Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-01-10

Southern States. Nothing but conservatism
At the North can save this Union. Is there
conservatism enough ut the North to save the
Uniong lf there is, It is asleep and must he
aroused. How cun this be done? BY rcSolr
tons in your Legislatures which mean no.
thing! by prcamb!cs and resolutions OF mass
meetings? No. sir, no, sir; we want conven-
vention or Congress OF the Southern States,
not called by niass-neetinss and mercantile as
sociationS, but convened by law, by laws of the
Southern States, tu meet and consult together,
as to the best mode Of our defence anti
protection Let there he such 4n assem-
bly rs this, an assembly Of the people, not
OF the politicians, clothed in legal pano.
ply; let them meet not to dissolve, but,
! II possible, 10 save the Onion. Let them
tell the North we want to live with you; if we
can live together upon terms Of equality; that
we have made no var on yon; we have in no
wise aSsailcd yonr rights; you have warrcd up
on Us, you have aSsailed our dearest rights, and
yon must stop short. You must repeal your
unjust and unconstitutional legislation against
| us ana our institutions; you must put co,Scrva-
tive and just men in office, and wewil stay With
you. But unless you do listen 10 the voice Of
reason, Of justice, and right, we mean to resume
our original rights, and separate from youi and
maintain that separation, l'coc'dbtY u acc can,
| foyribM II ace must. Let the united voice OF
the South thus 30 up to the North, and, il there
| be, as statedIno element Of conservatism po-
tent enough to do the South justice and save
the Union, this will develop it. If this wont,
nothing will; and the sooner the South knows
it the better, and the moment she docs it, in my
| judgment, the Union ought to be dissolved
| This is my plan, but il any other be sns.
! gested better suited to attain the great end or
Southern equality and Southern independence,
then am for that plan. But am Tor action.
! The time for talk is over Let the South act
| together; act judciouslv; act wisely, and if the
! North is determined to force disunlon
! uuu US, let it come the South cnn and MIL
| d, lenl herself Size has ar home all the Gle
ments OF defence and with justice and right
on her sidc she is determined to maintain her
! independence, not only agaiust the North, but
/ against the world.
! One word more, Mr.. President; we have
heard q good deal about non-intcrcourse laws.
discriminating tax.lawS, rctallating taz-laws
! | am OiloSed 10 all such laws. II will he but
! practical Observation-Disclosures indirectly: now,
| whatever we do in this matter let us do like
. men, Let us 10 nothing indirectly, Which We
we are not willing to do directly. Do not put
! the South in lulSc position; act with ilrinncSs
and resolution, or act not at aH
| Let us be calm aud if we arc compelled 10
! separate, meet the crisis as Firgnians-Eirs-
MIA is sacred soil--herc Is the grave OF Wash
ington-Virginia, the whole uf Virginia, Is
Hashinston's grave. Her sons arc the sons oil
| those who warrcd through blood and sweat to
achieve our independence They will not, they
= cannot, tarnish the fame Of their ancestors
! they will meet their fate like men, and at home,
. upon our own consccratcd soil, will they de-
! fend with life with fortune, with every thing,
the rights which those ancestors have trans
. mitted to them. Lsud applause.
I, DR.. TnnMPsOS said: | have now toast tc
! offer, which feel assured will be universally
responded 10. 1t is TO 4 man whose name Is
household word in Virginia; and, may add,
lives in the hearts of his countrymcn. will
! give you Il toast to Henry a. Wise. Tremen-
dous applause
Henry y. Wise, late Governor Of Virginia;
His fidelity and frarlrssness, in the discharge
of public duty, prove him 10 be equal TO any
."n, ,q"ncr and worthy nf any station
After this sentiment was checred. anu the
band had performed the air Of "uld Nir5lnln
never tire there vas general call fnr Col
Mryropp, Secretary Of the Commonwealth
Col. MuSrnGD sad: He regretted exceeding
ly that Governor Wise was not here tonight TO
respond for himself to tic sentiment to which
uitrraacc had just been given. He said he
knew that the Governor Was fully equal to any
emergency but peculiarly TO such an cmcrscn,
c. as this. No man could respond for him us
he could respond for himself lie has high
and noble thoughts and high language to en-
press them, high toned and patriotic sentl-
mcnts and principles, and glowing and fervid
words in which 10 clothc them. | shall not
attempt TO ascend the summit 10 which he
would easily attain, nor venture upon the hight
into that blue ether in which he would 50 ma.
jcslically and gracefully soar But this will
say for him il any emergency shall come, he
will be equal 10 the occasion. If Virginia shall
ever REQUIRE the services Of her sons, she will
find no truer SolI, no warmer heart, no Drawer
spirit, no more chiyalrous and gallant cham.
plun Of her rights and interests, hcrreputailon
and honor and fame, than HENRY i. WISE; and
he will render mis- services. not laggardly and
sparingly, but as he docs every thing he under
takes, with his whole soul and intellect will
his muscles and sinews, nerves and fibres. and.
if need he, with his llfe-blood, in vlndicallng
her cause. have seen him in every trying
situation to which a Governor could well be
subiected-beiore the scenes and behind them.
He has piycn me his entire confidence, and
know that he stepped proudly and molly before
the scenes, and honestly and ,uprightly hthInd
I them. When calm and serenity prevails, he
reminds me Of the war-horsc OF Job, smiling
the battle from afar. When danger is impend
nr, he is like Il game.cock trimmed and gailro
fnr the fTav. ready to pitch into any bird that
,ares to crow in his presence He stands
proudly erect, ri9ilans ct HWtar-watchiu
and ready for tho conflict have seen nm
rufllel aud excited sometimes about small mat
ters scarcely worth his notice, but when grca,
cccasinrs came, he became calm, cool, collect
ed. listening to reason, but prompt to como
to his conclusions. and when his course was
taken, throwing the energy Of thoroughly
aroused spirit into instant action. lI;iv'
seen him, when occasion required, obdurate n
/! flint but at other times suitcncd into pity anc
compassion by tale Of woe or tear OF ahiIc
! ton. His official connection with me, intimate
I as il has been, is now severed, but our friend
shin, hope, will last rs long rs each OF us may
live.
And, now, since you have called Inc to my
feet, may not be indulgcd in expressing th'
pleasure experience in being present tonight
and having it in my power to mite in pay'nt
this friendly tribute Of respect TO the L'en,en
ant Governor your honored guest. The honol
YOU have conferred is most worthily bestowed
The friendship you evincc has been honorabll
won, gratefully acknowledged and will b'
warmly returned There is nothing more
grateful to the heart than when friends are
lucrting around a festive board to cheer ant
erect one another Nothing more pleasant
than 10 recall old times and familiar scei'es-
to enquire how such and such old cronies do
, to tell of the conflicts Of our youth, and, lik'
the old soldier who is no longer hit for the wars
, in after years to shoulder our crutch and lish
our battles ocr again and twice to slay th'
slain There is nothing more grateful than Il
cast retrospect to permit fancy TO take sur
vcy of the past, and when time has flown by, an'
memory wakes visions Of joy that could no
I... :, daI;szhiG,l II ,yill be If We eve