Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-10-07

mitted, we believe, that rs Governor, MS al
ministration has been vigorous, decided and sa-
cacious, The Old Dominion never had more
compctent Chief Magistrate, and that is the
highest praise that can b, bestowed. Gov
Wise had the courage 10 dcnounce the repeal
Of the Missouri Compromise He considered
the an<as-Nebraska bill ~ iiaught with dan.
ger to Southern rights In this he differed
from the great majority OF the Southern states.
men; but the event has proved the wisdom OF
his Judgment and the reach Of his iores ght.-
The South has found that measure to be a Tro-
jan horse, aud the Union still trcmblcS undo: the
commissions that followed lis passage. Again,
when President Buchanan was employing all the
engines OF Federal power to force upon the poo
pie Of Kansas Constitution they ahhorrcrl, and
when Southern men Were led TO believe thai
their interests required them to sustain this
tyrannical effort, Gov Wise dared to express his
conviction that this policy was m outrage upon
the liberties of the people. No man could DO
more energetic in defence Of the rights OF the
South; but he desired that they shonid be
honorably indicated, aud without prejudice To
| the rights Of any other section lie went sun
further, and denounced the English land-brine
bill as corrupt and insulting Well. now That
! the excitement Of that struggle IS a!Iaye''
! Southern men are following The lead oil Senator
! Hammond, in acknowledging that the Whole
Lecompton business was unworthy oi the gene
raj government,
No great question Of pablo interest has re
Gently been raised upon which Gov W Use has
not freely and ably expressed an oplncn, 50
| that the materials are ample Tor aSccrtanliiS
! his merits is :, statesman, and the precise ma
ture Of his principles. All his political papers
are marked by c!carneSS and force OF argument
wealth of learning and yi.or OF cXlrc>slor.-
! He leaves nothing To be inferred. We have
stated that the wisdom o. Eis course I"iriS
; the Kansas controversy is nov gcnc!ai!H ad-
! mittel in all sections Of tie country. Upon
| the Pacific Railroad issue, Gov. Wise adhcrrs
to the Old Virginia doctrine Of orposItlc' to
system OF internal improvements nndcr the
authority of the General Government. lie re-
CARDS pirate enterprise as equal to the task oi
constructing an iron highway to tic Pacific,
when il is required. All monster corporations,
in which the government participates become
foul centre; Of corruption. Upon tins queS'
ton. GOV Wise is more faithful TO Democratic
principle than any other prominent candidate
! FOR the Presidency He opposed the thirty
million hill---the o,:ciSible oLiec! Of which was
the purchase Of Cuba; because, placing such
an enormous fund at the command of The Pre-
Silent furnished Il dangerous precedent and,
because there was every reason 10 believe that
the money would be employed for corrupt pur-
poses. lie denounced the Federal scheme OF
Sei1in. Sonora and chihuahua, as Il violation
of international faith and calculated 10 provoke
an unnecessary and expensive war. Upon
the great question which is nov 50 vigorously
! discussed throughout the South, III reference 10
the protection Of slave property in the terrific
ri.s the POSITION of Gov. Wise is cmucntIy
lust and conservative His letters upon this
! subject are exhaustive and their argument Is
! irresistible. it is not true tha: hc demands
what MIR. Douglas is pleased 10 call i slave
I code" for the territories. He maintains tiat
( the territory is no Sovcrcignty-that Il = under
the ultimate control and Surveillance Of Con-
creSS If, therefore, :. ctizca OF the North or
the South, shall carry lis property into that
territory, and tie Legislature, either by posi-
tive enactment. or omission To- !cCslatc. should
seek to deprive the said citizen Of his property,
Congress is bound, by Il Constitutional oh!ica-
ton, TO give adequate protection. No snch
idea as that OF i slave code eve" entered The
brain Of Henry y. Wise.
There is still! another question Of very ;."cat
importance 10 oar adopted citizens upon whlc!
GuverEor Wise has given Il decided opinion. -
The brief letter Of General CasS 10 lie tic:c,
haci startling effect UPON the whole country
1t asserted. in effect, that naturalizcd citizen
was only hall q citizcn--tha, h. owed divided
allegiance 20 the country OF his birth and the
country of his adoption. This was not only
regulating the doctrine maintained by our
Government from 1872 TO the present day, but
hat contradiction OF the oath Of na;uialiZa-
;ion-which expresses The casting oil all al
!cgancc 10 foreign governments. The general
Indignation of oar adopted citzcn---many OF
whom had business in Europe during the war
which was then prevailing-thc outcry Of the
press. aud the controvcrting opinion OF diStin-
gu:SiIcd statesmen, led the Federal Administra-
ton into the gradual perception Of its blundcr,
and letters were written u explain that Gene
raj CasS did not 'ncan what he had said. Gov
ernor Wise, in 4 brief and pithy opistlc, took
high, bold ai.I strOn. American ground, placing
all citizens upon 4 com!nou footing, as entitled
to the protection 81 our flag Wherever they
may 30. And We nay rest assured. thai il
Wise were President this protection would be
given at every hazard, and with al the power
Of the republic. With sucha record, who can
doub, the capacity Of Henry \. Wise Cor ewing
this nation splendid administration OF oar DO
meStic aud foreign affairs: Have not his poll.
teal Sagacity and foresight been clearly demon
s;ratci: 10 not his contributions to political
literature upon all the great questions "i the
day cyincc i StatcSmaniikc grasp Of the true
principles oi this government, a depth Of re
search burning patriotism, and a devotion 20
all the rights Of all American citizens Where
else among our public men, dO You find 50
much daring, decision and intellect united =
Who 50 capable As ne 10 guide this republic
through the storms of the next four years after
James buchanan has gone back 10 Whcaland:
Who Will give us greater guarantees hy force
Of character and extent OF experience. that we
shall have security a. home and influence abroad,
i'll spite OF iact,ouS strife or foreign menace ?
Who can give the North aud the South stronger
assurance that constitutional rights 'In,ISt and
shall be preserved - The man who darcS to
tell all sections When they are wrong and TO
sustain either of them when /, is right, is the
Gilu for the whole country. The lnan who |!
shows his Independence Of cIiq;cs and fearless.
Is holds or his course, under the guidance OF
his own convictions, is the man for the clicf
sea; AZ Washington. where it has long been 3
matter Of doubt as t. what policy the PIc>- |
dent will pursue in any coninnrturc of circun- !
stances, OF ;S % which member of the Cabact |!
is the real rIic; Of our public affairs.
We come now 10 ;!;cGgcst;on oi availability. !
1t will certainly be the duty o. the Charleston |
Convention to dwell upon this point. The /!
enemies Of the Democracy may unite upon Il /
single ticket, although II must be admitted !
that there is now bit = poor proSpcc. of any /,
such conSumma,ion. Still, sound pu,icy 70 !
quircS ample preparation 10 meet the most |
powerful host that can lac brought into the |,
field Then. if the Zoe i, weak and divided, !
our labo: Will he easy III" mos; available !
man i, Of course, the individual who can rally |
the -rcatcSt strength in the canvass. and who |
can unite the whole party. We are con
wheel tina, Wise will he found to answer the /
rLl IL