Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-11-25
NORTH-CAROLINA. WED NESDAY. NOVEMBER 25, 1857
Letter from Gov. Wise.

The Richmond Enquirer of Tuesday contains
long letter from Gov. Wise, in reply to questions
propounded to him by that paper, defining his posi-
ton IN relation to the national Democracy, Sem
ator Hunter, the Kansas question, &c. We re-
gret that we cannot make for the entire letter.
but we give the substance of it. .-
Gov. Wise sets out by reviewing the circumstan-
ces which preceded and characterized the nomina-
ton of Mr. Buchanan-gives his opinion as to the
nature of the contest and the great issue in 1856
and in this connection says
Pennsylvania decided that issue; but for time
1t was extremely doubtful. And in the midst of
that doubt there was heard low muttering in the
South Of a su6dued, but sulten discontent among
some teac Of those sehO poted for W Buchandns
election The feeling, grunnbled rather than Openly
expressed by them, was Of hope that the Black
Flag might be raised over us, rouse the Southern
people to revolution which would throw off the
bonds of the Union. 1t is we'll known and proudly
admitted that had that flag been hoiScd over the
capitol OF the United States, under the open pro-
CARNATIONS of the election l for one would have
waited for other overt act Of aggression or on.
preston; but was therefore, the more anxious to
secure a Democratic triumph to prevent revolution
and to preserve the Union. This separated me from
the extremists South.
doubt whether they would all have followed me
to the lengths would have gone had cause for rev.
olutiOn been given but whilst was for wardng off
extreme issues by clecting conservative Democrat
who could unite all patriots and save the Union.
they small and very exclusive CLIQUE were for dr.
wing us upon revolution reluctantly supported the
Democratic nominee, and heart were disappointed
at the Democratic triumph which saved us rom all
last extremiteS. The horse and the rider of black
Repub'lcanlSm were overthrown, but in the general
rejoicing there shout from the hearts of the
Erctusire Extremists. They, however honest were
sad, and their countenanceS dark and dismal in
the midst of general congratulations and smiles that
the national Democracy had saved our country once
more from extreme peril
The Governor then traces this feeling of discon-
tent, expressing the opinion that it has been the
cause of much of the opposition to Gov Walker,
and that the great object of the "extremists" is to
destroy the national Democratic party and then the
Union. He says:
Oppostion, openly developed as carly as April last
in the South, aSsas If this be stricken down
what have We to rely to ally with in the North?
And, yet it Was to strike at this-it to follow
up, not to begin the blows, that the moment a Gov
ernor sent to Kansas and he moved in his Of.
fce has speeches were seized as pretext TO as
sail the Northern Democracy and the adminstra-
ton and It's friends. Destroy confidence in these,
and then the riot of ruin would begin. 1t then
that conservative Democrats began TO a>k:-E this
opposition not ?-.f this be schat is called the
backing et triends uhdt is the oppoxi:ion ~ totx
IL this opfosition dangerous nots Whose is it
Who re.ponsibe for It.? Hho backs it,
Whence does IL come ?-to sehat tend ? 1t was TO
time to stop and daily with the MINOR matter of Mr.
Walkers stump speeches-delivered with what mo-
tive, 20 what end-prO or con Savery-with good
or bad design, no one could fairly decide, without
knowing sll the surrounding circumstances and diff
fcute> in VIII ch he was involved. He had been
Mississippi Senator. He had been honorcd and
trusted by the South. He had done more for the
annexation of Texas than any Southern Senator
He had been Secretary of the Treasury under a
Southern President, and had done for free trade
than any man before since his time i'm the cabinet
Surely the President could trust him betray
the South which he had thus served and which had
| thus honored and trusted him. and not to b-tray
the North which had borne him. And he is able
and sagacious man too whose talent might be trust
ed to form the best judgment on the spot to the
best and most polite movements. But whether he
acted wisely ionlishly, sagaciOusly had blum
dered, his intentions were good or bad. his acts
and motives nothing compared toith the ,eegh-
tier n"tter" IF the cou"t'y inr0toed 4" this sudden
and insidi0us OppOsitiOn, which gave time for
developments, or for dispassionate examination and
| proof even for just cOndemna ion of him, if he
had done wrong-but began hot and heavy war
upon him a corrupt "satrap" felon traisor!-
This could not but reflect upon the administration
| and the party which appointed and retained him in
place. 1t was not ingenious to pretend to discrm-
mate between the - President and the Governor OF
the Territory" "L Like man, like master" If he
was this criminal, Mr. Buchanan was bound to know
IL
worse than Gov. Walker. This reasoning this oppo
sition knew would seize the public mind, and
would, ifuncontradicted, impair confidence in the Ad
miniSraton. 1t was making adverse impression
rapidly when the Enquirer nterro ed with its trench
ant pen as of old, and arrested the rush of the
charge on the National Democracy and its represen
tatives in power. 1t took up the enquiry " Is not
this rank hostility? Is not this prepared and pre-
mature opposition before the Administration has be
gun course-bcfore it has met its first Congress
sent its first message? What does it mean? Who'
is it? Who backs it?" THANK the Enquirer for tha
blow. The shade of the Old Napoleon of the pres
smiled in bis parental lowering over the Enquirer
when that sturdy blow fell in its stroke for his dar
ling Democracy. In my inmost heart felt right wei
when that brave blow was struck. twas brave ant
bold to strike it for the Public Printing, well a
the Senatorship, was at stake it seems. The actvi
ty in the elections last spring, looked not only t.
the incumbency of Mr.. Hunter, but to the incum
bency of the Enquirer too; and, doubtless, to al
the great interests involved. The Enquirer assu
redly has saved the Democracy of Virginia from be
ing involved in this Porcupne opposition"
He then alludes to Senator Hunter as follows:
"All this time il was not known whether MI
Hunter took any part in this opposition, thong
many of his most active partizans did and hence
was suspected that if he was not a participant in il
he was to be the beneficiary Of it, if it should sue
ceed. Certain it is that what was at first rumor an
surmise about my alleged design to contest wit
him his in the Senate, turned at last into
taunt to and my friends. Kan, u y0u dar'
yon cannot beat Mr. Hunter" 1t was vain to reply
II do not desire to beat him. The taunt came back
"You do, or you do not desire TO beat him. If go
do zee taking the steps to detent you and. !
you dJn't, you aoiU be dcteated any how In eithe
b1so he is xfr