Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-10

conscientious Christian gentleman. Mr. y.
also felt it hi, duty To do %liI>ti'r I" 4 political
opponent; and, Notwithstanding judge slii:'-
mcrs had been u large STAKEHOLDER all his hir.
and the people Of his section believed. in ISL,
that he had rccantcd his anti-slavery >enti-
mcntS Of 1881. and WAS tue to Virginia and
her institutions, yet many Democrats oil the
West voted against Mr.. Summers because of
his anti-slaycry anteccdent>. Mr. y. consider
cd Mr.. l.ctchcr'S an;cccicnt> no better than
those uf Judge Summers. aut lac. therefore.
believed the nomination ri Mr. l.ctchcr would
hc highly iiivXpc,!;cnt and diSa>tron, 10 the
best interests of the Democratic party AMI -!
the Commonwealth. Mr.. y. concluded by pro-
testing earnestly. in the name Of several roun-
tic>. against the nomination 81 John l.ctchcr;
and said, that whilst he rcpudiatcd the rccor6
Of Mr.. ~l.ctchcr, he expected TO support him
if nominated hy tic Convention. A. he he
licycd Mr.. L.ctchcr was no,r sound upon the
subject of slavery.
\ great deal of confusion rnSucd Oh the cali
Tor the question. in the midst OF which Mr. ..
Jennings Wise went forwar! 10 speak. Some
haranguing ciISllcd OH the 10 O'Clock limitation
question. which WI, with great difficulty ircll-
cd by the Chairman. i; was now ten minutes
To ~ O'Clock.
Mr.. Wise stated that he had cnicavorc,l 10
obtain precedence of no delegate desiring "a adj
dress tue Convention. lie had waited patient.
ly for all and listened Ia all. That if - Vote
should be taken before lac waS permitted toe
ter Il protest against the nomination III John
Lctchcr. or before he was allowed 10 explain
fully the rca>on, which induced such protest.
he would Immediately Withdraw from the ton
%yrntion.
Mr.. ". II. Parker. Of Norfolk. and some
other delegates announced that they were pre-
pared to leave the Convention with Alr. Wise.
i'll case he were not allowed ahcaring.
a ~voicr-Spyak till IN o'clock.
Mr.. Wise desired to snow whether he was
To be silcncc,l at IL O'Clock.
The President explained Ia the Convention
that no action had been taken. which corllprc-
Vent nr restrict Mr.. Wi>c's remark.
Mr.. Wl>c.-Bclorc proceeding 10 enter ny
protest against the nomination Of John Letchrr,
rs one not fit To be made. must be indu'ecd
by the Convention while occupy Il few mo.
mcntS i'll performing Il duty. which will always
maintain the first place i'll my thoughts and
cxcrtiunS. \ delegate who has addressed yoI
to-day. while urging .you to forgive the dclin-
qucncic> of Mr.. ~l.c,cilrr. asserted. i'll my pre-
>cncc. that Henry y. Wise, Of Accornac. had
been forgiven for his political errors, and that
John Lctchcr i, entitled To similar indulgence.
trust that this remark was made in no spirit
of unkindncSS. Nevertheless. il calls Tor Il re-
ply. Henry \. Wise never did and never will
rome before the people of Virginia with a petit
ton tor the forgiveness of political crrvr>.-
Whenever and wherever lac has stood before
any portion Of the people Of this Common
wealth, il has been with head erect. Every
where. and at NIL times. he has remained stead.
fast to his position announced III the canvas oi
lSjj: II have 10 organizations Ia makc-no
paliuorlc> 10 sing" Take me H. YOU iiHd lne.
or take me not at all" Such has ever been
his language before the people o! Virginia
No. it is not Ileury \. Wise win" >!o"p, t" hes
his political ah,oiGtiou. This species Of con-
dc>ccn>inn i left t. ,urh men ~ Mr.. john
l~.ctrllcr.
