Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-04
For tho ENQUIRER.

1t has been cur pleasure to notice in the
columns Of your paper for several weeks past,
articles laying before the readers of the I'm
luirer,' the merits Of our present Governor
Henry \. Wise, with his claims upon the peo-
pie OF Virginia. especially as the most suitable
and the most deserving member of the Demo.
cratic party, upon whom ~ confer the nomna
ton for President IN 1860 Whatever may be-
urged in opposition to the nomination Of Gov
Wise, by his political enemies, North OF South,
East or West, Virginia owes this illustrious
man debt Of gratitude which We greatly fear
it will never bs IL her power to cancel 1t
has been said that the undaunted spirit and
cloquencc Of Gov. Wise in the gubernatoral
canvass Of 1854. saved the Democratic party in
Virginia, not only from defeat, but from
total rout He did more than that, he saved the
Democratic party Of this Republic ITSELF
Every State into which Know Nothinysm
had fund its way had been carried, Us if By
storm, by the Know-Nothins party before men
could think or reason. The decisive battle was
upon the soil OF Virginia ; upon her were the
eyes OF her sister States turned, anxiously
awaiting the result Of n struggle that must dc.
terinine the fate Of all 1t was known that
Henry 4. Wise had received the nomination
abroad almost as soon as it was known at home;
his name soon became ~ Il household word III
every hovel in Virginia, all over the Union.
and even among the enlightened in Europe, so
intense was the interest taken in that era in the
history Of America. Gov. Wise undertook that
canvass under circumstances and disadvantages
that no other man would The know.Nothing
party had registered votes sufficient. il pollcd,
to carry the State by an overwhelming
majority. The voters were on oath or
affirmation TO vote for the nominee, who ever
might be the choice Of the party. Governor
Wise. either az the commencement Of the can.
vasS, or Immediately after, was suffering with
!. severe affection Of the throat so much so
that at the time he spoke in Lexington he was
compelled 10 use the most active remedies.-
Nothing daunted 10y all these circumstances,
disheartening, perhaps. to more ordinary man,
he boldly and iearlessly entered the lists and
proved himself conqueror By majority tha;
had never been dreamed Of by his MOST san
gulne friends Such heroisn as he exhibited in
that memorable contest. has only been eiualed
by the untiring yea! with which he has dis.
charged the numerous arduous and responsible
duties pertaining 10 his office. As statesman
'tliu vi SDiobiNulioi'. Uoth VI
the United States and of Virginia, his political
history vii! attest that he has 10 living supe.
rior. Whatever others may say or DO, it is
certain tha, the people Of Western Virginia will
never forget the man who. in 1854. shook the
forests Of centuries by his eloquence, and saved
their liberties When the appointed time
comes, we trust the people of Virginia, at least.
will remember who has served them, and when
H. r. al. II.
and ought to be done, they may proudly ex-
claim
"0ar work Il nobly done,
We've raised our Gag en- HIGH
"a pledge Is made In every hsar:
THAT speaks in every eye,
"So traitor spirit swe!s cur ranks,
'upr heritage wen keep
Z" And proudly tread our native soa.
lrnd, Z We xisrD'' h