Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-31
wen. WISE AND THE NORFOLK DISTRICT.

zen Wise, explanatory OF his position with re-
,,ard to the approaching election for Congress in
his District. Gen. Wise's inextinguishable zeal
and immovable steadfaStness in the cause, are
Qualities which oven more than his remarkable
abilities and long experience in public life render
his presence in Congress desirable. The attitude
~ avows towards the administration is the only
one that sincere and independent man can &C.
eupy. 1t is as much duty TO oppose the admin
i,tration when wrong as to sustain it when right
TO oppose it when right would be suicidal, and TO
support it when wrong would be worse than servile
aud sycophantic; it would be criminal and cor
rupt as well as slayish sacrifice of the try
tor self" The cause is the great thing and if
ddelity to it demands opposition to those in au-
hority. the courage and the honesty to make such
opposition should never be wanting.
We give Gen. Wise's letter.
CAMP on HATCHER Run, }
NEAR PETERSBURG, Va,
March 27th 1865. \
DEAR SIR-0n my return last evening from a re-
connoissance of the enemy in front of our lines on
The right, | found yours OF the 25th inst.
You say that you less t'surprised than
panied" by the announcement OF Col. ID. j. Goodwin
as a candidate for Congress in our district; that
some two weeks ago he Col. Goodwin told You that
ne had been to me, and that you thought it was
P"-I,s.a al CONFIRMING With ia regard to
the canvass among his friends in my favor and thai
he did Aot tell you that he was a candidate" &C.
some weeks ago, Immediately after my return
from Richmond, Col. Goodwin did call on me- at my
quarters in Petersburg, and expressed the wish that
/ should be q candidate, and, when informed that
had already consented that my name should be an
ulunced, he expressed his qualification and tender
ii his support OF my election. lie has never since
informed me to the contrary, except by permitting
ais name to be used in opposition TO mine. have
40 right to complain of his opposition, and il would
e very painful to me to feel cause of complaint OF
ais friendship.
was appealed to by my friends in Richmond im-
mediately on the resignation Of Mr.. Whitfield and
~ others elsewhere before and afterwards TO con-
cent to run Tor seat in Congress to aid our great
jruggle with whatever experience and ability /
iosseSS in meeting the dangers which environ Us
.ld felt that of my aye might be permitted to
Nave the camps after four years Of arduOus service
IA the field, for the comparative physical ease of a
Eat in the House of Representatives. TO do civil
crYice for which | had been trained from early
manhood for thirty years, up 10 the period Of this
var ] was reluctant 10 leave the camp; for how
yer ruitleSS of honOrs and lull of dangers and toll
c has been to me, it has its endearments and
euSc of duty and desire TO do the best service in
NV power, alone induced me to be candidate for
,ihUrS in Congress instead OF for iaurels in camp
IA a word, | consented to carry ont my determine
ion il this war from its commencement, TO serve
.nvWhere and anyhow, as best could-to serve
ar country, without regard to self or sacrifice
Bat did not consent 10 enter into any eiectioneer
az cam iagn, and will not. The counties of the
district are mostly IN the hands of the enemy and
he voices Of its people cannot be fairly or fully
card and will not wrangie with any one at a time
like this for mere place. IL were Younger
.lan 4 would not, under any circumstances con-
,enI TO leave the camp Tor Congress, and am too
DID aud too busy 10 leave the hcld the hastings
You say that it has been whispered that / am ''a
,,ptiouS man, and opposed 10 The administration and
z, G,a. Ire and that at this day it was Unnecessary
Ut all weight and force and influence should be
given to the Administration, aud that both the peo
Die and the army thought this" In reply to this |
plead-irst, ! confess that am, Sat this day" es-
pecially, an exceedingly ''Cdpti0LS man." 1 am
anxious, and Jealous, and Jealous, that everything
vital to success snail D. done, and done lpe and
am apt and prompt 10 complain IL any gross errors
ue committed likely to ptunge Us into that gulf of
despair and subjugation from which we and gene
rstons alter Us cannot escape ii are
usce thrown into its dark and horrible deptEs.-
Better adopt tine sentiment eat this day." and
dis dark hour OF It's night, that no one now
neither President Cabinet, nor Congress, nor
Commanders, are to be bindiy trusted. All
should be narrowly watched and held to the
,tictest and sternest responsibility In this storm,
amidst these rocks, and SHOALS and reefs and the
myers Of sudden and swift destruction, the pilots
aud hemsmen OF the Ship Of State must he held,
even at the peril Of their lives anSwerdhc for their
courage, their skill their fidelity, their vigilance
their providence, their sIesdiness, prudence, ac-
tiyity and success. Ii they do not attain success
they mu st at least deserve it for if they do not
succeed are destroyed Every man should sup
port the pilot aud helmSman whilst they are irving
and aiming &c DO what is best and right; but he
is worse than mailman who, seeing aud knowing
that they are doing what is wrong and disastrous
aids them, in a storm like this TO wreck the ship
ID lose all on board. So with the administration
/ q this war; deem il every mans duty and safety
t. give it all possible support OF confidence and ac
tive assistance and in or out of Congress Shall DO
al. in my power to strengthen its arms and lons for
oar defence. But whenever / sec il steering upon
tue rocks and reefs of our destruction, shall not
fail to cry aloud from below or Goit ''bout helm ~
port or staTboardi
FIRST, then, so tar as the administration is con-
cerned, shall, il elected, go into Congress with
the purpose firm and unaiterable, 10 support IL, If
cum fCsa ~ doubtful cases, and 10 oppose a. If
must, N an clear cases Of ,croBJ. l would not con-
sent TO be representative of the district upon any
other terms. To oppose 1t when right would be
suicidal aud to support II when wrong would be
worse than vile and sycopbantic; it would be
criminal aud corrupt we'll slavish sacrifice of
the country for self. A candidate on the latter
terms would but too clearly show willingness TO
win whether successful defeated, seat in. Con-
greSs, successful, with the chancessofa cour ers
pay, or the 'bars and stars" Of promotion for pro
claiming opposition 10 all enemies to the admins
tratiOn. This, it must be remembered, would be
a moaStrOus evil example eat this day" when the
army for this aud other districts compose the whole
or nearly the whole, number of voters, and The
President is their constitutional cOmmander-in-
Chief and the fountain Of all honors and rruk and
commission and promotion.
Such seryile conditions would soon make, willing
or unwilling, a Loais Napoleon, and our elections
hut repettions Of those Of France. So much for OPP
position to the administration.
Secondly. The report that 1 am opposed in any
sense or shape whatever to General Lee, is simply
Islander. He has the confidence OF no man more
firmly fixed than mine, both as man and eomman-
der.in-chlef Of our armies in the heldl he has no