1t is now for Mr.. L.ctchcr. alone, 10 submit
To this sort Of humiliation. Nominate John
I.ctchcr for tiorcraur Of Virginia. AMI III every
hastings. before every popular gathering
wherever he shall encounter an antagonist he
must cone before the people with bowed head
and trembling knees. signing from beneath the
very Sackc!oth and a>he> T.; political icpcn-
lance, 'perrari' p,c"1r'.' have >inncd. |
have Sinncd.'
Before proceeding further. and lest my re-
marks in another connection may haze iaiIci To
he generally heard or understood by this Con
%vcntion, how take occasion 10 explain that
have not for one moment conceived the thought
Of pluckinga single leaf from the wreath which
crowns the political career OF that gallant gen
tlcman and distinguished statesman. General
Gordon. Of .Albcmarlc. Undoubtedly he did
offer the first proposal for i separation Of Coy
crnmcnt and Banks. But this proposal was
Ito, accepted b. the Democracy. 1t obtained
the vote Of Henry \. Wise; and. at 4 later pc
ROD, McSsrS. Gushing and Wise rejecting the
scheme Of Mr.. Benton, drew up 4 plan for IN
independent trca>ury-the first that received
the sanction of the united Democracy.
Thus the gentleman from Prince Edward,
Mr.. Flournoy, cannot make this 4 count IN his
indictment of Henry \. Wise. before this Con
v%cntion, for the high 1nisdcmeanor Of political
inconsistency. 1t is the Democratic party IT,
sell which has committed the Inconsistency
Ii is the Democratic party that was welded to
n system of pet banks, and rejected the propo-
sal of ten. Gordon Tor an Independent Trca>,l-
~, at the very time when it WAS endorsed hr
the vote of Henry \. Wise.
have already challenged the gentleman
from Prince Edward, in the face Of his sweep
ing charge of Inconsistency. Ia point ont q sin.
gle instance in which Liov. Wise has proved
inconsistent to n single profession Of political
principle. rs yet, | have obtained no reply.
Mr.. F%lournoy requested 10 interrupt Mr..
Wise. There were many gentlemen present
who knew Mr. F~lournoy TO be the warm per
sonal friend of Governor Wise. he was mista-
ken. if the gentlemen who had just occupied the
floor was not also aware Of this. lie had said
nothing in Il spirit Of accusation or unkind-
ness. When alleged political ncon>iStcncirS
had been urged against Mr.. l.ctchcr. Mr..
Flournoy had only intended to remind the
Convention that this was a charge to which
most politicians are Obnoxious. and from which
even Governor Wise was hot exempt.
Mr.. Wi,c--I am perfectly willing 10 admit
that the gentleman from Prince Edward i'll
tended no unkindnc>S. Nevertheless, any
attempted parallel which places John L.ctchcr
on Il level with l!ciiy \. Wise, cannot be
otherwise than di>agrccahic To me-. and. IN my
belief. unjust 10 Governor Wise. not onlv
reverence this man with liiill reverence. but |
love him with Il love far surprising the love OF
woman. If il; were possible for him TO he
Justly liScnrd to Mr. John Lctchcr, ronlt
not love him ~ Ito: Tor say il. g%cntlcmrn.
in all sincerity. could not respect him
Mr.. Wise then proceeded so!cmIly To protest
against the nomination Of Mr. i.ctciicr, AMI "c-
crricd about an hour in 'cci;img objections t"
such nominations. We have no report "f these
remarks. They consisted Of = Specific review
Of Mr.. L.cicncr's political record. from lHi'up
To the present. In the course oi his speech.
Mr.. Wise called attention 10 ,hc fact that Mr.
~I.ctrl,cr was the %t:vori,c candidate Of the anti
improvement men of Eastern Virginia. as also
Of the politicians Of the satisfied interest o! the
North West; and appealed. especially. 10 Mr..
barbour, of culpepcr, The great leader OF the
progressive party during The last session "t the
Legislature. who now cSsnc onward to propose
Mr. Lcirhcr's nomination. Did Mr.. Barbour