The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1859-01-29
HENRY A. WISE ON SOUTHERN RIGHTS
c AND SOUTHERN RESISTANCE.

him it he ever. heard Gov Wise before the
people of Virginia upon Southern Resistance
to Fedora and Abolition aggressious p He
replied that he had, and, said he, 1 will
repeat his speech to you. He was standing
in broad piazza aud at the very steps, and
spoke as follows:
Fellow citizens, I love this Union. The
memories of its origin. its progress and its
trlumphs; the hopes of its future achieve.
ments and its endless duration, beat in my
heart like the mighty pulses Of my own
native ocean in the bosom of the atmosphere
which envelopes it. I would bear much and
bear long before would dissolve it. ''For
better and for worse" we're the covenant
and pledge. Sc we wooed--so we won-so
were these States married togetherl AS an
honorable husband would bear with the in.
nocent frailtes of his wife, so ought we to
bear with each other-'until death doth us
part" So read the solemn rite, and "may
my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth.
aud my right hand forget its cunning, if
forget thee, O, Jerusalem" But, gentlemen.
sacred as is this Unioq, solemn as was the
rite which cemented it, strong as ere its
bonds and my affections for it, I Mould dis
solve 1t upon more tllan one contingency l
despise all Revolutionary" patriotisln-I am
in these contingencies for Gction-prompt,
stern, irrevocable action!
What husband would hug the chains Of
matrimony it but once dishonor touch their
linksH AS Sampson rent away the seven
green wythes from his arms, with which the
lords of the Philistines would cause DeIilah
to bind him, so would cast off the tyranni
cal forms Of Union which would dare
touch Southern hoDor--''as a thread of tow
is broken when it toucheth the fire."
This Uhipn was ordained and established
for great beneficial, practical ends. To these
ends it is as solemnly and sacredly bound in
the ''compact" as we are bound to the Union
itself, and | do not hesitate to declare that
prefer the utilitarianism Of practical, Consi
tutonal Liberty, to the sentimentalism ot
an empty theory of rights. If the great
ends of the Union shall be ignored or defeat
ed by dominant and reckless fanaticiSm-
then, "death doth us part!"
Gentlemen, l would draw the line o.
right and take my staud upon it, and war;
The North not to violate the writing. d.
nut mean its letter only. but its vital aBC
yitaiziug spirit. Standing there, if ther
should be honest misunderstanding as t.
constructions no mean advantage sought
% bullying appeal to force, nor cunning re
sort to traud--no honor touched-no vita
interest asslled-but fair, bona file mis-
understanding-as | am true mana VIr
rinan--an Amerlcau--us | AIN husband
Il father, fri nd-as love honor and de
spise hypocrisy. ard defy brute force AM
trust moral power and the providence of Go'
Il would yield would step back [anC
here Mr.. Wise retrcated single step t.
another line.
Gentlemen, the craven feels humiiiate'
whatever his concession to All adversary ma,
he, for it is always one of necessity, an'
never one of generous forbearance, of mag
uanimity, of justice even. Retreating unde
The circumstances and to the extent hav
indicated, should feel no humiliation. Nay
I should elevate a prouder front and gIov
with nobler enthusiasm, for | should real
4 ize the moral power of forbearance-th
inspiring divinity Of charity ennobling tn
act and consecrating the motive
"'But, gentlemen, if pressed at this second line
aud nothing but material interest sought
and temporary disadvantage imposed upol
the South, should protest aud reason, an'
implore the North to stay the hand # op
preston, but l should yield II would still
retreat to another line! And here Mr.. "
retreatcd another step.] Sullenly it nigh
be-augriiy, defantly perhaps threat
eniugly, should retreat and he steppe
back again.
"Gentlemen, Necessity knows no law
Pressed again by unreasonable demands
harrassed by unjust exactions-insulted- i
: rand as lie spoke, he stepped back and ele
/. waited himself, aud stretched out his arm
and his back touched the wall Heaven an
earth bear me witness y he cried, ~ retreo
no farther 1t is the murder"us Cain z
and springing forward, with the glare Q
; death in his eye, and waving drawn swor
in pautomime, he silently, terribly enacle
the tragedy of dissolution
Such screaming, horrible, yelling ar
plause, never heard before or since. Ther
he stood, utteriug no word, but cutting au
thrashing, and enactiug the death struggl
and death agony, while the people ubsolutel
!. went into hysterical convulsions of miugle
! delight and desperation There he stooc
. FIR whole minute-and without speakin
+. word, acted whole revolution! I!
5 AT length be composed the angry storm :
6rst Of his features, into the calm dignity
: priest patriarch, and said, "With this bio"
Of sacrifice I baptise afresh the altars
I Liberty! From this fountain OF minglc
1 life aud death shall flow again the waters {
peace and healing to tho nltions?" An
: turning to the people be gravely said, "Fe
low.citizens, l am Union man; aud I
s we're the men of the Continental Congre'
Of l775! So were the men Of 1776, W.T.
o demonstrated and petitioned, and fought OF
If They spared neither Indians, nor Hessian
nor Tories, but fought On! The battle
y Lexington had been fougbt--the battle
Bunkcr's Hill had been fought Washin
St Ton was at the head Of the COLONIAL armies
Wlrren had fallen-Canada had beeu inv
Ethan Allen had 0une to England