts, much less to weigh my language.
cannot, therefore, pretend to verbal accuracy in
my report, but ain sure that 1t is substantially
correct.
Now if have fallen into any error in regard to
the remarks attributed to Mr.. Wise, regret it,
certainly had no purpose to do him Injustice
did not profess to have any personal knowledge
on the subject. | spoke of his declaration that
MIR. Fillmore's administration was "Washngton-
like" from the common report of the country,
which did not for moment doubt to be true
Nor did mention it in any tauniing sprit-on
the contrary referred to il as generous tribute
from political opponent which | regarded as
alike honorable to him who bestowed and to him
who received it. had heard it frequently spoken
of in conversation and if mistake not had seen it
reported in the public prints. The remark was
said to have been made by Mr.. Wise in 1852, in |
Winchester, and probably in other counties in the
lower end of the Valley.
With regard to the other remark attributed to !
me, viz: that Mr. Wise had said he had received |
II 900 whig votes, it will be seen from the syn
opsis of my speech, that did not make it. and
therefore need say nothing more on the sub
ject.
To show how natural it was for me to give
credit to the report that Mr.. Wise had commend !,
ed Mr.. Fillmore's administration as "Washing-
ton like" | will insert few extracts from an
editorial notice by the SauntoH Spectator, of 22nd
Sept, 1852, of speech made by Mr.. Wise in
that place few days before. read that notice
shortly after it appeared, and recollecting The
impression it made upon me al the time, have
taken the pains to refer to it.
The extracts from the Spectator. which were
published last week, are here given.
Mr.. Wise is correct in surprising that did not
hear him on the stump in 1852, for was at that
time engaged 10 the performance ofmy official
duties at Washington city. But if the notice Of
his speech in Slannton by the Spectator in the
extracts above noted, be correct. his eulopy on