Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-01-31
complimentary Dinner to Ex-Gov. Wise.

complimentary Dinner to Ex-Gov. Wise.
The,length of the report of this fetc has been
SUCH as to oblisc us to delay its publication for
two days, in order to secure a thorough reYisal
and correction Of the details.
On Thursday evening last at 9 o'clock, the
large dining hall at the Exchange Hotel showed
o triple row of tables, beautifully decorated,
extending the whole length of the saloon, and
filled with the entertainers and guests OF the
occasion, until not q vacant chair was to be
found. The bill of fare scarcely needed the
delicate gilt letters which emblazoned it, to
render the same q most attractive specimen OF
literature. Wines Of various kinds flowed in
abundancc-the spirits of the ~asSemblage were
even moro hearty than their evidently healthy
appctites-the Arlnory Band played their
sweetest notes. In fine, nothing was wanted
to crown, with even more than usual success,
the talent and effort which so emmincntly fit
our excellent fe~llow-townsmau, Mr.. Ballard, for
the post Of chief director Of ~convivial ceremo-
MES.
The cloth having been removed, Judge Hop
KINs Of Washington, rose and said:
Having been unexpectedly called upon to
preside upon this occasion, [ have, therefore,
no speech to make. There are others present
whom you have assembled to hear, and shall
not occupy any portion of your time, but shall
proceed to open the ball by inviting your attcn.
ton to the first toast, which | shall read in
your presence. give you
JJsna, Wts,-The ctotpsman who
hunts through Garth and ocean, the blue above
and the blue beneath, for jewels to make Fir-
cinia sparkle rs the brightest star in the fir
ma,nent of States, and who would hunt through
creation to give to the Union the happiness
and peace it cnioyed under the ~fraternal guild
ancc of our fathers.
Gov. WISE. on rising to respond, was greet
cd with n burst Of applause which was conti--
nued for some minutes. lie addressed the
company assembled as follows:
Mr.. President, gentlemen Of the General
Assembly, and Fellow Citizens: The first duty
which | owe to you On this occasion is TO cX-
plain my absence from the city and the delay
Of this compliment which has been rendered
long before tonight. As you all know, before
and Immediately on my retirement | was press.
cd by extraordinary public duties which caused
me to neglect my private and domestic con
Germs. As soon as public duty would allow me
to attend to private duties, | crossed the Ches-
apeakc Bay, and was there ice-bound. As
early as wind and weather would permit, | re-
crossed the Bay and fastened back to the Capt.
tai. | regret exceedingly, gentlemen, that could
not return sooner; not for any compliments,
or to catch as early as possible any compliment
TO myself; but I regret that l could not be here
at the time when you rendered a mcritcd com.
~pliIncnt to my colleague Of the Executive chair.
owe an apology to the committee Of the dim
ner given to Vim. l.. Jackson for not answer
ing before-as | do now, in person-that could
have been present, | would, at whatever in
convenience to myself, have been here 10 do
honor to Vim. L. Jackson, and this it is almost
unnecessary for me to say. | have atteSted to
YOU and the world, my estimate OF that gentle
man-no one could have better deserved the
compliment-and no one would have been more
willing than | to pay it.
And while I make this apology | must re-
turn thanks 10 some Of the friends who spoke
for me in my absence. Ny worthy friend on my
right, the Secretary of State, said of me more
than | could say ofmysclC: | rather demur, sir,
to his making q game cock OF me. Laughter.
But | am willing to be his game COCK. L
know no man on this earth who could pit the
game better than he. In the battle OF life, ne
is cmincntly fitted TO CATTLE a bird for a good
part in the contcst-to trim the spur, and set
the slashcr; and. in the midst Of perfect fair
plav, he could take away from the bill the feath-
ers and the blood. | may say in his presence
that, after four wears service with him, day and
nirht, weekday and Sabbath-day, incessant in
the labor Of public duty, | know no man upon
earth from whom 7 would receive . testimonial
- .,o.:, ,-,,l, ryrDtt{,,lo thpD from tho
honored Secretary Of this Commonwealth.
Gentlemen, | have Just turned the tifty-third
year Of my life, and twcnty-seven years Of that
time has been spent in public life; eleven years
in Congress, four years on a foreign mission,
twice serving in the Electoral College, an
eighteen months siege in the Reform Conven-
ton OF the State, and four years'o of very severe
trial in the executive Chair Of the Common
wealth. And now it is more than gratifying
10 my pride and ambition, at the close Of my
public service, to receive this testimonial from
my fellow citizens without distinction Of party,
and especially from the members Of the Gene.
raj Assembly, who have been sitting in delibe-
ration on my late conduct of public affairs for
nearly sixty days.
| am now again q private citizen, retired to
private life, and to receive a compliment like
this from the General Assembly Of this State,
without distinction Of party, is more than
could expect. 1t is not always and perhaps
not often that a retiring servant, having done
his best, having excrted himself to the utmost,
conscious Of no wrongful motiye-it is seldom,
| say, that a retiring public man can expect
more than to escape ccnsure, and he does vel
if he can meet even the cheer Of charity. But
u greeting like this is something moro than
need Of praise, and is far moro cheering than
charity. \ united plaudit like this is enough
to cXalt any man, and yet | confess it some
what humbles me when l ask myself the ques'
ton: Do d.tervc it? Gf l have not striven
with all my might TO deserve it it ought in
deed to debase me- Receiving such compli-
ment, | can realize the responsibility to my
own conscience which it awakens, no less than
the earnest sense Of gratitude which it cxciteS.
But you have united in it, gentlemen, and all
| can say is that | have done my best. Whether
my action or my Judgment deserves OF does
not deserve the compliment, God is my witness
that my motives at least deserve it.
And at this moment, in the pride of graft.
tude | avow it, every motive which directed
Inc, every effort which sustained me in many
hours Of anxious cares and labors, meets a re.
ward abundantly overlooking my every eXpec.
tation OF reward.
When | look back, fellow-citizens, to the
scenes Of lS55-to the canvass which brought
me into othcc-and when I remember the dis.
s~enSions of party, the division of principles and
the distraction of the State on a question then
in the process of its solution-and when | look
around me now, after four years endeavor to
serve You all well, when | sec you all united in
the plaudit of well doEc, good and faithful
servant" l feel more than grateful to you, and
am forgetful of myself in acknowledging the
debt of gratitude. am grateful for Virginia's
sake; l am grateful this night that I see Viz
ginia united, and that | have done no wrong to
separate and divide her. (Applause) I can
not but feel, as was said by my honored friend,
that ''heart is palpitating to heart, hand Il
grasping hand" and right hand and left hand
employed in the good work Of uniting Nir