Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-29
FRIDAY, JANUARY 40, 1855.
GOVERNOR WISE-HIS POSITION BEFOR

BI NITllttE N
FRIDAY, JANUARY 40, 1855.
wIsE-HIS POSITION BEFORE
THE COUNTRY.
rbsrs ara but few men in the nation, whose politi
o,l career has been characterized with more signal
success, than that OF the present Governor Of Vi:gi
MIA. There 10 no man in the country who has u
stronger hold upon the admiration, esteem and afeo'
ton of his state. 1t 10 not his advocacy Of the i'm
mediate interests of their peculiar localities that at
,sches the people Of any county or section OF Virg'-
mia to him; for he is now, and has always been de
voted to the phoLe STATE. regardless of whatever pre-
judicss may have existed, or may still exist In the
Eas. against legislation Tor the benefit of the West
or in the West agsinst legislation for the beneht OF
the East. As "white basis man he was triumph
antly elected to the last reform Convention
from a district bounded by the ocean. As
an :. internal Improvement" man he is APP
plauded in 'Tide.wster' as we'll as in the
recesses of the mountains. Although the originator
and Jealous supporter of his favorite "fundum'
scheme. oyster eaters and oyster.cstchers alike, IN
Eastern Virginia, still confide in him, admire him and
defend him. His Tammany letter. it is true, was as
unacceptable as it was unexpected to many OF his
friends, among the staid Democracy Of the Old DO
minion. But it has not driven them from him.. 1t
has not shaken their confidence in his fidelity to the
south. 1t has not induced a distrust OF his devotion
to the Democratic party. Some Of our Southern CO.
temporaries Of the press, beyond the limits OF Viz
ginia, may ask how it is, why it is, that Henry A.
Wiseis 80 omnipotentin his State that even hs letter
to the Tammsny society, in which they see 30 much
of treason, has not torn him down from the eminence
he occupies in the largest slsveholding State In the
Union. We will anticipate the question and answer
it in a few words. 1t is because the people Of Virginia
knop the MAX. Because he has the heart ola patriot,
the head of q statesman, and the spirit Of q hero
Because his views on all questions, whether of local'
State or federal policy, are never contracted, but a.
ways comprehensive, and generally original anu
practical. Because be thinks for himself, without
waiting for the wind. vane Of popular sentiment to
direct him. Because his allegiance to the South is
based upon convictions Of justice and right; and be-
cause that Tammany letter proelaims a principle,
upon the maintenance Of which, the equality and
security of the slave States, in the Union
depend. When the letter appeared in the public
prints, We expressed the opinion that it was calculated
to embarrass the Democratic party, or that portion OF
il at least, which concurred with the Administration
in favor Of the acceptance of the Lecompton Consti-
tuition without further conditions. We still think go.
But we have never dissented from the views it au-
nounced on the abstract principle-that III this coun'
try, tie people alone are sovereign aud supreme
And no man can dispute that principle, without rem
dering himself liable to be charged with being a mo.
narchist. Governor Wise hes always been a Jealous
defender Of popular rights. And in no instance has
he ever'more boldly declared his sentiments on any
subject than on the Kansas question, in his Iammany
letter.
He may be assailed in the South and applaudsdln
the North, but no right.minded man in either section
will ever really doubt that he is still the a m bold
vindicator of Southern rights, the same patriotic
champion of the Constitution and the Union, the
same "~fsarless tribune OF the people" that he has
ever been sinos the early commencement of his poll
teal career. For fairness, fearlessness, energy and
genius, the American people can point to no
man 10 the nation, superior to Henry A. Wise.
He stands before the country in a proud position.
Az a Southern man he says to the North we will not
encroach upon your rights; and you must not tn
oroach upon ours. We contend for principles, for
fairness, justice aud equality. We demand them Of
you: and We will concede them TO you. You shall
cot defrsud Us, and We will take no unfair advantage
Of you. 8uch is bis attitude, regardless OF the clamor
of his enemies.
THE VIRGINIA WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
But few are aware Of the delicacy and magnitude of
raising the Equestrian Statue Of Washington to lite
final place of rest. Its weight is eighteen ~tons-height
twenty feet-length from the nose Of the horse to the
end OF the tail, twenty-five feet. resting upon. and
cast with Q plinth eleven feet long by FIVE and a half
wide-the horse standing only on bis right forefoot
and left hind foot, the other two being raised. Asthe
pliath covered the entire capstons of the granite Pc
destai, oil purchases" and operatives had to stand
upon the ground.
The weight required shears. blocks, falls, and guys
Of a size and strength not to he found in or nearer
Richmond than Norfolk and the Gosport Navy Yard:
hence Capt. Dimmoek Ito whom the Commissioners
had confded the entire o~perationl proceeded to those
place. and obtained what he desired. This involved
considerable delay and cost which could not be avoid.
ID.
So soon as these articles reached Richmond, the
esesrs (eighty two feet long-two feet through the
large end, and twenty inches through the smsll,)
we're capped, rugged, and raised, the latter a heavy
operation. a. the point to which the raising power
Sas applied, w0 only thirty. Ave feet high, and the
weight of the shears was fourteen tons. This requl'
red a strain Of ffy tons TO raise them up, on end
From the peculiar formation OF the granite monu'
ment or pedestal, the statue had to be raised be-
tween the shears on the one side lit was too long TO
he straddlsd) and the monument on the other, thus
compelling en- inclination of the shears from the mo.
msnt of raising to the final Judgment Of the statue
upon its pedestal. The whole operation was very del.
ioate, and involved many mechanical difficulties
Then the object to be raised. it's inestimable value
the deep interest excited, because Of the worldwide
reputation Of the work, and the death Of the Artist
The great preparations made for a grand celebration
on the approaching 1nd of February, devolved upon
Captain Dimmock q responsible, intensely excl
ting, bat which he ably and most successfully met.
Everything being ready for hosting. the word ives
given 'roand up" when the massive horse and rider
slowly and steadily rose up into the air forty feet
paused for a while to adjust the ~fastenings better, and
then-(the guys being eased Off the statue was
swung over and let down upon it's place ofrsst without
the slightest accident, and amidst the joyous shouts
Of thousands of anxious spectators. Afsw days were
necessary to firmly fasten the statue, when the shears
~ere ~unrigRed, moved away from the monument and
thrown down without injury. Their percussion on
the grouud produced q noise like the report of a
cannon. 1t occsrred just as the noble face Of Wash
inglon was exposed to view, and gave additional Of.
tect to the joyous excitement. The covering was
then removed. and the most magnificent equestrian
statue ever exhibited to the world, received the uure-
strained comnendation of an intelligent and appre
Hiative community.
We have witnessed from day to day all the al.
Engagements made. and feel il bat due to Capt.
Dimmoek and his energetic and faithful assistant, Mr..
wm, J. Accloy. to say, that they have %skillfully
performed the most delicate and difficult. mechanical
operation ever executed in virgini.-to the entire